Pioneer Project Kuro 'Extreme Contrast' first look
Pioneer proudly premiered its Project Kuro "Extreme Contrast" presentation at CES, and Register Hardware was exclusively invited to see this awesome, absolute black TV in action.
Shown only as a concept, with no indication of when it might come to market, Pioneer has been working on the top secret "Project Kuro" in a bid to …
It'll be infinity. Light/dark = something/zero = infinity...
And John - in any conditions, plasma is better for watching TV than LCD, frankly. The LCD camp is possibly winning the PR war, and I suppose the price war for sub 42inch screens, but they're the only war they're winning. Compare plasma and LCD side by side and I guarantee you'll prefer the plasma.
I wondered about the picture order as did the previous posters.
It looks like they need to use a more matt paint finish and the screen has reflections as well. In a fully darkened room this may be fine and impressive but in a domestic situation the 'absolute' black of the screen would probably be lost due to reflections of ambient light.
LCD's are brighter than plasma's, and cheaper to make in higher resolutions, but LCD's have always struggled with black (which plasmas have always been good at). many people would say that a plasma at 1024x768 looks better than an LCD at 1920x1080.
I have an LCD now, btu if I were buying again I'd probably go for a plasma.. indeed a pioneer kuro plasma at that. not sure if I could justify the spend on a 1080p one mind...
I initially thought they were the wrong way round too, but if you look at the image they are labelled underneath... it'll just be the camera flash.
John - Yes they're Plasma TV's, the Kuro range is currently the best available anyway so this should shake things up nicely.... whilst you allude to the main downfall of Plasma in the sense that a room with a lot of natural light isn't ideal for them, it's not that clear cut, if you're watching a screen with the window behind and around you streaming on to the set then an LCD is better, but if you have a tv with windows at the sides/behind etc then i doubt you'll have an issue at all (that is my setup) Personally i'd shut the curtains on the odd occasion the British weather was that bright rather than sacrifice the improved quality Plasma offers over LCD.
Good brief article here, from a company that makes both: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/technology/plasma-or-lcd.html
As usual, the Blessed St Douglas of Adams got there first:
#
Every time you try to operate one of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've done it. What is this? Some kind of galactic hyperhearse?
It looks like it was taken with a flash, so you've got the right-hand screen reflecting, and looking less good than the left-hand one. Oh well.
Yes, the Pioneers are plasmas, and bloody amazing. Even with natual light they'll kick any LCD's backside. At £3000 for the 50", they bloody should do, however.
"Personally i'd shut the curtains on the odd occasion the British weather was that bright rather than sacrifice the improved quality Plasma offers over LCD."
Personally I'd switch the TV off and go outside to enjoy the lovely weather.
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Pioneer Project Kuro 'Extreme Contrast' first look
Pioneer proudly premiered its Project Kuro "Extreme Contrast" presentation at CES, and Register Hardware was exclusively invited to see this awesome, absolute black TV in action. Shown only as a concept, with no indication of when it might come to market, Pioneer has been working on the top secret "Project Kuro" in a bid to …
This topic is closed for new posts.
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 03:54 GMT
Dazzer
Wrong way round? #
Are the TVs the right way round to what the article states? The one on the left looks blacker to me!
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 04:05 GMT
Drew Cullen
Re: Wrong way round? #
I asked Scott - who also took the photograph: Here is his reply:
"No, it's correct as it is.
It's just the way it looks given the camera flash and where I was standing.
The writing on the stands - if it's visible at 72dpi, should help clarify."
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 06:11 GMT
john
I assume these are plasmas not LCDs? #
Kuro is plasma right?
So does that mean its fine for a dark room, but where you have natural light an LCD is still better overall?
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 07:57 GMT
Bernard Langham
Spinal Tap #
"It's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is, 'None. None more black.'"
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
Andrew Bolton
A contrast ratio can be provided, surely? #
It'll be infinity. Light/dark = something/zero = infinity...
