Panasonic today announcesthe expansion of its 4K Pro HDR Ultra HD OLED TV lineup.Following the launch of the 65-inch EZ1002 in January this year,Panasonic is delighted to announce a 77-inch version of the EZ1002 in addition to a second series of OLED TVs for 2017, the EZ952, which will be available in 65-inch and 55-inch screen sizes.
The professional-grade EZ1002 and EZ952 both unlock the full contrast and colour potential of the latest OLED screen technology, with unprecedented black levels and the most accurate colours ever seen, resulting in pictures of extraordinary accuracy and spectacular beauty. Both models are powered by Panasonic’s new cutting-edge Studio Colour HCX2 processor, which delivers the most accurate colours ever witnessed on a consumer TV, and which uses technology previously only available on professional monitors costing tens of thousands of dollars. With the EZ1002 and EZ952 Panasonic has pushed the boundaries of television technology to deliver superbly accurate pictures, that more than ever beforeshow precisely what the director intended.
To deliver the very best audio quality, the EZ1002’s ‘Dynamic Blade Speaker’ has additionally been tuned by the engineers of the company’s acclaimed audio brand, Technics. The EZ952 meanwhile offers exceptional audio from its powerful speakers and cuts a dash with its contemporary pedestal stand, inspired by the latest principles of interior design.
The 65-inch EZ1002, 65-inch and 55-inch EZ952 will be available in the UK from June 2017 whilst the 77-inch EZ1002 will hit stores in the autumn.
Bringing Hollywood Home
Boasting Panasonic’s 4K Pro HDR status, the EZ1002 and EZ952 harness the power of several newly developed elements that combine to make them the most spectacular TVs ever made. These include the next generation HDR OLED panel, a new highly advanced Studio Colour HCX2 Processor (which is capable of delivering the most accurate range of colours ever) and peak brightness levels up to 1000nits which fuse with zero black levels to produce levels of dynamic range in excess of those required for HDR Premium accreditation. Together fused with zero black levels to produce levels of dynamic range in excess of those required for HDR Premium accreditation. To maximise the full potential of these components, Panasonic has engaged highly-experienced Hollywood personnel to fine tune the screens’ processing. Never before have TV screens good enough for professional use been available to domestic consumers.
The EZ1002 and EZ952 include an all-new HDR Brightness Enhancer feature designed to optimise HDR picture quality in brightly lit rooms. Dark scenes, which can be difficult to see in these conditions, are optimised so as to increase in the luminance of their low brightness areas, thus allowing the scene to be enjoyed as it was intended, even in a brighter environment.
The flagship EZ1002 model also features an Absolute Black Filter. This filter soaks up ambient light to eliminate reflections and help ensure the purest, most accurate black levels, and is especially beneficial in brightly lit rooms.
Studio Colour HCX2 Processor
Representing the culmination of decades of technological know-how derived from the production of Panasonic’s reference-quality plasma TVs and professional broadcast and filmmaking equipment, the newly forged Studio Colour HCX2 4K processor delivers an unprecedented level of accuracy to an array of colours and clarity to the exceptional black levels and ground-breaking brightness of the HDR OLED panel. Each OLED pixel makes its own light, therefore reproducing detail in dark areas, which is a particularly tough challenge as a consequence of therelatively large jump from off (zero black) to on (above black). Through the application of processes honed during decades of plasma screen production, Panasonic’s engineers were able to significantly enhance the production of fine detail, especially in those near-black areas.
Fine-tuned by Hollywood professionals to deliver picture quality true to the filmmakers’ vision, the Studio Colour HCX2 4K processor has been refined to handle OLED technology’s exceptionally large gamut of one billion colours. The result is more precise colour reproduction, especially in areas that are particularly difficult to reproduce such as dark shadows and bright highlights. A vital component of the processor is its colour-correcting system, which includes the use ofprofessional 3D Look Up Tables. Uniquely, every single brightness step has a complete database of colours stored on the processor to ensure that the most accurate colours are always displayed, even with the most challenging of material. The EZ1002 and EZ952 can show almost 100 per cent of the DCI colour space, which is critical to producing a truly authentic high dynamic range (HDR) picture.
The EZ1002 is so highly specced that it can even be used as a professional monitor. Professional colourists can upload and use their own Look Up Tables through the USB ports, whilst the screen also featuresImaging Science Foundation (ISF) calibration settings and is compatible with Portrait Displays’ CalMAN calibration software — yet more proof for consumers of the EZ1002’s astonishingly accurate picture quality. Don’t just take our word that the EZ1002 and EZ952’s unprecedented panel and processing combination can produce fantastically accurate images. Panasonic has accordingly applied for full, independent certification from THX across both TV series.
