Pioneer sells out plasma

Pioneer has announced new pricing for its range of Kuro plasmas in preparation for the next generation of televisions due later in the year.

None more black (literally)

Pioneer's top-of-the-line full-1080p panels are now AU$5999 for the 50-inch PDP-LX508A and AU$9,999 for the 60-inch PDP-LX608A, which is about two grand off each.

Unfortunately, if you were looking to buy one of the Editor's Choice winning PDP-508XDA you've missed the boat &mdash they've all sold out. And stocks of the PDP-428XDA are running out as well. It's now available for an RRP of $3499, but with a bit of looking you should be able to find it for about a grand cheaper than that.

If you're waiting patiently for Pioneer's ninth-generation plasmas, you'll have to wait a little longer &mdash they're not due until Q4 2008. The company will only be making a 50-inch and 60-inch model, and though specifications are yet to be announced we expect features like 100Hz, 1080p, and even higher contrast levels to be included.

These plasmas will be the last inhouse models now that Pioneer has signed on Panasonic to manufacture panels for them. However, we won't see the TVs from this partnership for another 18 months yet.

Also of interest will be the range of Pioneer LCDs &mdash resulting from yet another partnership with Sharp &mdash which will see models including a 32-inch and 37-inch arriving in Australia in the next year.