And John - in any conditions, plasma is better for watching TV than LCD, frankly. The LCD camp is possibly winning the PR war, and I suppose the price war for sub 42inch screens, but they're the only war they're winning. Compare plasma and LCD side by side and I guarantee you'll prefer the plasma.
Andrew
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
Bronek Kozicki
good question #
Might be anything. Maybe OLED, I know it is capable of "absolute dark".
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
frank denton
Reflections on black #
I wondered about the picture order as did the previous posters.
It looks like they need to use a more matt paint finish and the screen has reflections as well. In a fully darkened room this may be fine and impressive but in a domestic situation the 'absolute' black of the screen would probably be lost due to reflections of ambient light.
It's an admirable achievement all the same.
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
David Haworth
@john #
LCD's are brighter than plasma's, and cheaper to make in higher resolutions, but LCD's have always struggled with black (which plasmas have always been good at). many people would say that a plasma at 1024x768 looks better than an LCD at 1920x1080.
I have an LCD now, btu if I were buying again I'd probably go for a plasma.. indeed a pioneer kuro plasma at that. not sure if I could justify the spend on a 1080p one mind...
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
jolly
"Awesome", "Wow" and "Look at that" #
Unbelievable. Black pixels. Just incredible. I don't know about you but I'm off to dance in the streets!
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
Scott Mckenzie
Pics #
I initially thought they were the wrong way round too, but if you look at the image they are labelled underneath... it'll just be the camera flash.
John - Yes they're Plasma TV's, the Kuro range is currently the best available anyway so this should shake things up nicely.... whilst you allude to the main downfall of Plasma in the sense that a room with a lot of natural light isn't ideal for them, it's not that clear cut, if you're watching a screen with the window behind and around you streaming on to the set then an LCD is better, but if you have a tv with windows at the sides/behind etc then i doubt you'll have an issue at all (that is my setup) Personally i'd shut the curtains on the odd occasion the British weather was that bright rather than sacrifice the improved quality Plasma offers over LCD.
Good brief article here, from a company that makes both: http://www.panasonic.co.uk/technology/plasma-or-lcd.html
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
Chris Miller
As usual, the Blessed St Douglas of Adams got there first: #
Every time you try to operate one of these weird black controls that are labelled in black on a black background, a little black light lights up black to let you know you've done it. What is this? Some kind of galactic hyperhearse?
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:43 GMT
Iain
Re: the picture #
It looks like it was taken with a flash, so you've got the right-hand screen reflecting, and looking less good than the left-hand one. Oh well.
Yes, the Pioneers are plasmas, and bloody amazing. Even with natual light they'll kick any LCD's backside. At £3000 for the 50", they bloody should do, however.
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 10:56 GMT
Ian K
"It's just the way it looks given the camera flash" #
Possibly using a camera flash was a bit self-defeating, given what you wanted the photo to illustrate?
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 11:07 GMT
Anonymous Coward
resist the couch potatory #
"Personally i'd shut the curtains on the odd occasion the British weather was that bright rather than sacrifice the improved quality Plasma offers over LCD."
Personally I'd switch the TV off and go outside to enjoy the lovely weather.
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 12:07 GMT
Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse
So if I watch... #
"Pitch Black" on this TV, it'll actually be "Pitch Blacker"?
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 12:07 GMT
Ash
How they did it... #
Nathan Explosion was called in to write a song, and the score was directly etched onto every single pixel on the screen.
"Blacker than the blackest black, times infinity." indeed.
But the truely important question is... Can I get it for my iPhone?
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 13:44 GMT
Scott Mckenzie
Couch Potato #
That'll be my fault for thinking inside the box.... getting outside and enjoying the weather with maybe a G&T is a far better idea of course!
Posted Tuesday 8th January 2008 15:24 GMT
Player_16
Never take photos of light using a flash. #
@Drew Cullen; You can inform Scott, even if it was flames, it's a light source.
This topic is closed for new posts.