Big Picture Big Sound

The best CRT (cathode ray tube) televisions ever made were created toward the end of that technology's life span. Early 21st century 34-inch widescreen CRT sets from Sony and 38-inch sets from Loewe presented stunning HDTV images, earned rave reviews from consumers and press alike, and spoiled us while new technologies such as LCD and plasma tried (and failed) to catch up in picture quality. Oh sure, flat panels had their sex appeal (just try to hang a tube TV on the wall), modern conveniences like HDMI inputs, and size advantages, but tube TVs ruled the roost for black level reproduction and contrast. Now I do believe I have seen a set that is a worthy successor to the venerable tube: Pioneer's KURO plasma flat panel.

KURO, roughly translated from the Japanese, means "Really Really BLACK!" And they're not kidding. The single element that can make or break a television, in terms of its portrayal of 3-dimensional images that seem to pop right off the screen is its portrayal of deep, rich blacks. And Pioneer's KURO line has gone where no flat panel has gone before in the reproduction of this difficult shade. When compared side by side even to last year's excellent Pro-FHD1 1080p plasma model, the new 50-inch Pioneer Elite PRO-110FD ($6000, now shipping) presents even richer, more vivid colors, exceptional detail and velvety smooth blacks, so deep they appear to absorb, rather than reflect, ambient light.


I don't normally rave about products at trade shows (frankly, because most products don't reach their potential in this cacophonous, brightly lit environment), but to my eyes, the KURO sets presented the most vibrant and enjoyable flat panel images at the show. In the darkened demo environment, the set looked excellent, but even out on the showroom floor, the KURO stood out from the competition, not only in picture quality but in sleek cabinet design. Even the Pioneer logo has been given the high-end treatment with the badge appearing in inlaid metallic finish within the center of the HDTV's frame, rather than as a stuck-on plastic badge.

Pioneer's new KURO plasma HDTV line includes 720p and 1080p models, starting with the 42-inch PDP-4280HD (1024x768 resolution, $2700) up to the 60-inch Elite PRO-150FD (1920x1080 resolution, $7500).

It is my mission to get one of these in for a full review in the very near future. Until then, if you're in the market for a flat panel television, and you're not too worried about the cost, check out the new KUROs from Pioneer. The Elite models are available now at a specialty retailer near you. And here are a few links to KURO models at Pioneer authorized online retailers (note: you must ADD THE ITEM TO YOUR CART in order to see current pricing at these sites):

• 720p KURO Models (42-inch and 50-inch):
• Pioneer KURO PDP-4280HD 42" 720p Plasma HDTV - Amazon
• Pioneer PDP-4280HD 42-inch 720p KURO Plasma HDTV - OneCall
• Pioneer KURO PDP-5080HD 50" 720p Plasma HDTV - Amazon
• Pioneer PDP-5080HD 50-inch 720p KURO Plasma HDTV - OneCall
• 1080p KURO Models (50-inch and 60-inch):
  • Pioneer KURO PDP-5010FD 50" 1080p Plasma HDTV - Amazon
  • Pioneer PDP-5010 50-inch 1080p KURO Plasma HDTV - B&H
  • Pioneer PDP-5010 50-inch 1080p KURO Plasma HDTV - OneCall
  • Pioneer KURO PDP-6010FD 60" 1080p Plasma HDTV - Amazon
  • Pioneer PDP-6010 60-inch 1080p KURO Plasma HDTV - B&H
  • Pioneer PDP-6010 60-inch 1080p KURO Plasma HDTV - OneCall

More articles related to Pioneer Kuro plasma:

• Kuro Plasma Concept at CES - Black is Back and Thin is In!
• Does Pioneer's Exit from Plasma Manufacturing Mean Death for Kuro HDTV?

More details included in press release below.

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UNRIVALED HOME ENTERTAINMENT FULLY REALIZED WITH PIONEER'S NEW KURO TELEVISIONS NOW AT SPECIALTY RETAILERS

DENVER, CEDIA BOOTH #740 - (September 6, 2007) - Entertainment and sports junkies seeking high performance television need to look no further than four highly anticipated 1080p flat panel displays from Pioneer arriving at specialty retail stores nationwide. Showcasing at CEDIA this week, two 50" and two 60" KURO televisions embody their Japanese moniker delivering deep, penetrating blacks for vivid colors and enhanced dimension that transcend high definition picture quality. The four KURO televisions feature more than two million pixels with full 1920 x 1080 resolution for intense imagery that delivers the emotional impact of every scene. In KURO Pioneer® is redefining high end home theater for passionate enthusiasts who demand quality entertainment.

The four new KURO televisions reinforce Pioneer's position as the best-in-class manufacturer allowing the company to separate from the current commoditized, price-driven flat panel market and focus on developing entertainment devices that create a seeing and hearing experience like never before.

"From concept to development, KURO televisions represent the highest level of television performance and reinforce Pioneer's commitment to constant innovation and the pursuit of a picture that surpasses any current displays," said Paul Meyhoefer, vice president of display marketing and product planning for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "At our core is the desire to bring entertainment to home theater audiences they never believed was possible; after one look at a KURO they will know Pioneer is synonymous with ultimate high definition picture."

The immersive experience that KURO 1080p televisions produce is a direct result of a new panel, filter, and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor that have been designed to work in complete harmony for unparalleled reproduction of sports, movies, television and more. The culmination of these advances has resulted in 1080p televisions with extreme blacks and image contrast currently unmatched in the industry. An integral capability to ensuring pristine picture, black is the starting point for vivid color production; the KURO's deep black levels and doubled pixel count ensure enhanced imagery and a nearly three-dimensional appearance. Designed to deliver every image and sound nuance of 1080p feature films, the televisions' video reproduction of standard definition content is equally impressive. When viewing current DVDs and broadcast programming, viewers recognize a smooth, natural performance that rivals the HD performance of current displays. On-screen imagery is complimented with pristine sound performance that has audiences hearing hard-charging hits and music as if they were in attendance.

The Pioneer KURO 50" PDP-5010FD and 60" PDP-6010FD 1080p televisions are currently available for suggested prices of $5,000 and $6,500, respectively. The Elite® KURO 50" PRO-110FD 1080p and 60" PRO-150FD 1080p televisions are available with the suggested prices of $6,000 and $7,500. Pioneer's Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group develops high definition home theater equipment for sports and entertainment junkies. Its flat panel televisions, Blu-ray Disc® players, A/V receivers and speakers heighten the emotions created by great HD content. The company brands include Pioneer® and Elite®. When purchased from an authorized retailer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Elite products. More details can be located at www.pioneerelectronics.com.
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Pioneer and Elite are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.
BLU-RAY DISC is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.

Contacts:
Christina Ramirez, 310-952-2388 or christina.ramirez@pioneer-usa.com
Danit Ross, 310-526-5529 or dross@gcigroup.com