Panasonic AX902B

[strapped for cash]

Thought I'd start a thread about Panasonic's "plasma beating" 4K LED television.

I've been keen to find out how this performs for months. Hopefully reviews will trickle in soon, though according to HDTV Test, samples are thin on the ground.

Can Panasonic really coax a plasma beating performance from an LED set, even using a more sophisticated full array system? I'd like to see the 902 submitted to a firework display torture test, to begin with.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Quite pricey at £3,500! I wonder when that will soon fall? In stock here:

http://www.rgbdirect.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?SKUNumber=125177&Model=Panasonic-TX55AX902B

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It's quite a heavy TV and won't go on my stand.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jUdYwB_mGEg

 

[Series1boy]

Some Info here

https://www.avforums.com/article/panasonic-ax902-ultra-hd-4k-tv-preview.10819

 

[Joe10155]

I was in the Oxford Street branch of John Lewis earlier this evening and spoke with the Panasonic TV rep. She said that it is not yet available but it is still due to come out sometime later this month (November).

 

[strapped for cash]

It's quite a heavy TV and won't go on my stand.

That's a relief. You definitely shouldn't buy one!

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

It's quite a heavy TV and won't go on my stand.

That's a relief. You definitely shouldn't buy one!

But you know he will, don't you. *smile*

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It's quite a heavy TV and won't go on my stand.

That's a relief. You definitely shouldn't buy one!

But you know he will, don't you. *smile*

Definitely not this time. *smile*

 

[bigboss]

I'm not holding my breath on this one. There are technology limitations with LED lit LCD. Will be interesting to see how Quantum Dot technology overcomes this on Samsung TVs next year.

I'm quite surprised at the pricing, as it's competing against OLEDs even for price!!

 

[strapped for cash]

I'm not holding my breath on this one. There are technology limitations with LED lit LCD. Will be interesting to see how Quantum Dot technology overcomes this on Samsung TVs next year.

While I'm not anticipating a game-changing product, I'm genuinely intrigued to find out how the television performs.

To my knowledge, no prior full array model offers variable light output in each local dimming zone (rather than simply turning individual zones on or off). Granted, such a system will probably still lack plasma/OLED technology's nuance. Can the 902 reproduce a firework display, for instance, without obvious haloing?

I'm quite surprised at the pricing, as it's competing against OLEDs even for price!!

Agreed. I think Panasonic wants to showcase its "high end" technology (with high end pricing) and I doubt the 902 will sell in worthwhile numbers.

LG fumbled the ball somewhat with this year's OLED model. There may be a niche for the 902 among videophiles, but it'll need to be a stunning performer.

 

[bigboss]

There may be a niche for the 902 among videophiles, but it'll need to be a stunning performer.  

I don't think Panasonic is expecting to sell these in huge numbers. It's just an exercise for Panasonic to show they can produce good TVs to maintain the brand image.

Videophiles alone are not enough to save a product, we've seen that with the Kuro.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

It's quite a heavy TV.

How much actually does it weigh, or can you post a link to its weight? I can't find out how heavy it is.

 

[strapped for cash]

I don't think Panasonic is expecting to sell these in huge numbers. It's just an exercise for Panasonic to show they can produce good TVs to maintain the brand image.

Videophiles alone are not enough to save a product, we've seen that with the Kuro.

I wouldn't disagree.

I wasn't anticipating a game-changing product and the 902 makes little commercial sense. As you say, it's really a matter of company prestige.

The HDTVtest review is now online:

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/tx55ax902b-201411073944.htm

I haven't time to read it in depth. Based on what I've skimmed through the 902 sounds like a worthy effort rather than an unqualified success.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Thought I'd start a thread about Panasonic's "plasma beating" 4K LED television.

I've been keen to find out how this performs for months. Hopefully reviews will trickle in soon, though according to HDTV Test, samples are thin on the ground.

Can Panasonic really coax a plasma beating performance from an LED set, even using a more sophisticated full array system? I'd like to see the 902 submitted to a firework display torture test, to begin with.

Hello there Strapped for Cash,

I too had thought about starting a thread on this very television, but you were first! I have lots of thoughts about it, but mainly I'm disappointed that again, like the 802 series Panasonic have seen fit to give it a sloping-back stand, which is fine if the television is going to be placed below eye level, but not good for eye-level or above. And not all of us can, or want to, wall mount a television - I certainly don't.

