Big Picture Big Sound

Panasonic Unveils CX850 LED 4K Ultra HD TV with 98% of DCI Colors and HDR

By Chris Boylan

At Panasonic's CES press conference this week the company spent a lot of time talking about automotive solutions and batteries. They are Telsa Motors' battery partner (making the cells for the popular Tesla Model S electric car) and are investing in the company's $5 Billion gigafactory in Nevada. But our readers will probably be happier to hear that they're still in the TV business.

Building on the impressive AX900 LED UltraHD TV introduced late last year in limited quantities, Panasonic showed off the upcoming CX850 backlit LED UHD TV to be introduced in 2015. It is designed for an upgraded class of UHD content and is said to reproduce a full 98% of the DCI (Digital Cinema Initiative) color space as well as high dynamic range (HDR). What does this mean? It means the new set will be well suited to reproduce the next generation of Ultra HD content which is coming down the pike.

Not Just More Pixels... Better Pixels

Thanks to initiatives like the Ultra HD Alliance and new formats such as Ultra HD Blu-ray, 2015 will see the introduction of a new class of content (primarily movies and TV shows) which will feature more accurate colors as well as higher video dynamic range. "Dynamic range" in the video realm is another word for contrast: the difference between brightest whites and deepest blacks. The ability to reproduce a wider dynamic range and a wider color spectrum means that the picture will look more vivid and lifelike than ever before.

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Panasonic's TC-65CX850 features an extended color gamut and High Dynamic Range to take full advantage of next generation Ultra HD content.

At Big Picture Big Sound, we're still fans of plasma technology for its ability to reproduce deep blacks. But most plasma TVs are not capable of really high peak brightness levels so ultimately the picture quality is compromised. Also without content that takes advantage of higher dynamic range, plasma TVs are limited by the content itself. New content and advances to LED/LCD picture technology should pave the way to a home viewing experience that surpasses the best that HD technology cold ever offer.

The CX850 Series will be available in two screen sizes, the 65-inch TC-65CX850U and 55-inch TC-55CX850U. Pricing and availability details will be announced later this year. The CX850 features a newly-developed panel and the picture-enhancing technology of Panasonic's Studio Master Drive to create "vibrant colors, robust blacks, and bright contrast" according to a Panasonic statement. With the DCI color gamut looking more and more likely to be a premium option for Ultra HD video, it's important to note that Panasonic's CX850 is able to reproduce about 98% of that standard on the 65-inch model and at least 90% of this color gamut onthe 55-inch model.

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At Panasonic's CES press event, CEO and Chairman of Panasonic Corporation of North America Joseph M. Taylor stressed the importance of their partnership with US electric auto manufacturer Tesla Motors.

"In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night..."

For black level reproduction the CX850 uses a full array LED backlight enhanced with Panasonic's Local Dimming technology. This allows the backlight to be turned off or precisely dimmed at different parts of the screen to best reproduce the brightness of the incoming content. At the same time, Panasonic's Studio Master Drive's gradation correction reproduces shadow detail so no details will be lost, even in dark scenes.

On the other end of the spectrum, Panasonic's Super Bright Panel is combined with Dynamic Range Remaster technology to enhance image reproduction in the brightest areas of the picture, even restoring brightness that may have been lost during the mastering process.

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Feeding the CX850 on the show floor was a prototype Ultra HD Blu-ray Player. Titles in the format are expected before the end of the year.

Another Year, Another Smart TV Platform

It seems like most TV manufacturers make tweaks if not entire redesigns to their Smart TV platform and interface with each new model year, and Panasonic is no exception here. This year they're collaborating with Mozilla to offer a Firefox OS-based Smart TV interface. The new GUI (Graphical User Interface) enhanced with the Xumo Guide service should make it easier for owners to find the content they want to watch easily and quickly. Voice Control technology and Control 4 integration have also been added in order to provide even more navigation and control options.

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Panasonic loves one-upping themselves. In a dark room at CES, Panasonic showed off a traditional LED/LCD Ultra HD TV next to a prototype with High Dynamic Range and extended color so booth visitors could see what improvements lie in store.

As for 3D, we believe the set will have active 3D technology with RF glasses like last year's sets. However, engineers at the Panasonic booth were unclear as to whether native 4K 3D content would be supported. Since 3D capability is not part of the new Ultra HD Blu-ray spec, this may not be cricially important. Panasonic reps did confirm that legacy 1080p Blu-ray 3D (and other 3D High Definition sources) would be supported. More details on the CX850's specific features and capabilities (as well as pricing and availability) are expected later this year.

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