Panasonic has unveiled the HZ2000, its 2020 4k OLED flagship TV, at CES in Las Vegas. Despite not offering consumer sets in the North American market, the Japanese major likes to premier its premium screens at the sprawling technology fair.
Available in 65 and 55-inch sizes, the new model looks much like its predecessor, the highly regarded GZ2000. It employs a similar integrated Dolby Atmos sound system, now dubbed 360° Soundscape Pro, and boasts a customised Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel, using the latest OLED panel technology.
However, it’s the inclusion of Dolby Vision IQ and Filmmaker Mode with Intelligent Sensing, which really sets this model apart from its rivals.
Dolby Vision IQ employs the TV’s sensor to determine ambient lighting and adjust brightness levels accordingly. Filmmaker Mode with Intelligent Sensing does much the same for HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG.
The addition of these features solves one of the real-world problems encountered when viewing HDR content. Movies and TV shows may look fine in low light conditions but can seem too dark when played back in brighter rooms.
Dolby Vision content, be it from a streaming service or Blu-ray, is automatically recognised by the TV. Filmmaker Mode is not an automatic process. Users are required to manually select the mode for cinema-style viewing mode, via a button on the remote control.
Filmmaker Mode turns off image interpolation, noise reduction and image sharpening, ostensibly to better reflect the creative intent of Hollywood.
Demonstrations look extremely effective. Dolby Vision content retains its dynamic appearance with IQ, even in a brightly lit room.
The Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel used by the HZ2000 has been customised by the brand’s R&D engineers to offer a 20 per cent improvement in peak and average brightness levels.
The set’s overall picture performance has been tuned by Hollywood colourist Stefan Sonnenfeld, whose most recent credit is Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker. The brand calls the HZ2000 it’s “most cinematic OLED TV yet,” and we’re inclined to agree.
