Panasonic just showed its top-of-the-line 65-inch 4K Ultra HD LED LCD TV (model TX-65AX900) in the U.S. for the first time. The TV offers the best picture performance of any Panasonic TV, and very well could be the best 4K TV of 2014. The AX900 boasts accurate, rich, and robust blacks that also retain fine detail, along with correct color reproduction at every brightness level.
Reproducing deep, rich blacks, whilst also retaining rich colors in dark scenes has been a long standing weakness of LCD TVs. In order to deliver best-in-class black performance, the AX900 uses a Direct LED with full-array local dimming complemented with Panasonic-unique Local Dimming Ultra technologies. Other full array local dimming systems suffer from a ‘halo’ effect around moving bright objects because their local dimming fields lack sufficient brightness control or are either entirely on or off. The AX900 analyses the incoming video signal not in traditional 3 x 3 matrices, but across 5 x 5 matrices of local dimming fields and adjusts the brightness level of each individual field by extremely fine degrees (i.e. not just on/off), providing smooth motion of bright objects, a high contrast ratio, deep, rich blacks and extremely fine gradation which retains detail even in the darkest scenes.
Color reproduction in dark scenes has been another weakness of LCD TVs. In order to allow viewers to enjoy films as the directors intended, the AX900 engineers have also worked together closely with the renowned Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories to ensure that the colors on the AX900 are exactly the same as the director intended. To achieve this Panasonic has adopted color management technologies which have until now have only been used to the same degree by professional studio monitors, such as our professional-standard 3D Look Up Tables with 8000 registry points which allow us to calibrate color reproduction at extremely fine brightness steps meaning that colour is reproduced accurately at any brightness level. Panasonic is the first company to use this professional technology at the same level in a consumer television.
Furthermore the use of a highly transparent LCD panel also produces outstanding brightness and allows the AX900 to achieve an extremely high dynamic range, with richer more nuanced colors in both dark and bright scenes. The AX900 also explicitly links its video signal processing to ambient light levels in order to deliver picture quality which is a perfect match for your living room — another industry first.
The AX900 has four 4K 60p-supporting HDMI terminals and one DisplayPort enable simultaneous connection of a 4K-compatible home cinema, a set-top box, a PC, and more. Future use is assured by the AX900 Series’ ability to play content with HDCP2.2 copyright protection and its H.265 (HEVC) decoder can decode 4K content from a variety of providers. Furthermore Panasonic is working closely with Netflix to enable 4K streaming at launch timing. The AX900 will also be compatible with Amazon’s upcoming selection of movies and TV shows, along with its Amazon Studios original TV series, in Ultra HD quality.
Features
- Ultra HD LED TV with 3000Hz (BLS) – superior highest-speed panel for amazing images, motion clarity and 3D
- Local Dimming Ultra – highest class of dimming delivers dynamic images with deepest blacks and ultra whites
- 4K THX Certified – Experience stunning 4K content, just as the directors intended
- 4K Studio Master Drive – for more accurate colour and richer, smoother gradation at virtually any brightness
- Studio Master Color – The wide colour gamut is able to reproduce colors accurately and faithfully
- Quad Core Pro 5 – powerful processor, with HEVC decoder, for next-generation 4K entertainment and ultimate images
- TV Anywhere – your entertainment, from the TV to your Web-enabled mobile device, even outside the home
- my Stream – enjoy content recommended to match your preferences, easily via an intuitive interface
- Info Bar – walk by the TV in standby and immediately get the time, weather and more
- Studio Master Color – for vividly colorful images from a wide color gamut
Price and Availability
The Panasonic VIERA TX-65AX900 is expected to be released November 2014 for about $8,000 (USD).
Michael
October 30, 2014 at 3:58 am
I plan on buying one. How do I get on the interest list? Anyone?