Pioneer KURO and friends hands-on {Engadget HD}

May 31st 2008 12:13PM I have to set the record straight here. That picture is crap! I have owned the 81 Series Samsung LED backit LCD and considered the KURO as well at time of purchase. They each have their advantages, but this pictures is a hideous comparison. First off, fast moving bright white dots on the screen will make the entire backlight turn on with no local dimming opportunity. The exposure on the camera is almost certainly more than the human eye would see. Also, the contrast on the Samsung 81 series is amazing from the front and gradually loses contrast to the sides. So if you were to simply flip the location of the Kuro and the Samsung LCD LED, this picture would look VERY different. Also, in some scenes where the Samsung 81 can locally dim, there is no backlight and the black is as dark as possible. Even in a dark room, I cannot see the bezel of my TV with the local dimming enabled.

So what I'm saying here is that if you want a TV that MUST have great contrast at off-angles, the KURO is for you. But if you sit in front of your TV and don't want a space heater in your room, the Samsung 81 will deliver. Oh, and the Samsung 81 makes for the best computer monitor imaginable.

Valkyrie-MT
Samsung LNT-5281F 52" of LED Backlit LCD goodness!