Panasonic TX-32LZD81

With the credit crunch apparently causing people to leave Sky in droves, Panasonic’s TX-32LZD81 is arriving at the perfect time. Why? Because it’s the UK’s first LCD TV with a built-in Freesat tuner.

What’s more, this tuner is an HD one, giving you access to Freesat’s BBC HD and ITV HD services alongside 130 or so other subs-free digital TV and radio channels.

Analogue and Freeview tuners are included too – handy considering there are still a few channels on Freeview you can’t yet find on Freesat.

Simplicity

Obviously a TV with three tuners has the potential to be seriously complicated, but actually Panasonic has made an exemplary job of keeping things simple. Even the info-heavy Freeview and Freesat electronic programme guides are cleanly and intuitively presented.

The full HD 32LZD81’s Freesat tuner immediately gives it a currently unique attraction. But we have to say it looks a little clunky for such a cutting edge product, and also seems light on video processing. There’s no sign of the 100Hz or Motion Focus technology used so well on Panasonic’s LZD85 TVs.

Perhaps because of this the 32LZD81’s performance is only good rather than great. When watching Champions League footie via ITV HD, for instance, there’s definitely some blurring – albeit low level – as the players move.

Also troubling are the set’s black levels. They aren’t cripplingly bad by any means, but there’s a greyish blue tone to dark scenes that the best LCD TVs generally avoid these days.

HD's friend

In the plus column, HD pictures from the Freesat tuner – or a Blu-ray player – look impressively detailed and sharp for a 32in TV. Colours are very rich and bright too, and natural in tone except for where the bluish flavour creeps into dark scenes.

The 32LZD81 also handles standard definition well, upscaling it with more crispness and less processing noise than most full HD TVs.

Unusually for a 32in LCD TV, the 32LZD81 also sounds pretty decent. It delivers most TV soundtracks with surprising clarity and dynamism, and without distortion. The speakers struggle a little to retain their open sound during a full-tilt action scene, but seldom to a distracting extent.

The 32LZD81 thoroughly deserves to find an audience thanks to its unique and superbly integrated Freesat compatibility. Though at the same time it's a touch disappointing that it doesn’t hit the same performance heights as one or two other current Panasonic LCD TVs.