LCD HDTVs

Like most 50-inch plasma TVs, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels. That's not as many as competing - and usually more expensive - 1080p models, but at the 50-inch screen size, the benefits of 1080p are dubious for most sources. As always, all sources, be they HDTV, DVD, standard-def, or computer, are scaled to fit the native resolution.

The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD is a 50 inch Plasma TV that gives very deep blacks and great shadow detail, very good clean images and very little noise. The smooth video processing technology means that judders are not present. It comes with a removable speaker and 4 HDMI inputs, 1 PC Input, works with cablecards and TV Guide EPG. On the downside is its price, it has a issue with green and a user interface to fine tune color temperatures. Overall the Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 gives off the best blacks you will find so a very good purchase. A Star Buy.

When you look for a LCD Tv or a Plasma screen, it's the capability to produce blacks which is the most important to many people. When watching films, this alone can give off an atmosphere which if not produced properly can definatly make a difference to the enjoyment which can also make the colours richer and give the satisfaction you chose that particular LCD TV or Plasma. The Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 gives off the best black ever tested on LCD TVs. The issues above in the summary are so minor and even if they were not,the blacks this TV give off make you realise they are not even worth mentioning but we did for your benefit.

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. This 50-inch plasma produces the deepest shade of black and thus one of the best pictures of all HDTV tv. It also offers a "smooth" video-processing mode that works relatively well, one of the best antireflective screens we've tested, and numerous picture controls. We do complain about its less-than-perfect color accuracy and its incomplete color temperature controls, but those issues don't prevent it from earning our highest praise. The only real kink in the works is its high price compared to that of other similar resolution plasmas on the market. If you can stomach the extra payout, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD delivers a jaw-dropping home theater picture.

The Tv comes with a range of picture effecting features and picture memory slots and modes such as edge enhancement, DRE Picture, Black Level, CRI and ACL so more than any tv geek needs to play with. As we mentioned above there was no option to change the color temperature but a minor point. Pioneer have said its to top notch for non Elite Pioneer's.

The company framed the PDP-5080HD's 50-inch screen in glossy black with a minimum of adornments aside from the Pioneer logo. There's a band of silver along the sides, top, and bottom of the panel, but from the front only black is visible. The set includes a matching stand, and it allows the speaker bar below the panel to be completely removed, in case you want to use an external audio system exclusively. With speaker and stand attached, the panel measures about 48.2 inches wide by 31.8 inches high by 9.3 inches deep and weighs 88 pounds. Remove the stand and speakers and the panel measures 48.2 by 28.2 by 4.5 inches and weighs 76.7 pounds.

The hefty remote control is admirably laid out, with a central cursor key ringed by different size buttons that we found easy to navigate by feel. Although the buttons aren't backlit, they do glow in the dark, but that's not much help when trying to differentiate between the grid of similarly sized keys at the top of the wand. That group includes buttons for aspect ratio selection and picture mode, along with direct access to each of the TV's inputs - a great addition. The clicker can command three other pieces of gear.

What is a drawback is its price, but for a TV which produces what it does then we doubt that would be a factor for many people. Definatly a TV which will give a picture you will be astounded by.