Pioneer Launches New "KURO" High-definition Plasma Televisions in Japan
Pioneer announced today that the company will introduce the four new "KURO" high-definition plasma televisions for the Japanese market.
Under the new brand name of "KURO", a Japanese word meaning deep, black and penetrating, Pioneer will unveil the new panel's unparalleled ability to create deeper black levels. The new line of flat-panel televisions includes two 1080p models and two XGA high-definition models, ranging in size from 42-inches to 60-inches diagonal.
The KURO technology of Pioneer's new-generation plasma panels was first unveiled in October 2006 at CEATEC 2006 in Japan, and pre-release models were exhibited in January 2007 at International CES 2007. These plasma models were finally released in North America and Europe in June 2007, and are now being released in Japan as well. Releases in other markets are being planned.
The PDP-6010HD, PDP-5010HD, PDP-508HX, and PDP-428HX will be available between early September and early October for a suggested retail price of 990,000 yen, 720,000 yen, 560,000 yen, and 450,000 yen (including tax) respectively.
Main features of the new panels include a high contrast in dark area (20,000:1 for 1080p models, 16,000:1 for XGA models), reproduction of three primary colors red-green-blue (RGB) with smooth gradations even in dark scenes, while a newly-designed Direct Color Filter minimizes external light reflections and produce vivid video images.
Pioneer's proprietary High-performance 3D I/P (Interlaced/Progressive) Conversion promises to offer clear video images by eliminating comb-shaped noise seen in scrolling text and other areas on the screen or minimizing jaggies along diagonal lines.
The Noise Reduction System effectively minimizes block noise that easily occurs in moving images, small dot-shaped mosquito noise occurring along the periphery of the image, compression noise contained in digital sources, and noise remaining in analog video sources. It also effectively reduces noise that tends to occur when conventional TV images are converted to a high-definition size.
Plus, the new plasma panel KURO offers other newly-developed functions:
- Optimum Video (Living-room) mode automatically processes images based on the signal and room conditions for generating the ideal video image in real time. This new mode utilizes a sensor to detect the room lighting condition, and internal intelligence to adjust the parameters that are used to process the image, optimizing it for the viewer.
- Newly-developed Film Smooth Motion Mode reproduces 24-fps video material with smoother movements. This new technology uses a proprietary algorithm to automatically generate intermediate video images when frame-rate converting 24-fps (frames per second) film material to 60 fps. It suppresses awkward movements (judder) during conventional 2:3 pull-down conversion to achieve smoother movement between frames.
The new KURO sound technology also ensures high fidelity sound reproduction for terrestrial digital broadcasts. The newly-developed 17W + 17W stereo digital amplifier, for higher signal processing response and improved S/N ratio.
HDMI control allows users to synchronize the new plasma displays with other Pioneer HDMI-control enabled home theater products such as Pioneer Blu-ray Disc player BDP-LX80, Pioneer A/V amplifier VSA-LX70, to operate their basic operations including Playback or Power ON/OFF with a single remote control.
New Picture Quality Adjust allows users to adjust picture quality while comparing the adjusted quality with the existing quality.
Three HDMI 1.3 terminals supports 1080p/60-Hz and 1080p/24-Hz input signals, and Deep Color 36-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths for color reproducibility of greater detail as well as 16-bit, 20-bit, and 24-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths.
In addition, power-saving technologies allow the new KURO plasma televisions to consume low power.
PDP-508HX: Annual power consumption 351 kWh/yr, rated power consumption 368W
PDP-428HX: Annual power consumption 261 kWh/yr, rated power consumption 296W
The KURO technology of Pioneer's new-generation plasma panels was first unveiled in October 2006 at CEATEC 2006 in Japan, and pre-release models were exhibited in January 2007 at International CES 2007. These plasma models were finally released in North America and Europe in June 2007, and are now being released in Japan as well. Releases in other markets are being planned.
The PDP-6010HD, PDP-5010HD, PDP-508HX, and PDP-428HX will be available between early September and early October for a suggested retail price of 990,000 yen, 720,000 yen, 560,000 yen, and 450,000 yen (including tax) respectively.
Main features of the new panels include a high contrast in dark area (20,000:1 for 1080p models, 16,000:1 for XGA models), reproduction of three primary colors red-green-blue (RGB) with smooth gradations even in dark scenes, while a newly-designed Direct Color Filter minimizes external light reflections and produce vivid video images.
Pioneer's proprietary High-performance 3D I/P (Interlaced/Progressive) Conversion promises to offer clear video images by eliminating comb-shaped noise seen in scrolling text and other areas on the screen or minimizing jaggies along diagonal lines.
The Noise Reduction System effectively minimizes block noise that easily occurs in moving images, small dot-shaped mosquito noise occurring along the periphery of the image, compression noise contained in digital sources, and noise remaining in analog video sources. It also effectively reduces noise that tends to occur when conventional TV images are converted to a high-definition size.
Plus, the new plasma panel KURO offers other newly-developed functions:
- Optimum Video (Living-room) mode automatically processes images based on the signal and room conditions for generating the ideal video image in real time. This new mode utilizes a sensor to detect the room lighting condition, and internal intelligence to adjust the parameters that are used to process the image, optimizing it for the viewer.
- Newly-developed Film Smooth Motion Mode reproduces 24-fps video material with smoother movements. This new technology uses a proprietary algorithm to automatically generate intermediate video images when frame-rate converting 24-fps (frames per second) film material to 60 fps. It suppresses awkward movements (judder) during conventional 2:3 pull-down conversion to achieve smoother movement between frames.
The new KURO sound technology also ensures high fidelity sound reproduction for terrestrial digital broadcasts. The newly-developed 17W + 17W stereo digital amplifier, for higher signal processing response and improved S/N ratio.
HDMI control allows users to synchronize the new plasma displays with other Pioneer HDMI-control enabled home theater products such as Pioneer Blu-ray Disc player BDP-LX80, Pioneer A/V amplifier VSA-LX70, to operate their basic operations including Playback or Power ON/OFF with a single remote control.
New Picture Quality Adjust allows users to adjust picture quality while comparing the adjusted quality with the existing quality.
Three HDMI 1.3 terminals supports 1080p/60-Hz and 1080p/24-Hz input signals, and Deep Color 36-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths for color reproducibility of greater detail as well as 16-bit, 20-bit, and 24-bit (RGB or YCbCr) color depths.
In addition, power-saving technologies allow the new KURO plasma televisions to consume low power.
PDP-508HX: Annual power consumption 351 kWh/yr, rated power consumption 368W
PDP-428HX: Annual power consumption 261 kWh/yr, rated power consumption 296W