I would also hope that whenever it is reviewed, it is compared specifically with Samsung H7500 / H8500 and the best 4K Sony televisions, to see if, at the 65" size for instance, the Panasonic is worth fully a grand more than the competition.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

The HDTVtest review is now online:

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/tx55ax902b-201411073944.htm

 

[strapped for cash]

Hi Son_of_SJ

I definitely won't be buying one, though I was interested to discover how far Panasonic could push LCD-based technology. If I was in the market for a new television I'd buy the outgoing LG 980W (and possibly a Lumagen).

Agreed, sloping stands have always been a bad idea, as Sony quickly learned.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

I've just read Vincent's review in some haste, but I think I get the gist of it. It's a very good television, but I'm not sure whether it's worth the price premium over the same size Samsung H7500 and H8500.

And I really don't like the sloping-back stand. For me (and many other people won't care, I freely concede) that is a deal-breaker.

It's very good, but maybe not the world-beater that I had been expecting.

 

[strapped for cash]

It's very good, but maybe not the world-beater that I had been expecting.

The 24p motion issue is also off-putting, while the 902 is clearly a bad choice for gamers and 3D fans.

Still, I'm curious to see the 902 in action.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It's quite a heavy TV.

How much actually does it weigh, or can you post a link to its weight? I can't find out how heavy it is.

Yep, I will find it now for you, it's a heavy beast!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

It's quite a heavy TV.

How much actually does it weigh, or can you post a link to its weight? I can't find out how heavy it is.

Yep, I will find it now for you, it's a heavy beast!

Hi, I can't seem to find it at the moment but I know it's on the American Panasonic website. If you find it can you link it because I can't seem to get it up.

 

[Son_of_SJ]

No need to go to the American Panasonic website gel, from this UK link http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/viera-televisions/led.html you can see that this 55-inch machine weighs FORTY kilograms including the stand! Without the stand, it is only a much more sensible 26 kg.

So Panasonic have designed a stand which not only slopes backwards, but weighs 14 kg!! Great.

Overall this new Panasonic TX-55AX902B television manages to weigh 2 kg more than my 64-inch Samsung PS64D8000 plasma, which is happily on the same AV stand that Gel has. And I thought that it was plasma televisions that were supposed to be heavy!

By the way, the 65-inch version weighs 35kg without the desktop stand and 52kg with stand! Panasonic have made a stand (for the 65-inch set) that weighs more than a 15-kg Ryanair suitcase!! Well done, boys. This 52 kg for the 65-inch version is within touching distance of the heaviest domestic plasma that Panasonic made, three years ago the 65VT30 plasma weighed 56kg.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

No need to go to the American Panasonic website gel, from this UK link http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/viera-televisions/led.html you can see that this 55-inch machine weighs FORTY kilograms including the stand! Without the stand, it is only a much more sensible 26 kg.

So Panasonic have designed a stand which not only slopes backwards, but weighs 14 kg!! Great.

Overall this new Panasonic TX-55AX902B television manages to weigh 2 kg more than my 64-inch Samsung PS64D8000 plasma, which is happily on the same AV stand that Gel has. And I thought that it was plasma televisions that were supposed to be heavy!

By the way, the 65-inch version weighs 35kg without the desktop stand and 52kg with stand! Panasonic have made a stand (for the 65-inch set) that weighs more than a 15-kg Ryanair suitcase!! Well done, boys. This 52 kg for the 65-inch version is within touching distance of the heaviest domestic plasma that Panasonic made, three years ago the 65VT30 plasma weighed 56kg.

Ah cheers! I can't believe the stand weighs 14kg, that's crazy.

 

[strapped for cash]

So Panasonic have designed a stand which not only slopes backwards, but weighs 14 kg!! Great.

I can't believe the stand weighs 14kg, that's crazy.

Stop complaining you two. That's robust build quality, don't you know!

 

[Son_of_SJ]

Strapped for Cash, my good chap, I hadn't realised until now that you were a man for humour!!! There is robust build quality, and there is overkill. My 64" Samsung plasma weighs 38.3kg with the claw-foot or X-shape stand, and 35kg without. So the stand weighs only 3.3kg, on a 64" set. And the plasma has not fallen over yet, since I got it in February 2012, and the stand swivels, which is an often overlooked benefit. How Panasonic can make a stand weighing 14kg for a 55" set I don't know. And I bet the stand doesn't swivel! Oh, have I previously mentioned that it slopes backwards?