Panasonic TX-50AX802 4K Ultra HD TV Review. Panasonic's claims that it could emulate the image quality of its plasma screens with 4K LED TV tech were met with some scepticism when made at CES. After all, the brand's PDPs have been routinely lauded over the years for their deep blacks, excellent shadow detail and naturalistic colour fidelity.
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| Panasonic TX-50AX802 4K Ultra HD TV |
But on the evidence of this 50in AX802 (also available in 58in and 65in screen sizes), maybe the hyperbole isn't too far off the mark. While we've yet to see a production-ready version of the brand's full-LED array AX902 flagship, due later in the year, this edge-lit precursor is pretty darn impressive, particularly when it comes to colour fidelity and black level. Panasonic really does seem to have cooked up a secret sauce for its next-gen UHD LED TVs, although one surprising ingredient could leave a bitter aftertaste..
The TX-50AX802 may look slight but it's surprisingly hefty for a 50-incher, tipping the scales at 24kg. The stand mechanism, a counterweight positioned behind the panel, cleverly creates the illusion that the TV is resting on nothing but its somewhat wispy metal-fi nish frame – it's a clever trick. And the TV may have a regulation thin bezel but it's still able to hold a camera that automatically stands to attention when required for Skype or facial recognition duties.
Viewing options are many and various. The screen boasts dual Freeview and Freesat tuners and has four HDMI connections (one of which is v2.0 and supports 4K/60p content), not to mention a high-frame-rate compatible DisplayPort for games PCs. There is also a trio of USBs, Ethernet, integrated Wi-Fi and a 4K-compatible SD card slot.
The TX-50AX802 ships with two remotes. The main IR controller is an extremely well-made unit with a neat metallic finish, while the Bluetooth Touch Pad has a built-in microphone for voice interaction. There's also a cluster of on-body menu controls to the rear right, if you need to get physical.
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| Panasonic TX-50AX802 Roll Back TV |
Wot? No Netflix?
Onto to that slight niggle. The Panasonic TV features an HEVC decoder, but unfortunately this doesn't mean that it's compatible with the nascent Netflix 4K service, owing to an undisclosed chip issue which prevents certification. The brand admits this mistake can't be rectifi ed through firmware. Indeed, Panasonic's faux pas could be a deal-breaker for those who envisage Netflix to be their prime source of 4K content in years to come.
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| Panasonic TX-50AX802 On Demand Services |
Image quality is excellent, with only minor caveats. The 3,840 x 2,160 IPS panel delivers fabulous levels of fine detail with 4K source material, and exhibits a high level of contrast. Colour fidelity is similarly head-turning.
The screen's black level performance is positively stygian, giving plenty of depth and punch to its pictures. Panasonic's engineers have clearly been instructed to push for the most plasma-like blacks they can muster.
The edge-lighting itself is a little uneven, resulting in some visible bloom during extremely dark scenes. The screen boasts Panasonic's range-topping 2000Hz BLS (backlight scanning) rating and utilises Local Dimming Pro technology, which does seem to do odd things with some near total black detail. Uma Thurman's uncomfortable burial in Kill Bill: Vol 2 (BD), sees her body pulsating in the blackness, when in reality there should only be the merest fidget of shadow detail evident.
Image presets include THX Cinema and Bright Room, True Cinema and Professional 1 and Professional 2. A surprisingly high number of these make the screen look exceptionally dull and are best avoided. If you want the panel to really ping (in a good way), my suggestion is to fine-tune the image to taste from the Normal preset instead – start by using a Pluge pattern to set black level and edge Sharpness down to remove edge-ringing.
Movie fans will be pleased to note that the set has a Dimmer function, which turns down edge-lighting above and below the aspect ratio letterbox for optimised blacks/contrast.
Other processing options include Intelligent Frame Creation motion smoothing. This was a cinematic mood killer on the brand's plasma models, but here seems rather more watchable. The Minimum setting maintains moving detail, and suffers only negligible artefacting, making it a good choice for sports. The Mid and Max IFC settings punish motion with more obvious artefacts, typically seen as edge smudging around certain moving objects.
The AX802 supports Active Shutter 3D and comes with two pairs of battery-powered glasses. There's some crosstalk double imaging if you're determined to look for it, but the 3D works well and colour performance is not adversely affected. 3D gets a bad rap, but on UHD screens it's found a natural home. I'd argue that 3D upscaled to 4K offers a viewing experience that's brighter and more engaging than that typically had in a commercial theatre.
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| Panasonic TX-50AX802 Showcase |
If you're still wondering if there is any visual benefit to 4K when viewed on a relatively small 50-incher, the answer is a resounding: ‘Yes!'. To assess the set with native UHD, I touted Panasonic's DMC-GH4 camera, which shoot's MP4 H.264 2160/30p and MOV at 2160/24p, around London and captured busy scenes in 4K. The image quality gleaned from this footage was stunning.
The set also looks sensational with next-gen games. Bungie's Destiny on the PS4 rewards in terms of fast-moving detail and colour vibrancy. As you scrabble to avoid the various melees, it's impossible not to be distracted by the sheer beauty of the planetary landscapes. It's easy to forget that you're not watching genuine UHD imagery.
It's worth noting that while Blu-rays look fine when up-rezzed, the AX802 doesn't seem able to impart quite the same amount of nuance when upscaling from a tuner. Pictures are good with no overt pixel structure, but they just don't have the illusory depth seen on some rival models.
Sonically the set surprises with an energetic performance, although it is largely monophonic. Most of the wallop comes from a rear-facing 10W woofer, augmented by two downward-firing 4W speakers enlisted to add some high-frequency detail and width.
A 50in temptation
So Panasonic's TX-50AX802 is a premium 4K panel that, for the most part, doesn't disappoint. This TV is beautifully designed and image quality is mesmeric. While it doesn't look like a Panasonic plasma in terms of picture, it clearly cherishes some characteristics of its forebears. Colour richness is striking and there's enormous contrast and depth to its pictures. Native 4K content is absolutely divine – which makes the absence of Netflix 2160p keenly felt. At least YouTube 4K works. The price tag is also on the right side of temptation.
Specifications
ULTRA HD: Yes. 3,840 x 2,160
TUNER: Yes. 2 x Freeview HD; 2 x Freesat
CONNECTIONS: 4 x HDMI (3 x v1.4; 1 x v2.0); Scart, component/composite video via adaptor; 3 x USB; Ethernet; integrated Wi-Fi; optical digital audio output; CI slot
SOUND: 18W (2 x 4W +10W)
BRIGHTNESS (CLAIMED): N/A
CONTRAST RATIO (CLAIMED): ‘Supreme'
DIMENSIONS (OFF STAND): 1,131(w) x 673(h) x 42(d)mm
WEIGHT (OFF STAND): 24kg
FEATURES:
THX 4K certification;
USB HDD recording;
2,000Hz Intelligent Frame Creation;
Hexa processing engine Pro;
media server playback from USB and network;
Advanced Colour Spectrum;
TV Anywhere;
My Home Screen;
My Stream;
Studio Master Drive;
Miracast screen mirrorin
PROS:
Deep blacks and vibrant colour;
upscaled HD impresses;
Freetime roll-back EPG;
My Home Screen UI;
deceptively clever design
CONS:
No support for Netflix 4K;
some edge-light blooming;
some local dimming anomalies
View full specs and price at Panasonic.com
