Search AudioEnz
	Articles
	Current reviews Opinion Music reviews KnowledgeBase Acrobat files
	News
	Current
	Community
	Feedback Forum
	Buying
	Dealer lists Classifieds
	About AudioEnz
	About AudioEnz Contact details Want to review? Privacy policy

Stylemeister

Looks are more than skin deep with the Planus
by Michael Jones

November 2001

Loewe Planus 4670 ZW. $4500

When you buy a Loewe television you buy more than a great picture. You're also buying into a great sense of style.

And this is a great example of that style. The Planus is one of the best looking TVs I've seen, even when turned off.

This 70cm (28") widescreen TV is among the smaller available on the New Zealand market. Is it too small? In a large lounge it probably will be. Fortunately most of us do not live in mansions. This size TV will be perfect for smaller lounges.

The Planus 4670 is a 100Hz TV - this aims to reduce flicker. The Planus uses what Loewe call a Super-Flatline picture tube. No, it's not a flat screen, but this viewer believes that the current move towards flatscreens is driven more by marketing concerns than creating a better picture. Give me a great picture any day!

The Planus includes Nicam stereo processing for sound.

Around the back are two scart connectors for connecting a DVD player or VCR. The Planus is capable of taking a RGB, s-video or composite signal. Under a front flap are RCA sockets and an s-video socket for connecting a camcorder or video game.

Mention must be made of the Loewe remote control system. While the Loewe system initially seems strange, it quickly becomes apparent that the TV's control system is very powerful and logically laid out. Through the remote a number of control functions can be brought up on screen. If you're confused by any, just hit the button labelled"I" on the remote and up pops an explanation.

The Planus is available in Graphite (black) or Arctic Silver. My review sample came in the latter and the colour looked extremely attractive.

The picture clarity was excellent. Unlike some TVs, this clarity wasn't achieved by oversharpening the picture (In fact, the picture was at it best with the sharpness control turned right down). This is real detail that is seen on screen, not the oversharpened mess that I've seen with some other TVs.

There's a consistent pattern that crops up with colours between TVs from Europe versus TVs from Japan. The TVs from Japan usually have a larger than life approach to the colour. Colours appear more vibrant, more "technicolour" than in real life.

By contrast, switch to many European TVs and the colours are more subtle, more realistic and look more "right". Such is the case with the Planus.

Once I've run a few DVDs through a TV I check out the settings with one of the test DVDs that are available (I use Avia mainly, but Video Essentials is also available to me - either is very useful).

Normally a TV needs some alteration to its settings to correct the picture (TVs are often set up to jump out at the viewer in a store, so the contrast and sharpness is often set too high). The Planus was just one or two clicks out according to Avia - an admirable result. The differences could be put down to differing lighting conditions as much as anything.

As you may have gathered, I really liked this television. I'm not sure if it has a better picture than the previously reviewed Loewe Cantus (I suspect it might have, but it's been too long since I saw the Cantus). But I know I'd buy the Planus for nothing else than its styling. Warmly recommended as a quality widescreen television.

Click here for Loewe dealers

Want to comment on this review? Click here for Feedback