A key part of Pioneer’s strategy to differentiate itself in the market is the millions that the company is tipping into plasma R& D research. This is no more evident than with its new Kuro platform.
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The company has also redesigned its cell structure, enabling the panel to increase the speed of electrical discharge within the cells, improving the idling efficiency of the panel and enables it to reproduce more intense levels of black. In addition, the increased idling efficiency also allows the three primary colours red-green-blue (RGB) to be vividly reproduced with smooth, delicate gradations even in dark scenes.
Pioneer’s proprietary drive system for smooth, high-density gradations of black has further evolved together with the new panels. Besides lowering the level of black luminance, setting more detailed gradation steps in areas of low luminance results in smoother gradations in dark scenes.
The Kuro panels also have a redesigned Direct Colour Filter that Pioneer claims will improve contrast in a bright room environment.
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The Direct Colour Filter is used to minimise external light reflections on the picture from the outside of the panel (as well as from the panel itself) to dramatically improve contrast levels in bright environments.
Pioneer has also introduced its new Application Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC) that aims to take an interlace signal and convert it to progressive, eliminate any trace of MPEG noise in HD signals, eliminates any cross-colour artefacts and cross-luminance problems with its PAL 3D Y/C separation filter, and provide a smooth transition between frames in panning shots.
An Optimum Video (living-room) mode is also present in Pioneer’s KURO panels. This new mode utilizes a sensor to detect the room lighting condition, and will automatically adjust the parameters that are used to process the image, optimising it for the viewer.
A Deep Waffle Rib Structure technology is also present, which means that each plasma cell is perfectly encapsulated on all sides, so that emitted light cannot leak into neighbouring cells and thereby disperse their brightness.
Pioneer’s new KURO panels also include HDMI control, HDMI 1.3 terminals that supports 1080p/50Hz, 1080p/60-Hz and 1080p/24-Hz input signals, 24 frames per second processing (24fps) at 72Hz, a Home Gallery (JPEG Picture Viewer) function that lets a user load images from memory sticks straight to the Kuro screen, and improved audio quality.
Pricing & Availability:
- PDP-508XDA (October) : $5,699
- PDP-428XDA (October) : $4,699
- PDP-LX508A (October) : $7,499
- PDP-LX608A (October) : $11,999
See: www.pioneer.com.au
