After close to a year's absence from the local flat-panel scene, Pioneer is finally back in force with four new eighth-generation plasma TVs. Marketed under its Kuro (meaning black in Japanese) branding, these rewrite the current contrast boundary to another new level. They not only unseat the Koreans' offerings in this endless cat and mouse game, but also prove there's a lot more to be harnessed from the mature plasma technology.

Pros

Thanks to an enhanced crystal emissive layer, the PDP-428XG is able to reproduce deep blacks as attested to during its launch demo. This impressive feat is highlighted under the panel's ultra-high 16,000:1 contrast. When coupled with a new Optimum picture mode, it's able to further optimize onscreen picture quality by adjusting critical video parameters on-the-fly. The automated fine-tuning is performed based on a combination of room lighting condition and supplied video signals. The latter also takes into consideration, among others, the genre of program played back.

To address the needs of photo playback with the widespread popularity of digital photography, Pioneer is offering a Home Gallery function. Implemented via a high-speed USB 2.0 port, the system supports the direct digicam interface, inexpensive thumbdrives and memory card readers. Format-wise, it recognizes up to 8-megapixel JPEG files with inbuilt provision for customizable slideshow and image rotation options. The photo thumbnails are presented in a 4 x 4 grid for preview and can be displayed in either full screen or a window with companion details.

Another key upgrade for the PDP-428XG lies in its HDMI connectivity. There are now three of these all-digital jacks, all equipped with full 1080p and HDMI-CEC compliancy. The former is a timely revision which should silence critics on the 1080p50/60 signal incompatibility between the company's seventh-gen plasmas and HD-upscaling digital video recorders. On a separate note, the HDMI placements on the rear should be a welcome change for users with multiple HDMI-equipped decks. That said, they are difficult to access for impromptu HD digicam hookup.

Cons

We have kind of given up hope for a 42-inch plasma TV with a true HD-ready panel, and the latest Pioneer has definitely reinforced that perception. Stuck at XGA resolution, it's still 20 percent short of the horizontal resolution needed to meet the minimal 1,280 x 720 requirement. As with its realigned premium focus, the PDP-428XG's S$4,299 (US$2,828.96) asking price is easily hundreds of Singapore dollars more than its peers. Its top execs believe strongly that the performance is an overruling factor here, though we are quite skeptical about this market strategy especially for cost-sensitive Asians.

Bottomline

There is no question that Pioneer has an exciting product in hand from its latest Kuro plasma range. But with the higher-than-average pricing, it will probably appeal more to enthusiasts than the average Joe. This is despite its lower standing among the new 2007 models launched together with the premium LX-series A/V components. On the bright side, at least you can quit comparing prices and concentrate on saving up for its plasma TV from now on.