Pioneer shows off G9 Kuros and Blu-ray players

SINGAPORE--The Pioneer A/V launch today marks a significant development for the Japanese company and its renowned plasma TVs. That's because the G9 models will probably be the last batch of Kuros featuring made-by-Pioneer panels. Furthermore, the Japanese company has dropped its HD-ready lineup altogether with three full-HD entries in 50- and 60-inch screen sizes. The KRP-500A is a two-box solution with a separate TV tuner and media box, while the KRP-500M and KRP-600M are barebone monitors with speakers positioned for home theater applications.

The KRP-500A, KRP-500M and KRP-600M share many fundamental enhancements. Most notable is their underlying G9 plasma panel. This is said to offer five times better blacks than the 2007 Kuros, though its spokesperson was tight-lipped about the TVs' actual contrast specifications. To deliver better performance, Pioneer has refined its previous Optimum mode to optimize audio and visual quality on-the-fly. For more accurate analysis, the processing is based on a combination of displayed content and the actual room environment (via light and optional color sensors).

Besides housing the KRP-500A's analog TV tuner, the KRP-M01 media receiver also doubles as an important connectivity hub. It offers three film-centric 1080p24-ready HDMI terminals, dual component-video, PC, USB for direct JPEG playback and other legacy A/V inputs. As for the display-only KRP-500M and KRP-600M, you're not losing out much with their onboard twin HDMIs, one DVI and a single port for just about everything else. That's aside from a remote infrared repeater, network and serial jacks for custom installation and remote administration using computers.

More importantly, the cost to own these sleek 68mm-thick panels has nose-dived with prices starting at S$8,499 (US$6,257.41)--a 20 percent premium over other high-end 1080p plasmas and almost half the asking price of the G8 predecessors.

Pioneer Kuro plasma TV lineup

Model name	In a nutshell
Pioneer KRP-500A (Click for more information)	Notable features: 50-inch plasma TV (with integrated TV tuner) 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution External media receiver Optimum mode for auto A/V optimization Enhanced audio subsystem using its reference EX-series speakers 18W x 2 stereo speakers Onboard JPEG playback via USB 1080p24 input-ready Kuro Link (HDMI-CEC) Three HDMI 1.3 inputs Availability: Now (Singapore), November (rest of Asia) Price: S$8,999 (US$6,625.53)
Pioneer KRP-500M/600M (Click for more information)	Notable features: Plasma monitors without built-in TV tuner Available in 50- and 60-inch sizes 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution Optimum mode for auto A/V optimization 9W x 2 stereo speakers 1080p24 input-ready Kuro Link (HDMI-CEC) Two HDMI 1.3 inputs One DVI input Network and serial ports for computer-based administration. Availability: Now (Singapore), November (rest of Asia) Price: S$8,499 (US$6,257.41) (KRP-500M), S$16,999 (US$12,515.55) (KRP-600M)

Tags: TV, TV Tuner, Plasma TV, home theater, HDMI