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Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U Review

The Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U

When it comes to LCD HDTVs, brand names like Samsung, Sony and Panasonic come to mind readily, but Sharp, although relatively not as prominent as the others, has been making LCDs ever since 1988, which gives it an edge over the other companies. This edge is most apparent in the Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U.

Design

The design of the LC-52D85U is relatively simple, with nothing to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd, which is why it is one of its weak points. Its remote control also falls short in its design, with buttons that are rather small but not all cramped together. Its backlight illuminates only a few buttons, the labels of which are located on the body of the remote and cannot be seen in the dark even with the backlight on. On the upside, the remote control is a universal remote control and can handle up to four other devices other than the TV.

The menu system of the Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U also falls a bit short. The menu remains fixed on the screen, preventing you from getting a better view of the picture as you adjust the settings. When trying to switch between inputs, you may be confused at first because the inputs are only labeled as Input1, Input2, etc instead of more descriptive names like A/V input or HDMI. But once you figure out which input is which, you have the option to rename them to more descriptive names.

Screen/Picture Clarity

The picture quality on the Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U is comparable to more expensive LCD HDTVs. It comes with a standard 120Hz refresh rate, which coupled with

Sharp’s Fine Motion Enhanced, gives you scenes that do not get blurry with high motion as with other LCD HDTVs. This LCD HDTV also comes with a 10-bit LCD screen, which you find in higher priced HDTVS, that gives you smoother gradients in colors. The picture quality can also be enhanced due to the menu option which gives the user greater control over the hue and saturation of each color.

The only weakness of the video quality of the LC-52D85U is the black levels. The blacks are not as deep as those found in other LCD HDTVs. Other than the bright blacks, this LCD HDTV provides crisp, clear pictures with high detail and vivid colors.

Features

The Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U comes with the standard connections found on any other HDTV, except that it comes with an extra HDMI connection which gives you the

option to connect five HDMI devices to the TV. Though it was nice of Sharp to include another HDMI connection, it does not come with a USB, ethernet or card reader that would allow you to show off your pictures. This TV also comes with a backlight that can dynamically change according to the ambient lighting of the room, which means no more manual adjusting of brightness whenever the light changes in the room during the day just to see the picture on the screen. Along with the Optical Picture Control, this TV not only gives you good quality pictures, but also helps you save the environment and money by cutting down its power consumption.

Another added feature on the LC-52D85U is the Aquos Link. Much like Panasonic’s Vierra Link, the Aquos Link gives you the option of controlling your HD devices with just a touch of a button. So after watching your favorite Blu-Ray movie, just turn off your HDTV or your Blu-Ray player, and all other HD devices will shut down, saving you the trouble of turning off each device one at a time.

The LC-52D85U does have some design issues especially with the remote control and the system menus. Even with such shortcomings, though, the relatively lower price and very high picture quality of the Sharp Aquos LC-52D85U more than make up for its weak points.

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Panasonic TC-P50S1 Review

The new Panasonic TC-P50S1 Plasma TV

One main reason why people go for LCD HDTVs today is because they use less electricity compared to their plasma counterparts. But with the Panasonic TC-P50S1 from the Viera S1 Series, Panasonic aims to reduce the electricity consumed by plasma HDTVs to about the same as LCD HDTVs.

Design

The design of the Panasonic TC-P50S1 is similar to past models of Panasonic except that the corners and edges are more rounded. Its screen is surrounded by a black glossy frame that is only interrupted by the Vierra and Panasonic logos, an indicator light and the power button. But these hardly distract you from appreciating its simple and elegant design. The speakers are cleverly hidden, adding to the TC-P50S1’s appeal.

The remote control that comes with the TC-P50S1 is not illuminated like other brands, but its buttons have unique shapes that allow you to easily tell the difference between each button without having to glance at them. The system menu is pretty much the same as the previous models with some minor adjustments, but still retains its simplicity, making it very easy to find and toggle between various options.

