Panasonic LZ2000 review: Dazzling Master OLED

At a glance

Expert’s Rating

Pros

Superb image performance
Advanced Dolby Atmos sound system
Game Control Board
Freeview Play

Cons

Expensive
Only two HDMI 2.1 ports

Our Verdict

The Panasonic LZ2000 is a no-compromise 4K HDR TV that offers stunning image quality, a kick-ass Dolby Atmos sound system and a whole new gaming feature set. It’s a brilliant buy if your pockets are deep enough

Ousting the JZ2000, the 2022 version of Panasonic’s range-topping TV ranee, the LZ2000 employs the latest high brightness panel technology, boasts an enhanced colour performance and has a dramatically revised Dolby Atmos sound system, with audio steering speakers.

It also introduces a Game Control Board interface, which groups together relevant parameters such as VRR, input lag, HDR status and Dark Visibility Enhancer – the latter a tweak that helps reveal anything untoward hiding in the shadows of your game.

If you’re looking for a premium screen optimised for movies and gaming, then you’ve definitely come to the right place…

Design & Build

Wafer thin
Four HDMI ports
Custom My App button on remote

The LZ2000 may reside at the higher end of the price scale, but the price is definitely visible in the package. Build quality is high, with the set handsomely finished in dark grey, with a wafer-thin bezel and pedestal stand.

Panasonic

It’s a little bulkier than some, but that’s down to the Technics tuned height and side-firing speaker enclosures built onto the back panel.

Build quality is high, with the set handsomely finished in dark grey, with a wafer-thin bezel and pedestal stand

Connections include four HDMIs, but only two are compatible with High Frame Rate 4K 120fps video from a games console. All four support ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (variable refresh rate). Latency is good as I measured input lag at 14.5ms (1080p/60fps).

There are also three USB ports, a digital optical audio output, an AV minijack and Ethernet. Wireless connectivity is available via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

One key new attraction on the LZ2000 models is the Game Control Board. To save you navigating menus, you can assign it to the customisable ‘My App’ button on the remote zapper, a nice touch.

Steve May / Foundry

Smart Features

My Home Screen 7.0
Freeview Play

When it comes to connected smarts, the TX-55LZ2000 uses Panasonic’s My Home Screen platform, now up to v7.0. This easy-going interface is intuitive to use, and allows welcome customisation.

Streaming apps appear as a strip of buttons similar to Samsung’s interface, with content thumbnails that pop up as you hover over them. You can change which streaming button appears on your launch screen by ‘pinning’ favourites.

There’s plenty to choose from including Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Britbox, Disney+, Apple TV+, YouTube and Rakuten TV.

Steve May / Foundry

The provision of Freeview Play also ensures that there’s a full set of mainstream catch-up services baked in, including BBC iPlayer, ITV hub, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, Legend, and CBS Catch Up.

Picture Quality

4K OLED
Wide HDR support
HCX Pro AI processor

To describe the picture quality in a word: Wow! Effortlessly cinematic, combining a high average brightness (for OLED) with dynamic HDR, rich hues, and stunning near-black shadow detail, the LZ2000 doesn’t disappoint when it comes to picture prowess.

Steve May / Foundry

Panasonic engineers have managed to eke higher levels of performance from their OLED panels for several years now, by employing inventive heat management techniques. Here they get to apply their expertise on new OLED.EX glass, giving us a Master OLED Pro panel that more than warrants its nomenclature.

Their endeavours have resulted in not only a lift in peak HDR performance (which I measured at around 1000 nits using a 5% window), but a bump to the average picture level. As a result, there’s a little more pop to its pictures, compared to its predecessor, the JZ2000.

To describe the picture quality in a word: Wow!

Much of the credit for the set’s overall image excellence has to go to the HCX Pro AI processor, which works hand in glove with an ambient light sensor to optimise the screen, and expertly manages upscaling for non 4K sources (useful as I still watch a lot of HD as do lots of viewers).

HDR format support is wide. The set boasts Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, both of which react and adjust to ambient room light. There’s also a Netflix Adaptive Calibrated mode, which is similar and new, and for those who want to minimise processing there’s Filmmaker mode with Intelligent Sensing.

Image presets comprise Normal, Cinema, Filmmaker mode with Intelligent Sensing, True Cinema, Professional 1 and 2, Sport, Dynamic, Auto AI and Custom.

The simplest option is to leave the set on Auto AI, which works well enough for most sources. My preferred viewing mode though is True Cinema, which offers a more consistent viewing experience.

Sound Quality

Dolby Atmos
Height and side-firing drivers
Tuned by Technics

With 360° Soundscape Pro, the LZ2000 fields arguably the most elaborate Dolby Atmos sound system ever built into a TV.

Steve May / Foundry

In addition to its forward-firing ‘soundbar’ array, you’ll find height speakers placed at the top rear of the screen, with side firing drivers left and right, and a woofer for surprisingly decent bass. Significantly, the front soundbar design has had an update this season, with the adoption of new beam forming drivers.

Using an onscreen graphic, you can direct their sound output left or right, zone by zone. The idea is to concentrate audio at a particular spot in the viewing room, perhaps allowing your roommate to snooze while you catch-up on some Disney+.

The LZ2000 fields arguably the most elaborate Dolby Atmos sound system ever built into a TV

In full Dolby Atmos anger, the set sounds genuinely theatrical, and with a total power output rated at 150W there’s enough muscle on tape for a rewardingly rowdy listening experience. The LZ2000 sounds great with action movies, atmospheric TV shows and even music programming (a benefit of having Technics in your corner to tune things).

Price & Availability

The Panasonic LZ2000 series is available in three screen sizes: 55-, 65- and 77-inches (TX-55LZ2000, TX-65LZ2000, TX-77LZ2000), priced at £2,299, £2,899, and £4,299 respectively.

This puts it in the upper echelon of big screen 4K TVs with the likes of the LG G2 OLED and Philips OLED+936. Check out our chart of the best TVs for more options.

Unfortunately, the LZ2000 range isn’t available to US buyers, because Panasonic hasn’t sold TVs into the North American market for a number of years now.

We’re testing the 55in model in the range here which you can typically buy alongside its stablemates from the likes of John Lewis, Currys, AO and . Oddly, Amazon doesn’t stock this model at the time of writing.

Verdict

The Panasonic TX-55LZ2000 is a brilliant buy if you’re looking for an all-in-one home theatre solution. Not only is the screen leading-edge in terms of tech and performance, it comes with the best all round implementation of Dolby Atmos built-in we’ve heard to date. No extra gear is required.

Having wide scale adoption of ambient light AI picture monitoring, with Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ Adaptive, Filmmaker mode with Intelligent Sensing and Netflix Adaptive Calibrated Mode doesn’t hurt either.

A shame then that once again we’re limited to just two HDMI inputs which support HFR playback – but that’s a relatively isolated niggle.

Remember if you like the look of the set’s Master OLED pro panel, but simply don’t need the added expense of the 360° Soundscape Pro audio system, then the stablemate LZ1500 range sells for less and boasts the same Master OLED Pro panel and HCX AI pro processor.