The 50-inch Panasonic TX-50MX800 is ideal for small spaces or as a second device in the bedroom. Panasonic MX800 is a mid-range series equipped with Edge LED backlighting , Fire TV, HDR standards and a fast tuner. The Panasonic MX800 series is available in 6 sizes. In this review of the Panasonic TX-50MX800 4K HDR, we will try to identify its strengths and weaknesses in order to understand whether the MX800 is worth buying.
Panasonic MX800 review
Design
The 50-inch version of the MX800 from Panasonic was chosen for review. The series is also available in larger versions with diagonals from 43 to 85 inches. The TV comes with two screw-on metal feet, a power cable and a remote control.
The TX-50MX800 is slim and has a high-quality appearance. The remote control is a bit big and looks a bit “over-engineered”. On the other hand, it has all the necessary buttons for control. If you need to hang the TV on the wall, you will need a VESA 200 x 200 mm wall mount.
Smart TV
In terms of features, these models predominantly use Amazon’s Fire TV OS as the central operating system. Anyone already familiar with the Fire TV Stick will get the hang of it right away. When you turn on the TV for the first time, the system will first want to pair with the remote control.
The remote control can also be used as a microphone for voice control via Alexa. Voice control works smoothly right away. Whether it’s switching programs, adjusting the volume, or navigating streaming services. It is unlikely that any other TV can be controlled so conveniently by voice.
Owners of smart video doorbells can use the command: “Alexa, show me the front door.” After such a command, a small picture-in-picture window will open and you can see who is behind the front door. The Fire TV operating system also offers a good selection of apps and streaming services.
Amazon Prime Video, Neflix and Disney+ are already pre-installed. They can be started by pressing a button on the remote control. However, you will have to do without the SkyQ application. The Panasonic 50MX800 TV responds instantly to commands. This also applies to the TV tuner.
Changing channels takes no more than 1–2 seconds. If you use a suitable USB storage device, you can record the current TV program. The TV tuner is designed for all types of reception (DVB-T2 HD, DVB-S2, DVB-C). It should also be noted that not all Panasonic MX800 TVs are equipped with the Fire TV operating system.
For example, TVs in this series supplied to Malaysia have the Google TV operating system based on Android. Their markings will look like this: Panasonic TX-50MX800K. That is, the letter “K” will be added at the end.
Sound quality
For a TX-50MX800 TV in this price category, the sound quality is quite satisfactory. This is a regular pair of speakers with a power of 10 watts per channel. Expecting rich, cinematic sound from such a speaker system would seem like a utopia.
But the acoustics are set up well. Even if you turn up the volume, the sound remains clear. There are no noticeable noises. In addition, the device has excellent dialogue intelligibility. The TV also supports Dolby Atmos . For surround sound lovers, it is usually recommended to connect a soundbar to your TV.
Image quality
Panasonic TVs are generally known for their high picture quality. The MX800 lives up to this reputation as a mid-range model. However, its peak brightness does not exceed 450 candelas per square meter. Of course, the TV will not be able to compete with expensive OLED and Mini LED models , but this is to be expected.
In its price range, the Panasonic TX-50MX800 TV has image quality no worse than its competitors. Panasonic TX-50MX800 supports all static and dynamic HDR formats such as HDR, HLG, HDR10+ Adaptive and Dolby Vision . Despite limited peak brightness, images become more dynamic.
The contrast and brightness of colors increases noticeably. However, the image falls a little short of the full HDR effect that is inherent in such content. Most TVs have difficulty playing analogue TV channels in SD quality. The Panasonic MX800 TV does an excellent job of scaling and displays everything beautifully and clearly.
Therefore, you can do without an HD+ subscription and also watch YouTube videos in lower resolution. The TV delivers the best picture quality with native 4K HDR content on BluRay discs. In this case, it creates a crystal clear and perfectly clear image on the screen.
Although the Panasonic 50MX800 TV has a slower 60Hz panel, the picture is impressive with its clarity and harmonious presentation of moving images. This means you can enjoy a football match or a Formula 1 race without splutter. The 50-inch TV features a VA panel with Edge LED backlighting.
Matrices of this type have excellent intrinsic contrast. The best image is achieved when viewed in a dark room. On the other hand, without adjustable lighting zones, white objects in black areas of the image may produce blooming.
The disadvantages also include limited viewing angles. Panasonic amazes with its natural color reproduction. It reproduces colors accurately in both the SDR and HDR ranges. This is noticeable both in landscapes and in faces. Everything looks pretty realistic. From the factory the image is already almost perfectly adjusted. However, there are also manual settings for picky purists.
Connections
The MX800 TV offers a variety of connection options. The patch panel contains 4 HDMI 2.0 connectors, 2 USB 2.0 ports, analog video input, 3.5 mm headphone jack, linear Internet connection, optical digital output, and antenna connectors. Wireless connections include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Conclusion
The MX800 demonstrates a good image with realistic colors, high contrast and clarity. The TV also offers extensive Fire TV features, Alexa voice control, and a fast tuner. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the limited viewing angles. Overall, the 50MX800 has a very good price-to-quality ratio.
Pros:
Good image quality.
Very good color rendition.
High contrast.
Wide range of Smart TV capabilities.
Cons:
Average sound.
Limited viewing angles.