Screen/Picture Clarity

The Panasonic TC-P50S1 produces some of the deepest blacks you’ll find among plasma HDTVs. One downside, though, is the not too accurate colors which, unfortunately, cannot be adjusted too well with the system menu. Despite this drawback, the picture quality of the TC-P50S1 is still very good compared to other models.

Another feature which boosts the picture quality of the TC-P50S1 is the Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution. When dealing with fast moving pictures, some HDTVs reduce the number of lines it displays to help cope with the pace. The downside to this is that the picture becomes blurry during fast moving scenes, but with the Full-Time 1080 TV Lines Moving Picture Resolution, the Panasonic TC-P50S1 is able to display the full 1080 lines during fast moving scenes, giving you crisper pictures throughout the whole show.

Features

The main feature of the Panasonic TC-P50S1 is the reduced power consumption. Compared to other plasma TVs, the TC-P50S1 uses much less electricity, which means more savings on your electric bill. It also comes with three HDMI connections and several other popular connections like s-video, standard AV inputs and even an SD card slot which you can use to showcase your photos straight from you digital camera. It does not come with a VGA or PC input connection, though, so you may need a converter or a computer with HDMI output to connect your computer.

The Vierra Link is another feature of the TC-P50S1, which is Panasonic’s way of integrating all your HDMI capable devices so that you do not have to go through the trouble of turning on each device and setting up each one. With the Vierra Link, all you need to do is push one button and your HDTV, Blu-Ray player and high definition speakers all turn on and are ready for use. All you have to do is pop in your favorite movie and get some popcorn.

Despite the less than accurate colors and lack of PC input, the TC-P50S1 is still a very good choice for a plasma HDTV. Its low power consumption, great picture quality and full 1080 lines during fast moving scenes are enough to make this plasma HDTV worth considering. These features, combined with the option to control your high definition home theater with just a touch of a button, definitely make the Panasonic TC-P50S1 a worthy competitor in HDTVs.

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Panasonic TC-P50G10 Review

The Panasonic TC-P50G10

Many new models of HDTVs today are similar to the lower numbered models with just a few added touches. Some may have a new look. Others may have a new feature, while those with ground breaking technology usually come with a hefty price tag. The Panasonic TC-P50G10, though, comes with so many new features that make it stand out on its own. In addition, these new features come with a price tag that many people would find agreeable.

Design

The designers at Panasonic were able to reduce the overall size of the Panasonic TC-P50G10, creating a much more compact HDTV. This HDTV comes very close, in terms of size, to Panasonic’s 46″ TH46PZ800, making it more appealing to people who do not have the space for one of the other 50″ HDTVs.

The remote control is about the same as previous remote controls with the exception of a few added buttons, such as buttons to quickly access the Viera Link, the Viera Cast (a new feature from Panasonic), and the Viera Tool which gives direct access to the HDTV’s SD card functions, energy saving settings and other features. The system menu is the same as with previous models, so previous Panasonic users are sure to feel at ease.

Screen/Picture Clarity

The TC-P50G10 comes with the latest Neo PDP panel, which makes it capable of full motion resolution. This means that movies with plenty of high speed chases or fast moving objects do not become blurry. This HDTV is also THX certified, conforming to the 2008 display standard set by THX for home video. With such a certification, the Panasonic TC-P50G10 provides very vivid colors and picture quality especially when watching HD content.

Traditionally, with plasma HDTVs, your main concern would be the ambient light in the room which can ruin your viewing experience. But due to the Neo PDP panel, such worries are nonexistent as this HDTV is still able to display crisp images even in the brightest of rooms. Reflections on the screen are also taken care of by the improved anti-reflective filter which takes care of them while keeping the colors from the screen unaffected. The TC-P50G10 also has the ability to enhance the quality of standard definition content. Though it is not able to convert standard definition content into HD content, this HDTV makes viewing standard definition content more enjoyable by eliminating jagged edges and other visual distractions.

