(January 15, 2021) Panasonic might not offer a model with 8K performance, but its new flagship JZ2000 ships with intriguing high-performance technologies. Replacing last year's HZ2000, the JZ2000 carries HDMI 2.1, supporting both eARC and High Frame Rate. It also claims to offer some of the industry's lowest latency figures, thanks to its ultra-low latency "Game Mode Extreme."
Audio-wise, the JZ2000 possesses an exciting array of Atmos-inspired speakers designed by Technics. In addition to up- and front-firing speakers found on previous models, the JZ2000 also carries side-firing speakers for a complete "spatial soundstage with Dolby Atmos content."
"The addition of more speakers means that the JZ2000 is able to pick out directional sounds better than ever before, giving viewers a real sense of immersion," said the company. "If they are watching films, they will feel cinematic-level surround sound; if they are watching sports, they will get an even deeper feeling of being in a stadium."
Panasonic is using the JZ2000 to launch its first Artificial Intelligence processor called HCX Pro AI. According to the company, HCX Pro AI benefits from prior exposure to an extensive library of media that it uses to assess and analyze picture content on a second-by-second basis.
"Inside the AI processing enclave within the processor, it then compares what it is seeing against a library of various content which it has learned, in order to be able to automatically optimize both picture and sound quality for that type of content," explains Panasonic. "If it detects that you are watching football, for example, it adjusts the picture quality to make the grass more life-like, the players more realistic, whilst also automatically adjusting the sound to make it feel like you are right there inside stadium."
Other performance enhancements include a range of High Dynamic Range compatibilities, including Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG.
Unfortunately, Panasonic didn't reveal any plans to sell the JZ2000 in North America. Enthusiasts in Europe will find it on store shelves in 55" and 65" sizes this coming summer.
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