Pioneer PDP-LX508A

While you have probably heard this a million times, it is still a fact that plasma TVs do generally offer deeper blacks for flat panels. This is due to their self-illuminating nature which eliminates backlighting, the main bottleneck for their rivals from the LCD camp. Ironically, it's the now-defunct CRTs that are still the undisputed benchmark when it comes to true blacks. Sometimes, these old technologies may not be as irrelevant as we think.

Design
The overall aesthetic of the new Kuros has evolved little over the years since the panel and media kit combination was dropped in favour of a one-box solution. Like its past predecessors, the PDP-LX508A is again dressed head to toe in a black piano finish. The shimmer here is achieved via a thick overlay which insulates the underlying metal shell. This approach minimises fingerprint stains but is as scratch-prone as most comparable finishes. Lastly, to echo our in house video producer's sentiments, the minimalist frontal view is so bare that there is simply too little to show off.

As with all its premium offerings, this TV is built like a tank reinforced with a metal skeleton. This adds rigidity to compensate for its 120mm-thick depth as well as necessary strength to carry a pair of side bolt-on loudspeakers. The entire 30kg-plus ensemble is, in turn, held upright by an L-shaped stand which secures the panel firmly -- but it does lack a swiveling function. While we appreciate the stereo imaging benefits of widely spaced loudspeakers, they're placed directly in the way of the corner A/V inputs and TV controls, which compromises accessibility.

The beefy bundled remote not only excels in versatility with a cool four-way multi-brand/function control, it also ranks high in build and convenience. For starters, there is the brushed metal skin which delivers a very solid feel in hand. Toggling between video inputs is a hassle-free affair courtesy of seven dedicated buttons. That said, there is still minor room for improvements. For example, button illumination as offered by the Bravia X-series is definitely one area worth exploring. If not, at least the input keys could have been better labeled instead of simply being numbered.

For the adventurous, there is an assortment of audio-visual settings in the software menu to keep you occupied for hours. Besides fundamental brightness and sharpness controls, we counted 23 advanced variants for further customisation. Among them are four noise reduction options and SpyderTV Pro-friendly advanced greyscale cuts and gains. The latter is, however, grouped under the colour temperature submenu instead of two independent configurations. In case you count yourself an A/V-illiterate, there are six picture modes optimised for different program types.

Features
The Kuro PDP-LX508A is more than a mere incremental upgrade of the PDP-5000EX, centered on the company's 8th-generation plasma panel. Key refinements in this iteration include an enhanced Crystal Immersive Layer which enables the LX Kuro to deliver near-CRT blacks and reveal shadow details. Besides a future-proofed 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution, it boasts an industry-leading 20,000:1 contrast. The latter, regardless of whether it's a native or dynamic rating, is a substantial leap over its predecessor and other comparable 1080p plasma TVs in the market.

Another innovation is the light sensor-assisted Optimum Picture mode which tailors onscreen pictures on-the-fly by adapting to actual room lighting conditions and program content. It complements the optional but professionally calibrated ISF Day and Night modes (sometimes bundled depending on the individual country and promotion). According to Pioneer, this combination delivers the best of both worlds. They provide a hassle-free yet optimised viewing experience for most mainstream consumers, plus flexibility for indepth colour tuning to suit videophiles.

To value-add, there is a high-speed USB port for onboard JPEG playback a.k.a. the Home Gallery function. Probably a first for its flat-panel TVs, this allows digital photos to be directly displayed on the big screen via a variety of portable media. This ranges from inexpensive thumbdrives to direct digital camera hookup. Supported JPEG files are officially capped at 8-megapixel resolutions and can be previewed in a 4 x 4 thumbnail grid with companion image information. Provision for slideshows is also catered for, complete with full-screen/repeat modes besides playback order and intervals.

Pioneer has upped the connectivity options with three full-featured HDMI terminals. These have extensive 1080p signal handling, compatible with not only the film-centric 24Hz mode but also standard 50 and 60Hz variants. Furthermore, there is the convenience of HDMI-CEC which allows single-remote operation of selected Pioneer A/V boxes connected via HDMI. Going analog, there are the 1080i-only dual component-video sockets, PC input and legacy S-video and composite jacks. It also sports a digital audio output which means you'll be able to hear the onboard TV tuner through your AV system.

Performance
Before we touch on the details for the weeks-long testing exercise, let's have a quick recap of the review "cast". Leading the Blu-ray player role was the Monster-cabled PlayStation 3 console. And in a supporting DVD role, we had the venerable but trusty Pioneer DV-S969AVi. Tuning into the local free-to-air stations, we were delightfully greeted by relatively dot crawl-free and clear visuals. The level of sharpness was more than commendable for 1080p panels, though grainy noise was a potential issue for poorer analog reception.

Putting the SpyderTV Pro-calibrated panel through the unforgiving Avia test patterns, we picked up a mild red dip in colour decoding which marred an otherwise perfect greyscale performance. The latter was reaffirmed playing back reference-grade DVD test clips. Most notably was the ninja assault scene in Blade 2, reproduced in revealing shadows and natural skin tones. Here, complex structures and machinery were clearly visible in the background despite the pitch-dark setting. To top it off, edge fidelity had definitely picked up a notch with less visible jaggies.

Nonetheless, it was a Blu-ray copy of Ice Age: The Meltdown which sealed our nod of approval. The presentation had a distinct, layered depth coupled with saturated colours and razor-sharp clarity. In particular, we were impressed by the realism of the opossums' fur. That said, occasional mild video noise was a minor issue when inspected up close. Not surprisingly, it was the stringent HD HQV benchmark which played the devil's advocate, with Video and File Resolution Loss tests flagging errors, indicating a possible lapse in rendering full 1080i details.

The above hiccups did not stop the Kuro from putting on a strong showing for PS3's Ridge Racer 7. Fast race panning shots were expertly tackled with resounding fluidity. Same went for the eye candy resulting in crisp, clean and vibrant graphics.

As expected, the maximum non-native 1,360 x 768-pixel PC resolution put a definite toll on small fonts and text legibility. On the bright side, onscreen color gradation was easily the smoothest we have seen, while screen formatting was spot-on for all listed compatible PC-centric formats.

Using the the Home Gallery function, JPEG loading time was generally acceptable with images rendered in their original aspect ratio. Though most samples turned up convincingly, jagged contours were a reoccurring eyesore for some diagonal outlines.

Rounding up, we were bowled over by the articulated and clean-sounding loudspeakers. These piped out strong mid-bass and rock-solid stereo imaging, losing out only in surround effects. Lastly, you may like to check your player's HDMI audio setting as a raw feed (bitstream) will drive the speakers into disturbingly loud distortion.

This AU$7,999 Pioneer Kuro sets the bar for black levels and colour saturation among flat-panel TVs. If you have stacks of cash to spare and insist on nothing but the best in the market, the PDP-LX508A is the absolute one. However, if you're looking for something comparable with better bang-for-the-buck, there are plenty of alternatives available. Simply because it has yet to deliver twice the performance of its competitors to justify its ticket price.

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