Features

Compared to LCD HDTVs, plasma HDTVs consume more power, but with the Neo PDP panel and preset energy saving settings of the TC-P50G10, power consumption has been greatly reduced. A new feature that comes with this HDTV is Panasonic’s Viera Cast. The Viera Cast enables the HDTV to connect to the internet and access pictures from Google’s Picasa to show off your pictures from your latest vacation. The Viera Cast also allows the HDTV to show videos straight from YouTube, which is a very useful feature especially since YouTube has started to offer Hollywood movies and the newest TV shows legally. The only downside to this feature is that only content from Picasa and YouTube can be accessed from the internet. This HDTV also comes with Panasonic’s tradmark feature, Viera Link, that allows you to synchronize all your HD equipment with just a touch of a button.

The Panasonic TC-P50G10 comes with two HDMI inputs and two component video inputs, along with s-video and component inputs. It also has an ethernet connection for the Viera Cast feature. On the side of the HDTV are component inputs where a video camera can be attached, a PC input where a computer can be connected to, and an SD card slot for viewing pictures straight from your digital camera’s SD card.

Indeed the TC-P50G10 is packed with new features and improved picture quality, allowing this HDTV to hold its own against other high end HDTVs. With such amazing features included, one would expect a high price tag for such a high performing HDTV, but Panasonic recently lowered its price, making it truly worth considering. So don’t settle for last year’s models by saving a few dollars. Invest just a bit more and you can get real value for your money with the Panasonic TC-P50G10.

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Sony KDL-46W4100 Review

The Sony KDL-46W4100

The Sony Bravia line continues to be at the forefront of producing cutting-edge LCDs that are top-notch in both design and technology. For this year, the middle-range W4100 series – which includes the stylish KDL-46W4100 – succeeds last year’s highly popular W3000 series, and sports new enhancements that were only recently exclusive only to the high-end Bravias.

Design

The elegant design of the KDL-46W4100 consists of a uniformly thick glossy black frame surrounding the screen, highlighted by a see-through window below the bottom frame, just above the silver perforated grille that hides the speakers. The clear and attractive window affords a view of the black and silver pedestal and whatever else is at the back of the TV, making it blend perfectly well in home interiors.

The revamped remote for the KDL-46W4100 has a nice feel. It lacks backlighting, but with the buttons neatly arranged, one can easily select keys even by touch. It also doesn’t have the capability to control other devices attached to the TV, but generally, we believe it’s a good clicker. We’ve continuously griped about the XMB menu system copied from the PS3 and even the changes implemented in the menu of the KDL-46W4100 aren’t enough to stop our ranting. We welcome the grouping of picture controls under one heading, but generally, we remain adamant that the option-filled Cross Media Bar menu is quite cumbersome.

Screen/picture clarity

The KDL-W4100 delivers inky blacks that are just a tad lighter than those found in the high-end plasmas. The deep blacks made shadows more detailed and colours much more vivid. The KDL-W4100 also gives accurate primary colours, with just the secondary cyan colour found to be less than accurate. Decoding of red is also a bit off, but a little tweaking would make the images seem more natural. However, the backlight appears to fluctuate specially when the screen turns in a bright-dark-bright sequence – the subtle changes in the blacks and shadows even without changes in the picture are unnatural and quite distracting.

Sony’s 120hz, MotionFlow processing in the KDL-W4100 is better than last year’s version, resulting in less noticeable smoothing that in turn makes movies more realistic.  
We noted uneven screen brightness, with some areas noticeably brighter than the rest of the screen. On off-angle viewing, the uneven brightness as well as colour washout is too remarkable to be ignored.

Features

The 1080p full HD resolution KDL-46W4100 offers four independently-adjustable picture presets; white balance controls; four aspect ratios; and a Game mode that removes video processing during games. Other convenient features include the electronic TV Guide; limited picture-in-picture, and two-step power saving mode. Connectivity of this set is rich: four HDMI inputs, VGA-style PC input, and a slew of component audio/video input/output at the back and side panels.

Sony continues to widen its reach in the HDTV market by offering premium features in lower-priced LCDs such as the KDL-46W4100. For buyers who are after excellent performance without breaking the bank, this may just be the TV that will fit the tab.

