Panasonic TX-55HZ2000B
A new OLED panel takes this telly to the top of Panasonic’s impressive range, where it looks terrific. But things are not quite as they should be
The HZ2000 sits right at the top of Panasonic’s current TV range, elevated above its siblings by a so-called ‘Professional Edition’ OLED panel and a speaker system that boasts genuine upward-firing Atmos speakers.
We loved the HZ2000’S predecessor, with which it shares much of its design and technology, and we’re big fans of the more affordable HZ1000, so the omens here are very good indeed. Something, though, has gone rather wrong.
The HZ2000 looks largely identical to the GZ2000 it replaces, and that makes it a fairly utilitarian aesthetic proposition. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – Panasonic has resisted the urge to push flashy designs, instead choosing to allow the performance to do the talking.
A key part of the HZ2000 proposition is its advanced, Technics-tuned, Dolby Atmos sound system, which consists of a soundbar subtly mounted beneath the screen and a set of drivers firing upwards from the top of the set’s rear. In total, the system’s amplification is rated to an impressive-sounding 140W.
No other manufacturer has yet taken the same approach, and perhaps that’s at least partly because of the repercussions it has in terms of design. While almost all OLEDS have an enclosure mounted to the rear of the panel for speakers, processing hardware and connections, the HZ2000’S is much larger than most, with the set measuring just under 8cm front-to-back in all but the top two corners, so it will stand off the wall more than most.
Fine tuning
Panasonic doesn’t offer much detail on the differences between its standard and Professional Edition panels, but it’s a custom panel (supplied, as with all OLED panels, by LG) that goes through extra tuning by Panasonic’s engineers, resulting in a brighter picture than is typically available from an OLED TV.
Other than those two additions, the HZ2000 is the same as the HZ1000. It’s powered by the HCX Pro Intelligent Processor, introduced with 2019’s OLED TVS, it boasts support for both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision (including light-sensing Dolby Vision IQ), as well as Netflix Calibrated and Filmmaker Mode, though we’d avoid those last two on account of the dull picture they produce.
The operating system is My Home Screen 5.0, which is simple to use, but also rather dull and less app-packed than many rivals. While you get Netflix with full Dolby Vision and Atmos support, Amazon Prime Video with HDR10+ and Atmos, and the full suite of catch-up apps courtesy of Freeview Play, the likes of Disney+, Apple TV and Google Play Movies & TV are all missing. In terms of music, the only app of note that’s on board is Deezer.
It’s also worth noting that the HZ2000’S HDMI sockets lack support for 4K@120HZ (also known as HFR) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), making it a less than ideal choice for gamers, particularly those with a PS5 or Xbox Series X. ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and EARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) are at least supported.
Dolby Vision: how we see it
As with the HZ1000, the HZ2000’S Dolby Vision IQ mode, which is designed to produce a consistent Dolby Vision experience regardless of ambient lighting conditions, skews a little dim and soft for our tastes. It’s not a bad image, but it feels as if Panasonic is playing things a bit safe here, and the punchier, crisper Dolby Vision picture provided by the Award-winning Philips 55OLED805 makes for the more exciting watch. The new Dolby Vision Vivid preset takes things too far the other way and we can’t help but wish Panasonic had kept Dolby Vision Bright alongside Dolby Vision IQ.
Still, a slightly dull Dolby Vision performance isn’t the end of the world, especially when the HZ2000’S picture performance is otherwise exemplary. Playing Blade Runner 2049 on 4K Blu-ray, the HDR10 image pops from the screen. This film is all about contrast, and the Panasonic ensures that the neon signs and holographic billboards of downtown LA pulse brilliantly against the dark sky and grubby, monolithic buildings. Pure, inky black is delivered as required, and where some OLEDS hold back when asked to deliver a bright highlight in an overwhelmingly dark image, the HZ2000 delivers all of the dramatic dynamism you could hope for.
In favour of the motion
Detail levels are exceptional, both in the rare bright moments and the far more common dimly lit scenes, and there’s a supreme sharpness that makes everything seem more threedimensional. Motion processing is fantastic, too. Leave Intelligent Frame Creation on the default Max setting and you get some of the sharpest and smoothest motion available from any TV. It’s surprisingly natural and authentic in this mode, too, successfully avoiding the so-called soap-opera effect. It introduces occasional shimmer around tricky movement, so dropping Intelligent Frame Creation to Min results in the best overall balance, even though it allows some blur and judder in. All told, Panasonic is now right up there with Sony for motion handling, and that really is saying something.
Dropping down to Fargo on HD Blu-ray, the HZ2000 proves itself to be an extremely capable upscaler, too. As the hapless Jerry pulls into the King of Clubs bar for his fateful meeting with Carl and Grimsrud, there’s a slight excess of picture noise that can be reduced by dropping the Sharpness setting by a few points, but the picture is otherwise beautiful, with perfectly balanced colours, lots of detail and nuanced, subtle shading. The picture simply looks correct and natural, and this is the
Panasonic’s greatest strength across all sources. Even early episodes of Peep Show in standard definition are passably clean and naturally balanced.
Other than a slightly disappointing default Dolby Vision setting, the HZ2000 is a superb all-round performer. The only problem is that the far more affordable HZ1000 is also superb. Last time around, the GZ2000 delivered a clearly better picture than its more affordable siblings, but here the upgrade is a lot less obvious. Bright highlights are slightly punchier and there’s a little extra vibrancy, but we’re talking small margins here. On picture alone, it’s not worth spending extra on the HZ2000 over the HZ1000.
Not what we wanted to hear
With the picture improvements being so marginal, the HZ2000 needs to justify its premium over the HZ1000 almost entirely with its audio performance, and this is where things take a surprising and disappointing turn.
Playing our favourite Dolby Atmos test scene, the bombing run in Unbroken, the HZ2000 continues where the GZ2000 left off in terms of spaciousness and scale. The front-facing bar sends out effects far to the left and right while the upward-firing speakers send sound right up to the ceiling and a decent distance into the room. It isn’t full virtual surround sound, but the HZ2000 fills a room more effectively than any other Tv-integrated sound system that we can think of.
However, while this flagship model is undeniably weightier and more spacious than the HZ1000, it’s also badly lacking clarity and precision. The placement of effects is quite imprecise and dialogue is buried once the action kicks in. The Dialogue Enhancement option can help with the latter, but it also adds an audibly processed essence to voices that makes them sound a bit unnatural.
Concerned that we might have received a faulty sample, we call in a second HZ2000, as well as a GZ2000, but doing so only confirms our suspicions. Not only does the second HZ2000 sample sound the same as the first, it sounds significantly worse than the older GZ2000, which is cleaner and crisper.
All told, the outgoing model is exciting and engaging where the HZ2000 is not. More importantly, though, the HZ2000 is less clear and transparent-sounding than the cheaper HZ1000, and that’s a big price to pay for the added spaciousness and weight.
With the picture improvements over the HZ1000 proving to be so slight, the HZ2000 needs to justify its price premium almost on sound alone, but Panasonic has taken a surprising backwards step here.
With any luck, this is just a blip and the already announced JZ2000 will be a return to form. If you’re looking to buy a Panasonic OLED right now, though, we recommend that you avoid the HZ2000 and instead choose the HZ1000 and a separate soundbar. Doing so will get you an almost equally stunning picture and markedly better sound.