'Should I buy a Kuro before it's too late?': Ask the Editors
If you have cash to spare and want the best picture quality, dang right you should.
Q: "David - Do you recommend waiting for the new higher-end plasmas from Panasonic or pulling the trigger on one of Pioneer's Kuro plasmas? Money no object."
-- Mark, via e-mail.
A: Having just finished reviewing one of those higher-end Panasonic plasmas, the G10 series, I'd recommend that deep-pocketed videophiles grab a Pioneer Kuro while they're still available.
As we'll remind everyone for what's sure to not be the last time, Pioneer will stop making plasmas. That's significant for shoppers looking to buy a high-end TV for one big reason: Pioneer makes what are still, in my and many other experts' opinions, the best HDTVs on the market. The company's Elite Kuro series earned the only "10" I've ever awarded in Performance for a flat-panel TV, while the superb non-Elite PDP-5020FD series were nearly as good, minus some adjustments and color accuracy (and plus about two grand).
Pioneer's factory in Pomona, Calif., will continue to manufacture these Kuro displays through April before it closes, according to the company, but after that I expect them to disappear quickly from store shelves. Of course, as long as the company itself is still around, I expect it to stand behind any Kuros it sells.
When the last Kuro disappears, the best flat-panel HDTV on the market could well be the THX-equipped Panasonic TC-PG10 series, which I reviewed last week. The short story is that the G10, while a superb HDTV in its own right, isn't as good as the Elite Kuro. Compared to the non-Elite 5020FD models, it's a closer match: the Kuro loses in terms of overall color accuracy, but still delivers superior black-level performance compared to the G10. Choosing between the two--money-no-object--I'd give the edge to the Kuro 5020FD.
Of course, if money were to enter into the equation, the story changes significantly. At Best Buy, the 50-inch non-Elite Kuro, otherwise known as the Pioneer PDP-5020FD, costs about $500 more than the 50-inch Panasonic TC-P50G10, while the Elite PRO-111FD Kuro costs more twice (!) as much. Of course, other retailers charge different prices, but you get the idea. If I had to make a decision now, and was bound by a budget, I'd choose the Panasonic G10.
That said, judging from the e-mail I receive, there are plenty of HDTV shoppers out there who aren't bothered much by budgetary concerns, and for whom an extra $500 or $2,000 doesn't make a big difference. For them, the best choice is a Kuro, at least while it still is a choice.
In the coming days, weeks, and months I'll be reviewing a whole lot of other new HDTVs, such as Panasonic's step-up V10 series, Samsung's 850 series plasmas and new "LED" TVs, and LG's own THX-equipped PS80 plasmas (check out the Spring Preview for more). Any of these models, or perhaps a dark horse from another manufacturer, could conceivably replace the G10 as king of the post-Kuro picture quality hill. But if I were a betting man, I'd wager that no 2009 HDTV will outperform that "10" from 2008.
David Katzmaier reviews HDTVs for CNET. 
You have "Pioneer will making plasmas" in the first sentence.
--Katz
Sony is a bad company. And to support sony is to support bad business! I have made it my mission to remind people whenever I can of Sony's many failures as a company in the industry, not the least of which is their Root Kit fiasco. Sony felt that they were judge, jury and executioner when they illegally used the "CD" logo on their music CDs when in fact, they violated the redbook constraints by embedding a secret program on their music CDs. This insidious program would installl its self in a secret location and "phone home" at regular intervals with the results of it's spying on your music. Sony does not admit what it was going to do with this information but we can only guess that the RIAA was most likely the end recipient of this information!
Unfortunatly (or fortunatly) the program was horribly written and as such caused thousands of computers to fail with no cause. And because this program resided in a critical location on your operating system hard drive, it caused kernel level panics to the OS which caused people to spend thousands of dollars in repair and even replacing their computers. And once this program was discovered, Sony denied that they knew anything about it...And only when they were cornered with irrefutable proof of their wrong doing, did they bregrudgingly admit from behind the safety of their myriad of lawyers that yes, they commisssioned the creation of the program, *but* they claim that they didn't write it so they shouldn't be responsible...Needless to say, a class action suit ensued, where the plaintiffs got a free CD of music from the Sony catalog...big deal! So because of this horrible act, I say, you can find as good or even better than sony for the same price or even cheaper...
Don't buy Sony.
Ed
web/gadget guru
FYI the new Led's are Garbage. Only tv I see competing with the Kuro is possibly the 8000 series Led Samsung rolls out soon.
I read that review over 20 times over the last few months, as I was researching, and preparing to buy my first HDTV. In the end, I went with the Kuro. $1895.00 shipped, from a Retailer on CNET. I am blown away by the picture! But, I was wondering, what could I expect from a first class calibration? Is it true that post-calibration the gray-scale is the same as the pro-111 ? I was looking to buy the new pioneer BDP-320/ 23fd blu ray player next month (I have the panny dmp-bd35 now) because of Pioneer's amazing build quality and pq. Is it true if I utilize the new Kuro link, that it will wipe out my professional calibration settings?
I DID see the Elite Kuro Pro 111FD for $2,000 on-line at Onlen Stores (no recommendation - I never heard of them before), but Best Buy, who was selling the 111FD for ~$2,900 in store a month ago is now selling on-line for list price! Personal opinion, but it sounds like Pioneer may have had something to say about the fire-sale prices on its top-of-the-line plasma displays.
I still have the newer of the two Samsung DLPs but it has been relegated to the guest bedroom. We recently retired the older of the two DLPs and replaced it with the Kuro Elite. Couldn't be happier with the image. When attached to a good Blu-Ray player everything from "Planet Earth" to "Iron Man" looks almost 3D. It's hard to beat a plasma for the shear picture rendering on slow scenes and absolutely nothing beats a good plasma for action movies.
LCD's are blurry up close, though they are bright. Plasma's give off too much heat and are grany, I can't see why consumers preferences can be too "illogical".
DLP is great for size but post-buy service or warranty questions remain?
Kuros are a superb choice while they last! Get one!
A Panny with THX is also a great choice!
My LCD's are in the bedroom & at the cottage.
- by ev61 April 12, 2009 11:36 PM PDT
- I too just ordered a Pro-111. I am upgrading from a TH42PZ700u, which is a phenomenal tv, but the Panasonics are NOT Kuros. You definitely pay for it, but it is worth it.
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