Panasonic will also apply for ‘Ultra HD Premium’ certification from the AV industry’s Ultra HD Alliance organization for the EZ1002. To achieve this certification, the screen must meet an array of stringent contrast, brightness, resolution and colour specifications defined by the Ultra HD Alliance as being necessary for an accurate and spectacular HDR picture experience.
Built for Today’s – and Tomorrow’s – HDR
With extreme colour accuracy, super-deep blacks, unprecedented near-black detailing and high OLED brightness, the EZ1002 and EZ952 are supremely well equipped to handle HDR’s extreme contrast and colour demands. Meeting strict criteria concerning resolution, bit depth, and colour gamut, both models are fully compatible with HDR10, the industry minimum standard for a high dynamic range screen. HDR 10 is a compulsory feature on all UHD Blu-ray content and is used by many streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Video. Furthermore, with compatibility for Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) HDR (as developed by the BBC and NHK of Japan), Panasonic unequivocally shows its commitment to the latest technology which will be the bedrock of future television broadcasting.
Meeting the HDR Demands of Gamers
With HDR gaining traction on 4K games consoles, Panasonic’s fastest-ever 4K HDR Gaming mode critically meets the demands of the most proficient of gaming enthusiasts. Input lag on the EZ1002 and EZ952 has been substantially reduced to improve performance when playing 4K HDR games, especially those with fast movement that require quick reaction times.
Next Generation OS
The EZ1002 and EZ952 series will support 4K HDR streaming from Netflix, Amazon and YouTube.
The EZ1002 also features a newly developed My Home Screen 2.0 smart system designed to deliver an ultra-smooth and intuitive user experience across all of the multiple content sources available to today’s TV viewer. New features include favourites folders for multiple users, a My App button on the remote that can be customised for faster access to favourite content, and a revamped Media Player app that supports 4K HDR10 and HLG content.
(UK only): For UK users there is a new version of Freeview Play, featuring new search/recommendation tools and Panasonic’s uniquely developed Quick Look Guide that shows past, live and future TV programs for the current channel. Also included are live thumbnails of what’s showing on other channels.
Continental models, meanwhile, support IP>TV technology, for converting broadcasts into data that can be streamed to other devices.
The EZ1002 and EZ952 series includes Control4’s Simple Device Discovery Protocol and is pending Connects with Control4 Certification.Also both series will be submitted to Creston to obtain Crestron Certification.
Cutting-edge Design
The EZ1002 and EZ952 have been crafted according to Panasonic’s Art & Interior design ethos. Taking inspiration from the foremost principles of interior design, they blend elegant design with premium materials to create an aesthetic that enhances even the most stylish homes and offer superb flexibility.
Both models have been created with dark metallic finishes and without any visible seams to generate an elegantly organic feel that draws attention away from their physical construction. The flagship EZ1002 represents the ultimate blend of form and function with its powerful Dynamic Blade Speaker sound system, which is integrated into its stand, so that the screen seems to float magically above the speaker.
Dynamic Blade Speaker – Tuned by Technics
Panasonic hasn’t just focused on achieving stunning pictures for the EZ1002.
Aiming to bring the best sound to the OLED TV, it has developed the Dynamic Blade Speaker: a deceptively slim audio system that houses no less than 14 multiple speaker units (eight woofers, four squawkers and two tweeters, plus a quad passive radiator to boost bass). To this end, the engineers of the acclaimed audio brand Technicswere also involved at every stage of the Dynamic Blade Speaker’s development, from mechanical and electrical circuit design through to sound tuning.
Panasonic OLED TV line-up Summary:
EZ1002: Ultimate Picture Quality – Hollywood To Your Home (65- and 77-inch)
Master HDR OLED Display – original Panasonic processing technology and
unique ambient light / anti-reflective filter to maximize OLED advantages
Studio Colour HCX2 Processor – professional 3D look-up tables deliver accurate colours for Hollywood Cinema Experience
Extreme Brightness and Absolute Black – Up to 1000nits peak brightness, combined with zero level black expression delivers vivid HDR experience with astounding highlights
Dynamic Black Speaker – 14 multiple speaker units, tuned by Technic
Picture Tuned in Hollywood – tuned by Hollywood colourist to deliver an accurate cinema experience true to the filmmaker’s vision.
EZ952: A Truly Cinematic Experience – Tuned In Hollywood (65- and 55-inch)
- 4K UHD OLED TV – next generation TV technology for the ultimate in accuracy and contrast
- Studio Colour HCX2 Processor – professional 3D look-up tables deliver accurate colours for Hollywood Cinema Experience
- Extreme Brightness – delivers vivid HDR experience with astounding highlights
- Multi HDR Support – HDR10 and Hybrid Log Gamma support for Blu-ray, streaming and broadcast
- Picture Tuned in Hollywood – tuned by Hollywood colourist to deliver an accurate cinema experience true to the filmmaker’s vision
