BACK TO BASE
A superb value set-up built on a soundbase
When we first put this system together we had to redo the sums a few times. We couldn’t quite believe that a system so accomplished, and so well equipped for the 21st century living room could come in at just over £1000. This set-up is, simply, remarkable value for money.
Let’s start with the 50in television. We first reviewed the Panasonic TX50GX800B in July. And already we are seeing it available to buy at £100 less than the original £799. It is the first TV we’ve tested that supports both of the two competing dynamic metadata-based HDR formats, Dolby Vision and HDR10+. But is the GX800 all it’s cracked up to be? Broadly speaking, it is. You won’t mistake its performance for that of a proper premium model, but this is an undeniably great TV for the money. The GX800 is a 4K LCD set with an edge-led backlight. Going with edge backlighting, rather than a direct, full-array system has consequences in terms of contrast, but does also allow the set to be pleasingly slim.
On top of Dolby Vision and HDR10+ compatibility, the GX800 supports HDR10 and HLG, giving it the full suite of current HDR formats. Amazon Video and Netflix are on board in 4K and with Dolby Vision, and all of the UK’S core catch-up apps (BBC iplayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5) are present.
In terms of physical connections, you get three HDMI inputs, two USB sockets, ethernet, component video, optical out and a dedicated headphone output, as well as an aerial socket for live TV.
The GX800 provides a wonderfully natural and balanced picture. Where many sets at this price tend to overenhance the picture and exaggerate edges in order to make an impact, the Panasonic’s smooth subtlety is preferable in the long run.
Poetry in motion
Whites are pure and colours are well judged, with skin tones a particular highlight. Motion is good for a TV at this price. We recommend setting Intelligent Frame Creation to Mid and switching Clear Motion off in order to get fairly crisp, judder-free motion but without soap opera-like over-enhancement or obvious artefacts being added.
Blacks are pretty good, though not as pure as an OLED or top QLED TV. A little light from the main picture leaks into the black bars top and bottom, but it isn’t obvious while viewing and is forgivable for a TV using an edge backlight.
The main weakness we highlighted in our review of this set was that its sound isn’t up to much – but, of course, here that doesn’t matter. Because we’ve got Q Acoustics’ splendid M2 soundbase to deal with everything sonic. This, Q Acoustics’ first soundbase, gained its five stars and a What Hi-fi? Award when it was priced at £299 just a year ago. You can pick one up now for around £170, making it highly recommended indeed.
The M2 is sturdy enough to sit comfortably underneath a fairly big screen TV. It can supposedly handle weight up to 25kg, which is a few kilos more than most 65in LCD TVS, so the 50in Panasonic we have here is no problem at all.
As we fire up a Full HD transfer of Neon Demon, the M2 doesn’t waste a moment before revealing its talents. The opening credits are not only a window into Cliff Martinez’s fantastically eerily, eclectic score, but they also show off Q Acoustics’ pleasing tonality and potential elsewhere.
Delivering sparkly chimes
The downward-firing subwoofer digs deep to punch through the bassline, while the twin Balanced Mode Radiator speakers fight just as hard for the credit by delivering clear, sparkly chimes and energetic synth-driven electronica, with the Q Acoustics affording body to beats and dynamism to the melodies.
That clear, lively and musical character is recognisably in-line with the company’s soundbars, so credit to Q Acoustics for its consistency.
Detailed, musical, punchy: all faculties that bode well for the M2’s music playback, for those inclined to use a soundbase in that way as well. We Bluetooth a Tidal stream of The Cure’s Six Different Ways to the M2 and that adeptness is confirmed, with textured woodwinds and a jaunty piano line appearing confidently between Robert Smith’s chipper vocal.
The new Apple TV 4K marries nicely into the abilities of both the Panasonic TV and the Q Acoustics soundbase in this system. The device detects if your TV supports 4K resolution and adjusts its output accordingly. It also tests for HDR support, sending an HDR signal to the TV. If you can receive it, everything the Apple TV 4K sends to your TV from this point will be in 4K.
Big improvements
Following a post-launch software update, the device no longer upconverts standard dynamic range to HDR and it will now match the native frame-rate of your content. Both are big improvements and well worth activating in the settings.
There’s just 32GB storage in the standard model (£179), and 64GB in the version we test here, priced £199. That storage sounds paltry, particularly as it can’t be expanded by the addition of an external hard drive – but as the Apple TV 4K doesn’t download movies, TV shows or music, but exclusively streams them, the only storage it needs is for the apps themselves. The apps tend to be pretty small – Netflix is just 41.6MB, for example – and though games files tend to be significantly bigger (Hitman GO is 1.21GB), the 32GB model should be sufficient for most people.
The UK catch-up services hole has just about been plugged, with BBC iplayer having been joined by ITV Player and My5. All 4 is missing, which is a shame, but it’s a fairly small gap in an otherwise substantial suite of streaming services. But hands-down, the new Apple TV 4K’s biggest selling point is its library of 4K HDR movies. The catalogue is expanding at an impressive rate and currently includes well over 200 films, including recent blockbusters such as Mission Impossible: Fallout, Deadpool 2 and A Quiet Place. The only other way to watch these films in 4K HDR is by buying the 4K Blu-rays.
Sky Q has a similar quantity of 4K films, with TV shows and sport added into the mix, but HDR isn’t featured at all, and you obviously need a Sky dish and subscription.
Free pixels
Apple TV’S simple pay-as-you-go model will be more appealing to many, particularly as the extra pixels don’t cost any extra money – most films can be bought for between £10-12 or rented for £5.50, the same price as the Full HD versions and loads cheaper than buying the 4K Blu-rays.
4K movies streamed via itunes look lovely in their own right. Compared with a Full HD stream, there’s a clear step up in sharpness and definition, giving the image much more solidity and depth.
But the addition of HDR is undoubtedly an even bigger upgrade, as it makes movies pop from the screen. Whites are pure and bright, colours are more vibrant and vivid, and blacks deeper and more solid. It’s simply a more exciting and enticing picture.
The only rival that gets close to mounting a serious challenge to the Apple TV 4K is the new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, which is undeniably awesome for the money. But between the superior performance and unrivalled selection of 4K HDR movies, Apple's streamer more than justifies the extra outlay.
And, for this (amazingly) £1000 system, it’s just the thing.