Pioneer Unveils New 2008 Elite KURO Plasma HDTV Units & Elite Signature Series HD Monitors [Second Generation KURO Displays]

Pioneer have officially announced their new, second generation of KURO
displays, known as the 2008 KURO range, which, apart from sporting black
levels five times deeper than achieved by KURO models, also feature
Optimum Mode technology serving to dynamically adjust screen brightness
according to ambient lighting conditions so as to ensure the ultimate in
viewing experiences.Offering full 1080p HD resolution (interestingly,
720p HD is seemingly not supported), the new 2008 KURO Plasma HDTV range
will consist of two new models in the form of the Elite KURO PRO-111FD
and the Elite KURO PRO-151FD offering 50' and 60' screen sizes
respectively whilst the new Elite Signature Series HD Monitors, also
consisting of two new units, will come in the form of the PRO-101FD and
PRO-141FD (again offering 50' and 60' display sizes).

You can read Pioneer's full press release (which, all said an done, is
fairly short of actual detail) below but, for those wishing to cut to
the chase concerning unit pricing and availability we can advise that
the Elite KURO HDTVs will become available in June for $5000 and $6500
for the 50' and 60' models whilst the Elite Signature Series HD Monitors
are stated as becoming available in August (60' model) and October (50'
model) with unit pricing yet to be formerly announced.Here's Pioneer's
press release which, it has to be said, is somewhat protracted (even by
Pioneer's standards).Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces a
new line of KURO plasma displays featuring black levels five times
deeper than the previous award-winning KURO. Widely recognized for its
commitment to creating entertainment experiences that transcend the
ordinary, Pioneer takes yet another groundbreaking step towards HDTV
perfection with this new line of 2008 KURO flat panel televisions.
“The game-changing performance our KURO displays brought to the
marke last year revitalized the landscape of high end home theater in a
way that was never thought possible. The introduction of this
year’s KURO televisions is another step toward our ultimate goal
of pure, absolute black that will fulfill the true potential and all the
promise of high-definition entertainment said Paul Meyhoefer, vice
president of display marketing and product planning, home entertainment
business solutions group, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our goal
is to listen and fully understand the minds of creative professionals
and their craft. When great entertainment comes together something truly
magical happens, the boundaries of technology fall away and you’re
left with a truly unique experience. This is the hidden key to the power
that KURO possesses and ensures the integrity of the artist’s
vision is never compromised.Pioneer’s Philosophy is Absolute Black
The philosophy behind Pioneer’s Project KURO and the driving force
is to achieve absolute, pure black. True, deep black creates a picture
unlike any other that possesses finer detail, greater contrast, and more
importantly, the ability to produce deeper colors not achievable before.
This year, Pioneer pushes ever closer to their goal of absolute black by
further reducing the idle luminance and improving black levels five
times over the previous 2007 KURO models. This has enabled Pioneer to
accurately reproduce deeper colors within the high-definition color
spectrum and outdistance other display manufacturers.Pioneer understands
that color is a vital tool that creative professionals - from visual
artists to film and television producers - use freely to evoke emotion
and arouse our senses. With varying techniques from the most subtle to
intense manipulation of color, artists can induce a very specific
feeling within their audience. That feeling can be lost or diluted if a
television cannot produce true, pure deep blacks and in turn reproduce
an accurate color spectrum. The end result cannot be imitated and is
beyond compare.

Evoking Emotion through Sound

Pioneer has incorporated six unique sound settings associated with each
of the KURO video settings - standard, movie, sports, performance, game,
dynamic - to ensure a customized listening experience that is
specifically in tune with the type of programming on-screen.

The television employs an auto volume stabilization feature that further
controls the television’s volume level when switching between
different types of programming; including network shows and commercials,
broadcast channels or different input types to insure each experience
remains true and distinct from one another.

Pioneer has included the most advanced SRS WOW HD technology in the new
KURO models by incorporating SRS Definition, a high frequency
enhancement that provides finer control and adjustment to manage low,
mid and high audio frequencies. The result adds to the virtual surround
sound effect and produces clearer, more precise audio in mid to high
frequency levels.

A Truly Intelligent Television

The KURO employs a unique automatic adjustment feature called Optimum
Mode that simultaneously monitors video and room light conditions. The
KURO then seamlessly adjusts the picture and sound settings by even the
slightest variation to provide an experience specially tailored to each
type of programming. The result is movies that reproduce a film-like
quality, sports that feel like you’re on the field and crisp clear
narration from newscasts that focus on the reporter, not ambient
background noise.

While many consumers will rely on this unique feature, the 2008 KURO
models still have the ability to switch between six finely tuned pre-set
modes including: standard, movie, sports, performance, game, dynamic for
consumers who prefer the ability to manually adjust their KURO
television according to their particular taste.

Enhanced Consumer Convenience Features

The introduction of the 2008 KURO 1080p line creates the perfect synergy
between film, video and high quality sound, helping blend these into a
new world of seeing and hearing like never before. Pioneer has built a
reputation for providing best-in-class products that evoke emotion and
surpass typical high- quality sight and sound specifications, adding
enhanced features such as these to the 2008 KURO line:

Pioneer KURO televisions are now only 3.7 Inches thick, reduced by
nearly 20 percent
New remote control and redesigned high definition graphic user
interface for ease-of-use and seamless integration with other a/v equipment
Networked Home Media Gallery for playback of digital assets such as HD
movie, music and photos from a PC or via USB
Pioneer KURO televisions are DLNA compatible and Windows PlaysForSure
compatible