The Pioneer PDP-5080 50-inch HDTV is a member of the next generation of Pioneer plasma displays that features incredibly deep black levels. This is made possible through a new cell structure and crystal emissive layer that are designed to achieve more intense blacks. The result is an exceptional picture that must be seen to be believed. Of course, you should expect great black levels from an HDTV with the name "kuro," which means black in Japanese.

The current HDTV buzzword is 1,080p. While we'll be the first to praise the benefits of this ultra-high resolution, the fact remains that most content you're likely to see isn't actually 1,080p. In fact, if you're mostly watching HD content from cable or satellite, a quality 720p set can handle it with ease. However, the 720p PDP-5080 outperforms many 1,080p plasmas.

For its eighth-generation plasma line, Pioneer has redesigned not only the inside technology, but has also made a more handsome set. The piano-black bezel of the PDP-5080 conveys a high-tech geek-chic look with minimalist styling. The PDP-5080 comes with removable speakers, and if you choose to channel all audio through a home theater system, this television practically appears as only the screen and nothing else.

This plasma HDTV features a native resolution of 1,365x768, and it handles 480p and 720p content effortlessly, scaling 1,080i and 1,080p programming to fit the pixels. The PDP-5080 also does a great job displaying standard-definition content, something many HDTVs struggle to do. This is accomplished by the PDP-5080's ASIC video processing and scaling. Motion judder from films is mostly eliminated with the set's 3:2 pulldown, and Pioneer's Advanced PureCinema 3:3 pulldown is an even better option to bring movies to life.

The PDP-5080 has multiple video-processing functions that you can adjust to your personal tastes, including three settings for color temperature and 3-D digital noise reduction. There are six picture memory modes, including one called Optimum that utilizes an optical light sensor to automatically adjust to your viewing room's current light conditions. There are plenty of other adjustments that you can make, including an energy-saver option. The PDP-5080 doesn't have as many available adjustments as Pioneer's ultra high-end Elite line, but there are still enough options for you to dial the picture to your exact specifications.

To address image retention, a common problem with plasma TVs, the PDP-5080 utilizes an "orbiter" function that gradually shifts the entire onscreen image just enough to reduce or eliminate burn-in or ghosting. Should any image retention actually occur, there are multiple wash modes to clear the screen, including a video pattern that wipes a white bar across the screen for an hour before automatically shutting down. Plasma screens also have a light-reflection issue, and the PDP-5080 combats this with a very effective anti-reflective screen.

As previously mentioned, the PDP-5080 features removable stereo speakers. We always recommend connecting a large-screen HDTV to a surround sound system, but for casual viewing or quick checks of the news or weather, built-in speakers don't require you to power up your home theater equipment. The PDP-5080's speakers are also surprisingly powerful for a 50-inch flat-panel TV at 17 watts total power, and there are multiple audio options including SRS WOW, FOCUS and TruBass.

As with everything else, the PDP-5080 excels in the connectivity department. There are a total of four HDMI 1.3 inputs with x.v.Color support. Although x.v.Color-supported components are currently rare, more are sure to appear in the next year or two, so the PDP-5080 provides a bit of future-proofing. In addition, there are two component video inputs, an S-video input, three composite video inputs, a PC input and a USB port for viewing photos directly from a digital camera. The outputs include a stereo analog monitor output, as well as an optical digital audio output. The latter comes in handy if you're running multiple HDMI sources and only need a single digital link to your home theater receiver. The PDP-5080 also sports a subwoofer pre-amp output, so you can add some low-end punch when using the set's speakers.

The PDP-5080 is a great set, but it is far from the most affordable out there. And as it isn't a true 1,080p HDTV, it might be worth considering making a step up to the 1,080p KURO models. Despite this, the Pioneer KURO PDP-5080 delivers an amazing picture.


Pros: Unmatched black levels, does a great job displaying standard-definition content, four HDMI inputs, x.v.Color support
Cons: Only 720p resolution, expensive