Top Rated, Highest Rated, Best Value Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD 50 inch 720p, PDP-4280HD 42-inch 720p, PDP-5010FD 50-inch 1080p, PDP-6010FD 60-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV Reviews Television

Top Rated Pioneer Kuro High Definition HDTV

Editor's Choice: Pioneer KURO PDP 4280HD 5080HD 5010FD 6010FD Plasma HDTV

Pioneer KURO PDP-6010FD 60 inch 1080P Plasma HDTV

Editor's Choices Pioneer PDP-5010FD and PDP 6010FD Available Now:

Price Drop Alert! Buy Now Before Stocks Are Depleted:
With the impending release of KUROs 5020FD/6020FD there are huge discounts on the 5010FD/6010FD
TigerDirect, Amazon, and OneCall have the lowest price on the 50 inch Pioneer KURO PDP-5010FD Plasma HDTV.

Update May 7, 2008: Pioneer announces release of the next generation of KUROs, the 1080P PDP-5020FD and the 1080P PDP-6020FD.

Update May 6, 2008: Unfortunately, most discount outlets sold out of our top pick Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD within the last few months. The few remaining outlets are charging at or near list price for this set, which places the 720P 5080HD in the same price category as the Pioneer PDP-5010FD 50-inch Plasma HDTV. At this price the PDP-5080HD takes a back seat to the 1080P PDP-5010FD. For the same amount of money it only makes sense to go with the PDP-5010FD. Should the dealers restock the PDP-5080HD--at discount prices--we'll revert to our original recommendation. Until that happens you should seriously consider the 1080P PDP-5010FD. Amazon and OneCall.com currently offer this set at a huge discount. Don't sit on the sidelines--get one now before they're sold out as well. The reason is simple. There is no 50" HDTV that is even close to the Pioneer KUROs in picture quality. Don't settle for anything less. Meantime, our original recommendation remains intact below, in the hopes that the stocks of PDP-5080HDs are replenished, at which point the 720P PDP-5080HD will once again be our top choice. [Editorial Comment May 6, 2008.]

Our Original Recommendaton: Pioneer KURO PDP-5080HD

We'll say it up front. The Pioneer KURO PDP-5080HD 50 inch 720P Plasma HDTV is best available HDTV in it's size and price range. Black-level performance is one of the most important aspects of picture quality. When a display can produce a deep shade of black, it not only improves the realism and the punch of dark scenes, it also makes colors look richer and more saturated. That's why Pioneer PDP-5080HD is currently the top value and our highest rated pick. This 50-inch plasma produces the darkest shade of black we've ever seen in a HDTV. It also offers one of the best antireflective screens available. The Pioneer cost a little more than similar size and resolution HDTVs on the market. Spend a few extra bucks. The Pioneer PDP-5080HD delivers an incredible picture and is without question the best value in its size range. Don't be concerned with the 720p resolution vs. the more expensive 1080p sets. At normal viewing distances the 720p looks every bit as good as its 1080p counterparts. Save your money and go for the 720P Pioneer PDP-5080HD 50-inch 720p Plasma HDTV. If 50 inches is a bit larger than you need you should consider the Pioneer PDP-4280HD 42-inch 720p Plasma HDTV. These sets are selling quickly and many locations are currently sold out. Don't sit on the sidelines too long or you might have to wait for next year's models. You can snap up the PDP-4280 at a great price... if you can find one!

If you're a purist or just have to have a 1080P set the Pioneer PDP-5010FD 50-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV is your best choice. If you need a large screen the Pioneer PDP-6010FD 60-inch 1080p Plasma HDTV is the top choice. You'll spend a few extra bucks for the KURO 1080p sets, but you'll also have the best HDTV currently available.

TigerDirect has the lowest price on the PDP-5010FD.

CNET Editor's Choice: 8.7/10 Excellent. "The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black and thus one of the best pictures we've ever tested... ...This 50-inch plasma TV displays an exceedingly deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise; "smooth" video-processing mode removes most judder; excellent antireflective screen; sleek, minimalist styling; removable speaker; superb connectivity with four HDMI inputs and one PC input; CableCard compatible with TV Guide EPG."

Home Theater Magazine: ...The Pioneer's picture is little short of jaw dropping. And a good share of the credit for this goes to the set's stunning black level and excellent shadow detail... ... I've tested no digital displays—front projector, rear projector, or flat panel, plasma, LCD, DLP, LCoS, or SXRD—that can match the Pioneer in its combination of deep, rich blacks and superb contrast... ...it's highly unlikely you'll find a better 50-inch display than this one—flat panel or otherwise... ...the Pioneer KURO PDP-5080HD 50"plasma has exceptional blacks, the best contrast ratio we've yet measured on a flat panel display, and the picture looks as good or better than the measurements suggest. There are less expensive 50" plasmas around, but not with a picture like this!

Plasma TV Buying Guide: Picture Quality Rating 98.5/100; Overall Rating 95/100. "...Our initial impression of Pioneer's latest offering is excellent. The unit excels with deep, rich black levels and beautiful saturated colors - especially with HD content... ...the PDP-5080HD is perfect for those consumers who want the very best aesthetics, connectivity, performance and quality.

hidefproducts.com: "This Pioneer 50-inch plasma TV displays a deeper shade of black with supreme shadow detail and a clean image with little noise. The Pioneer Kuro HDTV also has an anti-reflective screen which greatly reduces the glare of light. Although it isn’t 1080p, we don’t feel this is a problem for a set this size. We were hard pressed to find a difference between the picture from this set and one of the newer 1080p sets. Overall, we feel this is one of the best sets on the market, definitely worth purchasing."

Amazon Customer Reviews: (22 reviews as of April 2008)

"Best TV out on the market... ...This is the best HD image you can find. Why? Many reasons but chiefly color reproduction and its processing ability for creating smooth fluid images... ...it has the best blacks available. This plus a blu-ray player with hdmi 1.3a for deep color creates an almost surreal image. When looking at TVs don't just look at resolution 720p vs 1080p... ...This set looks noticeably better than other 1080p sets on the market including the Sony LCoS and XBR LCD sets..."

"...Anyone who's done any research on hi-def TVs will know that Pioneer makes the best TV in the world (and they price it accordingly). For those who can afford it, this set will make you very happy. Even this 720p set will put 1080p sets from other manufacturers to shame. For most people, a 720p set is a much better value and you will not be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p."

"...After researching and comparing Plasma vs LCD, this is by far one of the best out there. Picture is amazing and better than other expensive brands. 1080p LCDs and other brands cannot match the picture quality of this Pioneer. Best for watching movies and sports in HD. Excellent value...