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Samsung PN50A760 Review

The Samsung PN50A760

Even though LCD TVs are currently outshining plasma TVs in the world of HDTV, plasma TVs are still a good choice. In fact, plasma TVs still have better black colors and have wider viewing angles compared to LCD TVs. One product that shines pretty bright is the Samsung PN50A760.

Design

Taking a step away from traditional TV design, Samsung has come up with the Touch in Color, which features a reddish tinge in the frame of the PN50A760. As of now the Touch of Color is only available in red, though it still provides a break from the more commonly seen black frame. Another handy feature is the swivel stand that many HDTVs including high end models lack. While not the most innovative nor the most recent technological breakthrough, this feature is certainly convenient since it helps you rotate your HDTV without much effort.

The remote control that comes with the PN50A760 is one of the remote controls that Samsung completely redesigned. The buttons are larger and are now backlit. In addition, a “Tools” button is available for quick access to the HDTV’s setup menu and other features. The system menu is also one of the easiest to navigate around. Good color combinations make menu choices easily readable and Samsung added help text at the bottom of the screen for each menu item. In addition to this, the remote is also programmable so you can customize it anyway you want.

Screen/picture clarity

The Samsung PN50A760 has a Full HD 1080p plasma screen which is the standard of today’s HDTVs. It also comes with a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 which provides deeper blacks and brighter whites compared to other HDTVs. Other features that provides the PN50A760 with superior picture quality include the Ultra Filter Bright technology which provides vibrant colors and crisp images, as well as the anti-glare filter which greatly reduces reflections that can distract you from your viewing pleasure. All these features coupled with the excellent handling of fast motion and wide viewing angle definitely makes the PN50A760 a worth while contender in HDTVs.

Since the PN50A760 is a plasma TV, it can be susceptible to burn-in but don’t worry, it comes with utilities designed to deal with this issue, such as an adjustable pixel shift which moves the image slowly and subtly on the screen.

Features

The PN50A760 comes with three adjustable picture modes and three additional picture presets which can be accessed through the setup menu. There are also three varieties of noise reduction and five color temperature presets. Surprisingly enough, it also comes with scenic photos, recipes, exercises and childrens activities which can be accessed through the remote’s “Content” button, though this are not yet available to be updated. It also comes with a side-mounted USB port, an Ethernet or LAN port that allows you to hook up the HDTV to a home network, 4 HDMI ports and a variety of other connections that allow you to connect a wide range of gadgets like a digital camera, DVD player, Blu Ray player or even a computer.

With all these features, the PN50A760 certainly proves that plasma TVs are still very viable competitors to LCD HDTVs. Though a bit on the expensive side, the Samsung PN50A760 certainly provides great picture quality that is certainly very easy to set up and use, making it worth every penny.

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Sharp LC42D64U Review

Sharp Aquos LC42D64U 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV

The Aquos line, Sharp’s flagship line in HDTVs, continues to churn out an occasional gem, though uneventful ones are more frequent. The Aquos LC42D64U is one such gem released by Sharp for 2007, and it’s an LCD TV that is perfect for those wanting to experience HDTV at a price lower than those of the more popular brands.

Design

The D64 series is designated by Sharp as the “slim line” and it shows in the stylishly thin design of the LC42D64U - ultra-thin bezel surrounding the screen and the relatively shallow depth at 3.75 inches, which is an inch or so thinner compared to other Sharp models. The thin glossy black bezels give the impression of wider screen acreage, with the lower portion holding the logo, control buttons, and the speakers which are camouflaged by a chrome strip.

Sharp’s remote remains the same as those from previous models, which is quite easy to use and generally user-friendly. The logical - save for a few - arrangement of the buttons, adequate spacing, full backlighting and capability to control four other equipment attached to the TV make the remote useful and pleasant to use. Sharp’s simple menu system is also easy to navigate and has helpful guides at the bottom to aid users.

Screen/picture clarity

For an LCD, the LC42D64U delivered superb black levels and primary colour accuracy, delivering believably dark scenes that make the other colours in the screen images come to life. Even the shadow detail of the Aquos is excellent compared to other LCDs, with a barely noticeable blue tinge on some occasions. But it is the bright scenes that really make this TV stand out - vibrant and realistic images are churned out, necessitating only some tweaking to make the onscreen display replicate natural skin tones and surrounding colours.

