In case CNET's
pics of the upcoming Pioneer KURO LCDs weren't enough to get your wild speculation going, and you can't get over to
Germany to pick one up for yourself, some more photos of the KRL-32V, 37V and 46V sets have emerged from the
CEATEC show. Getting good photos from the tradeshow floor is tough, but these pics (especially the ones against a black backdrop) look promising in terms of black level, at least. The linked post hints that the LCDs may not have quite measured up to the namesake plasmas, so remember what we said about show floor pics. Still, even if Pioneer is
sourcing the panels from Sharp, we're encouraged by the focus on image quality over slim profiles. Hit the link for more eye-candy and let us know what you think.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
El perron @ Oct 7th 2008 4:58AM
These pioneer tvs produce very nice images but why are the TVs always so ugly, well not ugly but wayyy too simple compared to todays designs, samsung takes the crown on designs.
Loban @ Oct 7th 2008 11:25AM
It'll be a cold day in hell when I prioritize the aesthetics of the cabinet over the quality of the picture in my TV. I would buy a KURO panel wrapped in a giant cheese block before I bought a Samsung.
I have a two year old VIERA, back when the cabinets were thick, ugly, and silver, with big ugly ass speakers below the panel. It's not an attractive TV at all, but man does the picture look beautiful.
For my money, the order of consideration for purcahse goes: KURO (plasma, not these LCDs), then VIERA, then all the other crap.
Thomas M @ Oct 7th 2008 9:45AM
These are out in France, and have been presented in the Top Audio in Milano... official product pictures already exists so why such a mystery in Japan are everywhere else?
BTW i saw the pictures that these LCD produces, you have to be strictely front of the screen or the blacks are not blacks anymore.
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 7th 2008 10:01AM
The 9 series Samsungs are the LCDs to have right now apparantly.
Tested to prove they show excellent black levels and, unlike many, no resolution loss when displaying motion -
http://hdguru.com/will-you-see-all-the-hdtv-resolution-you-expected-125-2008-model-test-results-hd-guru-exclusive/287/
EngadgetHD carried the story recently.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/09/29/hd-guru-evaluates125-hdtvs-in-the-resolution-loss-test/
bobtheHDbuilder @ Oct 7th 2008 12:49PM
you seem to forget that you don't get anything close to "no resolution loss" when you want 3:2 pulldown, that brings it down to a measly 300 lines, one third what a plasma produces in motion
Multi-format-mayhem @ Oct 7th 2008 5:37PM
@ bobtheHDbuilder
Actually you ought to check that PDF.
In fact it turns out that those juice-wasting plasmas aren't exactly 100% perfect either.
Loban @ Oct 7th 2008 11:35AM
Calling an LCD a KURO is like calling the Cayenne a Porsche.
I'm sorry but a true KURO is a plasma not an LCD, just like a true Porsche is a sports car not an SUV.
A Cayenne will never perform as well as a 911 (yes, I know it's apples to oranges, bear with me), and an LCD will never perform as well as a Plasma. That's just the way it is.
Kent @ Oct 7th 2008 5:31PM
I love the clean basic lines of the Kuro Plasmas. Its hard to tell from the pics if the cabinet design is as clean as their Plasmas.
Cabinet design does matter. Tell your wife or gf it doesnt and see what they say. :)
Currently the cleanest looking LCD on the market is the Sony Z series. I just wish they made it in a 52".
clara @ Oct 9th 2008 3:46PM
So what ARE the prices? And when will they really be available?
I'm anxious to know whether to pull the trigger on a sony xbr / samsung on black friday, or wait for these Kuro LCDs.
I agree with Kent, Pioneer has a very tasteful, subtle and professional design. These have a slightly more "design" element to to the bezels, but still quite nice.
I'm discouraged by the small speakers though. I'm very unhappy about the sound quality from Sony's tiny speakers (impressive for size, but they still suck) and Samsung's rplastic-enclosed downward-firing speakers (highly muddied midbass and ruined treble). I wish Pioneer had gone the detachable route like on their plasmas.
Sly @ Oct 19th 2008 2:31PM
I Live in America, and i think it's a damn shame that Pioneer is able to sell their "New" LCD's over in Europe but not sell it here. I'm ready to spend my hard earn dollars on a 37" as i type this, but, i have to wait, but, wait for what? If it's being sold now, sell the damn thing here also, "What's the beef"?