The Pioneer KRP-500A might well be the pinnacle of the Japanese plasma advocate's offerings. That's because for future releases, the Kuro will be based on panels manufactured in Panasonic's factories paired with Pioneer's proprietary A/V electronics. How this will work out eventually, only time will tell. But for the time being, you can be assured of a no-holds-barred visual feast with this sleek 50-incher. Here is why.
The compact 420 x 80 x 278mm media receiver houses the TV tuner, assorted control buttons and A/V ports--including front PC and USB inputs. We would have very much preferred an HDMI for a HD camcorder as well which will save us the hassle of reaching for the rear. Aesthetics-wise, the kit is shipped in matching glossy black complemented by a brushed-metal accent and a full-face flap cover that conceals the above. To hook up the screen, Pioneer has provided a 3m-long proprietary cable. It should be sufficient for most installations, except for some customized jobs.
Pioneer is throwing in a redesigned remote to go with the new two-box form factor. This has an identical quality metallic finish and ergonomics of the original, but with more boxy outlines and added chrome directional-pad and shortcuts. The handy direct video input buttons have also been regrouped and segregated from the rest for easy identification. For added versatility, the remote also offers multifunctional settop box, DVD and VCR playback control compatible with over 30 brands. The only omission here is backlighting, available on high-end Samsung and Sony TVs.
It's a dream come true for any geek as far as the structured software menu is concerned. We counted around 60 settings from elementary tweaks to in-depth variations such as four noise reduction and SpyderTV Pro-friendly white balance. These technicalities aside, the company has the less savvy users covered with up to seven picture modes. These have been factory tuned and include two fixed selections: Optimum and Dynamic. The former provides automatic real-time optimization and allows you to display key A/V parameters onscreen temporarily for inspection.
Tags: TV, 3M Co., loudspeaker, cable, noise reduction
Design
At a quick glance, the latest KRP-500A looks just like the 2007 PDP-LX508G. It sports a clutter-free bezel matched by a slim metal frame and is dressed head to toe in the series' familiar black piano finish. What really stands out is a sleek 64mm-thick side profile and lighter 31.4kg bulk brought about by offloading auxiliary electronics to a media receiver. Another minor tweak is its pair of side loudspeakers. These are marginally slimmer, mounted via brackets and bolts with thin speaker cables. What stays put, though, is its fixed "L" pedestal stand and an optional wall mount.The compact 420 x 80 x 278mm media receiver houses the TV tuner, assorted control buttons and A/V ports--including front PC and USB inputs. We would have very much preferred an HDMI for a HD camcorder as well which will save us the hassle of reaching for the rear. Aesthetics-wise, the kit is shipped in matching glossy black complemented by a brushed-metal accent and a full-face flap cover that conceals the above. To hook up the screen, Pioneer has provided a 3m-long proprietary cable. It should be sufficient for most installations, except for some customized jobs.
Pioneer is throwing in a redesigned remote to go with the new two-box form factor. This has an identical quality metallic finish and ergonomics of the original, but with more boxy outlines and added chrome directional-pad and shortcuts. The handy direct video input buttons have also been regrouped and segregated from the rest for easy identification. For added versatility, the remote also offers multifunctional settop box, DVD and VCR playback control compatible with over 30 brands. The only omission here is backlighting, available on high-end Samsung and Sony TVs.
It's a dream come true for any geek as far as the structured software menu is concerned. We counted around 60 settings from elementary tweaks to in-depth variations such as four noise reduction and SpyderTV Pro-friendly white balance. These technicalities aside, the company has the less savvy users covered with up to seven picture modes. These have been factory tuned and include two fixed selections: Optimum and Dynamic. The former provides automatic real-time optimization and allows you to display key A/V parameters onscreen temporarily for inspection.
Tags: TV, 3M Co., loudspeaker, cable, noise reduction
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