Sharp’s Multi-Pixel Technology also allows more viewing angles than conventional LCDs, as each pixel is divided into two parts to deliver more accurate color reproduction even in extreme angles. It is in uniformity across the screen that this TV fares poorly - the “banding” earlier observed in other Sharp models remains an issue, especially during fast movement in program materials. This could be a deal-breaking issue as the slightly discernible horizontal and vertical bands may turn off hardcore videophiles.

Features

The LC42D64U offers a lot of tweakable settings, five preset picture modes, and OPC -Sharp’s ambient light-sensing circuit which automatically adjusts the TVs light output. Other features of this HDTV are: compatibility with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA); Aquos Link that identifies gears attached via HDMI and allows control of other equipment attached to the TV; and multiple connectivity options, including three HDMI ports and PC port. Unfortunately, picture-in-picture is absent in this HDTV.

In these challenging times, people should be practical and opt for the lower-priced models in the market such as the LC42D64U, instead of the better-performing-but-outrageously-priced high-end models. If you can live on the minor issues that beset the LC42D64U, then this is the HDTV for you.

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Samsung PN50A650 Review

Samsung PN50A650 - Lifelike colors

The PN50A650 used to lord it over Samsung’s plasma line, being the largest and latest model. However, only a few months after it came out in May 2008, Samsung released the 63-incher mammoth under the same Series 6 line, and later, the complete Series 7 line. The Samsung PN50A650 thus became just one of the products instead of being the top product. Still, it’s an impressive and feature-packed item that shows a lot of potential, perfect for those looking for high performance plasmas.

Design

Part of the Touch of Color (ToC) line, the PN50A650 sports the same reddish accent on its frame that distinguishes the ToC TVs from the rest of the products in the vaunted Samsung arsenal. Besides colored bezel, the PN50A650 has other design elements like the stylish clear coating over the frame, invisible speakers and rounded corners that work together to present a sleek and gorgeous piece of equipment.

Samsung’s remotes were refurbished for 2008, and the one included in this HDTV is undoubtedly one of the better ones. With backlight and some fresh ideas like the Tools option that efficiently gives quick access to sound and picture modes, picture-in-picture controls and sleep timer, this remote is definitely great - if not for its glossy black finish. Samsung should remember not to put a glossy finish on anything that is frequently hand held, as the glossy finish promptly becomes smudged only after a few minutes.

Screen/picture clarity

The PN50A650 HDTV exhibited good black levels, though not as good as the top-of-the-line plasmas.However, that weakness is more than compensated by its exceptional color accuracy - skin tones look natural and greenery are really green - making pictures quite stunning despite the slightly washed-up black levels.  Moreover, the Ultra Filter Bright anti-glare feature seems to work well, adding to the picture clarity. A little tweaking of the settings and one would surely find acceptable greyscale and color temperatures to make the images even more breathtaking.

This full 1080p HD resolution TV, powered by the DNIe Pro video processor, has no trouble resolving HD and standard sources, scaling 720p and 1080i resolutions seamlessly into its 1080p native resolution. This set also has no problem rendering standard definition (480p) sources, producing no jagged edges or artefacts that frequently come up when resolving 24fps sources.

Features

As expected, Samsung has designed this HDTV overflowing with features. A step up from its less distinguished cousins in the 550 series, Samsung added another HDMI port, bringing the total to four. Other connectivity options provided are the component video inputs, VGA port, USB port, RF input for the combo analogue/digital/cable tuner, and an Ethernet port that can connect to the InfoLink system. With three picture modes and three additional Entertainment modes, viewing your favourite shows or movies or playing your favourite games is easy and intuitive.

While this may not be the top-of-the-line in plasma HDTVs, it surely has enough pizzazz to be among the cream of the crop. Some may find the price rather steep, but if you consider that it’s a Samsung, and a Touch of Colour at that, the extra expense is well worth it in the end.

