Panasonic TX37LZD85 Review

37in LCD

Picture
Sound
Features
Usability
Value

One of the finest LCD screens available today.

HD Ready:

yes

Resolution:

1920 x 1080

Rating:

94%

Reviewed: 13 July 2008

Design

With styling reminiscent of their PZ85 series of Plasma TV's, Panasonic's LZD85 range of LCD's feature a slim profile, glossy black finish and a frame that curves subtly backwards along the full length of its sides. A feature which looks destined to become synonymous with flat panel TV's from Panasonic, an elliptical silver trim at the base of the screen actually houses a full length single speaker.

Rather than giving the impression of over embellishment, the collection of design elements brought together on the 37LZD85, creates what in our opinion is a supremely stylish LCD TV.

Features

While it may have to work hard to upscale the 576 or so lines of Freeview, the Full HD native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels allows the TX37LZD85 to resolve every detail of 1080i and 1080p sources, rather than scaling these pictures to fit.

Screen: 37in 16:9

Tuner: Digital

Sound System: Nicam

Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Contrast Ratio: 10,000:1

Brightness: 550cd/m2

Other Features: Motion Picture Pro 2.

Sockets: 3 HDMI, 2 SCART, Component Video, Composite Video, PC input, SD card slot.

The 37LZD85 features 3 HDMI (v1.3) inputs. HDMI v1.3 can utilize the Deep Colour (x.v.YCC) format. Deep Colour produces almost twice the range of available colours, but you will need a source that produces this level of detail (A few HD camcorders offer the feature and possibly in the future, Blu-ray discs played through a Deep Colour enabled player such as Panasonic's DMP-BD30).

Panasonic's take on 100Hz processing, 'Motion Picture Pro 2' increases the screens frame rate from the usual 50 frames per second (fps) to 100fps. Motion Picture Pro 2 has essentially been designed to create a more fluid picture while maintaining resolution.

Panasonic's picture processing engine, 'V-real 3', complements 'Motion Picture Pro 2' by detecting on-screen motion and utilising backlight blinking to maintain resolution in those areas. Of course there is much more to V-real 3 - Panasonic have apparently re-engineered almost every element of their picture processing engine in its latest guise.

There are two major constituents to the V-real 3 equation, V-real PRO 3 Processor and V-real PRO 3 Driver. The 'processor' element works on the raw video signal to optimize the incoming stream, while the 'Driver' element works with the refined signal and optimizes panel performance to this signal.

A simple feature on the 37LZD85 (shared with most of Panasonic's newer LCD/Plasma TV's) we really like is the photo viewer. Insert your camera's SD card into the screen's SD slot and it automatically shift into slide show mode. Your photos are then easily navigable through the TV's remote.

Performance

Offering both Plasma and LCD versions of 37in flat screens and recognized as a manufacturer at the forefront of both technologies, Panasonic are ideally placed to provide good examples of the current state of the two technologies.

Panasonic's current crop of plasma screens are challenging even Pioneer in the black level performance stakes. Ultimately, the TX37LZD85 may not be able to match the best plasmas in this respect, but it does narrow the gap between the two technologies and introduces a black level performance, with subtle graduations in dark areas, which significantly reduces the advantage of Plasma technology in this area.

Motion Picture Pro 2 is the most mature implementation of 100Hz processing we have seen. It is not perfect, with a tiny amount of smearing and slight loss of detail on fast pans. There are very few LCD TV's however, that can rival the fluidity of motion and retention of detail which is maintained with fast motion sequences on the 37LZD85.

The TX37LZD85's accomplished black level performance provides an excellent backdrop for colour. Remaining consistently rich and accurate, even with tricky facial tones, the 37LZD85 avoids falling into the trap of becoming too 'garish'. Colour on the TX37LZD85 offers one of the most vibrant pictures we have seen while maintaining a subtlety that few flat screen TV's can match.

With one of the sharpest and most detailed pictures we have seen from any flat panel TV, High Definition content on the TX37LZD85 looks superb. Taking advantage of its Full HD resolution on a larger screen, the TX37LZD85 ultimately provides a more fulfilling experience than its 32in stable mate with a truly involving HD experience.

Working hard to upscale the 576 or so line of Standard Definition (SD) Freeview pictures, the TX37LZD85 does a surprisingly good job for a Full HD screen. A certain amount of flickering and smearing is evident, especially with fast camera pans, and video noise has not been entirely eradicated. Move up to a better quality cable or satellite source however and these problems are largely eradicated. Still not perfect but easily up there with the best SD performing LCD TV's.

As with most flat panel TV's these days, we were somewhat under whelmed by the acoustic performance from the TX37LZD85. Most flat screen manufacturers however have made a concession to styling, hiding or compacting their speakers, and the acoustic performance of the 37LZD85 is no worse than the majority of its competitors.

Conclusion

As one of the most accomplished 37in LCD TV's currently available, the TX37LZD85 also provides a realistic alternative to 40/42in plasmas as well as LCD TV's. The TX37LZD85 like the 32in model, stands out from the crowd with a strong performance in virtually every area.