By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
20/11/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/tvs/0,39037585,39271121p,00.htm

If tuning your own TV is a far-fetched proposition, fear not as Pioneer might just have the right solution for you. Embedded in its latest generation-seven PureVision plasma TVs are custom software that enables professional-level calibration. Executed by certified professionals, this option-paid service guarantees Hollywood-standard hues less the hassle and guesswork.

Design
The PDP-427XG's form factor is a departure from the series' customary media box and panel design. While we welcome the reduction in power consumption and required shelf space brought about by the latest revision, its predecessor's side/bottom speaker mount and convenient component hookup are some of the flexibilities we miss. Having said that, you will still get a quality metal chassis front with an alluring black panel frame--an almost iconic signature of Pioneer's plasma TVs under its long-standing PureVision lineups.

From afar, it's almost impossible to distinguish the seamlessly integrated bottom speakers, save for its high perforated grille which runs across the entire length of the set. The easy-access A/V jacks and TV controls are also well-concealed from preying eyes. The former is situated on the left of the 115mm-thick casing, while the latter, in the form of six tiny buttons, takes the right. Our review unit came with a fixed table-top stand, although a wall-mounting kit is also available upon request (applicable for Singapore purchase only).

	Dedicated input buttons for easy video input switching. (click for larger image)

Pioneer is packaging a black-and-silver remote controller which is near-identical to its previous offering. A bit oversized compared with its compatriots, the 240mm-long stick features a collection of well-spaced buttons as well as a ribbed underbelly for improved ergonomics. The provision of dedicated input selection keys is also a plus, making video switching a breeze and a godsend for those with a multitude of A/V boxes. These are numbered rather than labeled due to the sharing nature of each set of inputs.

Toggling the Home Menu button on the remote activates a colorful software menu consisting of six submenus and companion help text. Here you will find, among others, a suite of advanced configurations with multilevel adjustments. This enables a high degree of fine-tuning, putting the users in full control over the various image-enhancement functions such as PureCinema and Intelligent Color. In case the onscreen help is insufficient to tide you through the technicalities, Pioneer has also included a 50 page-thick manual for easy reference.

Features
At the heart of this 42-incher is the company's seven-gen 1,024 x 768-pixel Pure Black Panel 2. As with all XGA plasma panels in the market, they're at best HD-compatible rather than HD-ready. This is due to a shortfall in the horizontal resolution, which is below the minimum 1,280-pixel requirement. Looking beyond pixel count, the panel is capable of delivering a respectable 3,000:1 contrast, 1,100cd/m2 brightness and a dazzling 884-billion colors. Observant readers may have already noticed a moderate 1000:1 dip in contrast performance offered by its predecessor.

To maximize the potential of the new panel, Pioneer has also updated its proprietary image-processing engine for enhanced picture optimization. Dubbed simply as the new Pure Drive II, it features performance-oriented capabilities such as an intelligent color system and a dynamic range expander for on-the-fly brightness and contrast adjustments. Another notable feature worth mentioning is a new direct color filter. This reduces ambient lighting reflections in bright environments, while maintaining consistency in color reproduction accuracy.

	One of the first XGA panels with 1080p-ready HDMI terminals. (click for larger image)

The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) Custom Calibration Configuration function--a popular software addon in premium products such as its flagship PDP-5000EX and the S$15,999 Optoma HD81 projector--has also found its way into the new Pioneer plasma TVs. This enables optional onsite calibration by ISF-trained professionals, zeroing in on a set of customized video settings. One of each is tailored for bright daytime and evening viewings, taking into consideration the varying lighting conditions in your home entertainment room.

Pioneer has almost every video format covered with its comprehensive connectivity options. On the rear are dual HDMI terminals compatible with 24Hz 1080p signals and two sets of 1080i-ready component-video sockets ideal for Xbox 360 and DVR. The latter shares input assignment with the lower-quality S-video and composite jacks under input one and two. Rounding it up are another set of legacy sockets, a widescreen-enabled PC input and subwoofer output for routing low-frequency bass effects to an external-powered boombox.

Performance
As much as we would like to ascertain the 427XG's 1080p compatibility, our request for Pioneer's BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player proved equally futile as with our similar attempt with Sony. This left us with our trusty Pioneer DV-S969Avi DVD player and Humax HD settop box. On a more positive note, daytime evaluations were a no show-stopper to the effective anti-reflection color filter. The same went for the panel's undocumented wide viewing angle, which maintained image clarity even from extreme viewpoints.

Tuning into local MediaCorp TV broadcasts, we were presented with generally soft pictures laced with very light dot crawl on most stations. These were, nevertheless, offset by grain-free visuals matched by rich vibrant colors customary of plasma displays.

In comparison, we had much better results with our AVIA test patterns, where the Pioneer shone through with nothing less than perfect grayscale tracking and color decoding. These fine attributes were well-extended into its film-like DVD movie reproduction. Not only did the panel render contrasting flesh tones of Wolverine and Storm convincingly, intricate details of their black leather costumes were also aplenty in various X-Men showdown scenes.

Up the performance scale was the 427XG's HD playback, characterized by healthy depth-of-field and sharp details. These were clearly visible from native high-resolution feeds such as MediaCorp's HD broadcasts and Xbox 360 titles. This is a strong testament of Pioneer's efficient image-processing and video-scaling implementations, despite a handicap in the panel's resolution as mentioned earlier under the Features section.

	Extremely readable text even from a distance. (click for larger image)

Nor were we disappointed with the PC interface, thanks to a desirable one-to-one pixel-mapping capability via an XGA signal. This produced razor-sharp text and a sizable font which was extremely readable even from a distance. As with most slim speaker arrays deployed on TV, the bass was definitely a little on the light side. It did not help that the stereo imaging was also a bit lacking, though we found the vocals smooth and trebles extended.

Other than the questionable TV broadcasts and audio showings, the Pioneer PDP-427XG performed admirably well in almost all other video reproduction duties. Priced at S$5,299, it is definitely one of the pricier panels around. That said, if you are seeking 1080p input support to go with the upcoming Sony PlayStation 3, this will be the only 42-inch plasma that fits the bill.