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Philips 42PFL7432D Review

Philips 42PFL7432D

Philips used to be the leader in audio and video technology but recent product releases from the company are largely unremarkable. Even in the HDTV niche, only a few of Philips recent TVs created some buzz. One such exception is the 42PFL7432D, a 42-inch LCD which got some positive consumer response and encouraging reviews.

Design

The 42PFL7432D has a rather conservative, if not bland, design. The glossy black bezel is not flushed with the screen but instead sits slightly forward, clearly demarcating the frame from the screen area. The speaker grille located at the bottom of the panel is slightly bent backwards, while the smoke-glass base and swiveling post in silver complete the understated look.

The remote shipped with the 42PFL7432D is partially backlit in a cool silver finish. Unlike previous Philips clickers which are difficult to use, this remote contains most buttons one needs, adequately spaced apart for user’s convenience. The clicker lacks an Exit button to escape menus, though. This is worsened by the fact that the menu system is rather confusing, with an overlay that frequently covers a large area, if not the entire screen. Adjustments are quite daunting tasks in this menu setup.

Screen/picture clarity

This Philips LCD isn’t impressive off-the-box, but after calibration, it does perform impressively, except for its black levels. Color accuracy on bright and dark scenes is excellent, with the hues remaining consistent on both conditions. The main issue against the 42PFL7432D is its rather shallow black levels - perhaps caused by the lack of backlight control - that ultimately affects the saturation of colors and shadow details, making images indistinct and less stunning than they should be.

The full 1080p HD resolution TV has no hassles resolving 1080p and 1080i sources, and despite having a low refresh rate, blurring in fast action scenes is barely discernible. This HDTVs also has exceptional uniformity across the screen, besting other LCDs. Off-angle viewing is poor, though, as washed out images are seen just one seat removed from the center point, and above or below it.

Features

The patented Ambilight system is one of the come-ons included by Philips in its HDTVs, and the 2PFL7432D sports a two-channel lighting that simulates the screen hues and show these in the background, for a richer viewing experience.

Moreover, this LCD offers three picture presets, which are nonadjustable and existing settings are erased when one tries to do adjustments. The Settings Assistant tutorial is a nice touch, as well as the adjustable colour temperatures control, but having no backlight control and picture-in-picture mode really annoy us. For connectivity, this TV has three HDMI ports, USB port, RGB-style PC input and a slew of AV input and outputs.

The Philips 42PFL7432D may not be top-notch in performance and style, but it has its own attractions found nowhere else. With performance that is above average and features enough to give bang for the buck, this LCD is definitely worth considering, particularly for new HDTV converts.

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Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD Review

Pioneer KURO PDP-5020FD - A great HDTV!

A member of the distinguished Kuro line from Pioneer, the PDP-5020FD is an extra-ordinary HDTV that delivers top-notch and unrivaled performance. Pioneer proves that it reigns supreme when it comes to the large plasmas, though high-quality does come with a hefty tag. The PDP-5020FD is in fact the cheapest in the Kuro series for this year, yet it still costs much more than competing brands.

Design

Pioneer maintained the unadorned look of its plasmas in the PDP-5020FD - a shiny black frame surrounding the screen with a removable speaker at the panel’s bottom. The clean sheer look is perfect, though the screen is not flushed with the frame, leaving a thin strip that reflects bright lights that may become distracting. Moreover, this set comes with a solid-looking, non-swiveling stand that limits viewing to only one position.

Pioneer re-designed its remote for this year and some of the changes aren’t quite welcome. The new remote ditched the different shapes for secondary functions and replaced these with tiny, uniformly-sized keys, added more buttons and arranged these in a neat grid that lends itself to frequent remote-pressing mistakes. The direct access to the TV’s inputs and glow-in-the-dark buttons are nice touches, though. The menu system was also overhauled, and gratefully, the changes implemented here are well-thought of and are quite welcome.

Screen/picture clarity

As usual, the PDP-5020FD gives the deepest black in HDTVs. This is expected, as Pioneer made the contrast ratio five times more intense than the previous models, affording never-before-seen black levels that pave the way for breathtaking images, impressive shadow details, and vibrant colors. There are color accuracy issues, with red and green deviating slightly from HD standards, but generally, these are not deal-breaking ones. The anti-reflective screen is also among the best, giving exceptional picture clarity even with open windows and bright lights.

Equipped with a dejudder and 72hz. refresh rates, the PDP-5020FD smoothed images and played Blu-ray discs without apparent issues, though some artifacts may arise when the dejudder is engaged. The plasma also deinterlaced 1080i sources and resolved standard-def materials quite well. Even as PC monitor, the PDP-5020FD resolved every line of the 1,920×1,080-pixel PC signal, when connected as digital.

Features

The PDP-5020FD is a non-Elite model in the Kuro line, so its features are relatively fewer. Picture control settings are limited, and it doesn’t have color temperature presets; it has seven picture presets, including the Optimum mode which adjusts intelligently according to ambient conditions. The plasma has four HDMI ports, an Ethernet port that allows streaming over the home network, USB port and an assortment of connectivity options. Other features include side-by-side picture-in-picture viewing, anti-burn features, and power-saving modes.

The PDP-5020FD is undoubtedly an expensive HDTV, but for home theater enthusiasts, splurging on this TV may just be the right decision, as this TV surely rocks when it comes to picture quality. It also has advanced features that ensure pure entertainment, so you certainly wouldn’t go wrong with the PDP-5020FD.

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Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD Review

Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD - Unrivaled Plasma

If you are looking for great performance HDTV and ready to spend for it, you definitely have to take a look at the awesome Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD.

Words surely are not enough to describe the breathtaking performance of this top-notch HDTV from the most respected name in plasma TVs. It’s no wonder it’s the favorite piece of serious videophiles who know a great piece of equipment when they see one.

Design

The improvements in this HDTV are obviously in the electronics, rather than aesthetics, as this ninth generation plasma in the Kuro line basically looks much like its predecessors - simple minimalist frame with glossy finish, removable speakers and non-swiveling stand - a very clean look which is probably preferred by those who dislike being distracted from their TV viewing. Pioneer reconfigured the menu system and the remote but it seems the changes made it difficult to access some menus - such as the Picture menu which now takes about four button pushes. Along with the smaller and closely-spaced buttons, we didn’t find the changes adding value to this product.

Screen/picture clarity

The Kuro series is known for its deep blacks and the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD surely doesn’t disappoint in this aspect. Truly exceptional blacks are rendered, making the screen come to life with deeper and richer colors. Even shadow details that are usually lost in ordinary HDTVs are observable in this TV set.

The Improved ASIC Video Processing and Scaling provides excellent video rendering and deinterlacing of different video sources. Even Blu-ray discs - often problematic in HDTVs due to the lower 24fps rate in which the discs are recorded - are scaled nicely in this TV and doesn’t present the usual jerky movements that are quite irritating. This set really delivers smooth, realistic pictures that are simply unparalleled in TV plasmas.

One of the things that can stand improvement is color accuracy - the tone is a little bit off in some cases which viewers may find distracting. Another negative thing is the limited tweaking options - something which dedicated videophiles would find annoying. Specialized controls for setting color temperature and sharpening images are almost de rigueur in this class of HDTVs, and Pioneer erred for not including these options.

Features

This Kuro is certainly packed with features, as can be expected from a high-end HDTV. One surely wouldn’t complain gripe about lack of connectivity with this HDTV, as it has four v1.3 HDMI ports, one USB port, one PC connector and an Ethernet port that can be used to link the TV to a home network. Burn-in problems are addressed by the Screen Protection system which allows you to control different features designed to prevent image burn-in. It also has SRS audio technology for sound reproduction that matches the clarity of the screen images.

For video and film enthusiasts who value the deepest black possible in HDTVs, this Kuro definitely delivers that and more, ultimately giving consumers new experiences in TV viewing. Of course, that depends if you have a lot of cash to burn in this pricey set.

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