Pioneer 2500 PDP-508XD PDP
www.pioneer.co.uk tel: 01753 789789
Downward facing and hidden from view are three HDMI (v1.3) inputs, a PC D-sub connector with 3.5mm audio jack and a CI Card slot next to a UHF input. On the well-equipped rear panel are three SCARTs, with two wired for RGB, plus line- and high-level stereo speaker connectors, a subwoofer output, and HD component with audio. Optical digital output completes the rear panel features but to the side can be found USB 2.0 for Home Gallery functions, plus S-video and composite connectors.
50in HDTV: HD Ready flat panels Plasma
t was a rather proud yet apprehensive Pioneer that graciously played host to the worlds press at a recent conference in Rome. Here the company explained that it was to reinvent itself as the premium, upmarket choice of the afuent selective customer those for whom added value, tangible performance gains and nesse are essential. So the company has taken its extensive knowledge of plasma display technology back to the drawing board in search of a new approach that would create a truly blank black canvas from which a rich and compelling image could emerge. Launched as Project KURO (Kuro means black in Japanese), Pioneers new plasma models are marketed in a way that extols the virtues of deep, true black in an image and the effect this has on sharpness, colour and realism. The 508XD WXGA panel sports a new Ultra Black logo and claims a contrast ratio of 16000:1. But does this 8th-generation panel deliver the substantive leap in performance over previous models that it promises?

TECH BRIEFING

Pioneer plasmas are the rst to include 1080p/24 inputs for lm sources such as HD DVD and Blu-ray. This feature allows the display to be fed pure progressive full-HD frames as mastered on the disc so no deinterlacing or ltering is required. Pioneer has created a HD digital lm direct 24 logo to promote this feature.
accurate colours and a superb gradation throughout the greyscale with no sign of false contours or banding. All deinterlacing tasks are executed with aplomb, the Pioneer even passing the SiliconOptix HD lm detail test the only model here to do so. The unique 1080p/24 conversion to 72Hz eliminates the dreaded 3:2 lm judder. Its also achieves this with lm based 1080i/60, albeit not as reliably. Recommended Settings
Picture Menu Contrast Colour Temp Colour Space R/G/B High R/G/B Low 39 Manual 2 0/3/15 5/3/3

ON THE BENCH.

This displays wide colour gamut usefully encompasses both the PAL and HD standards and is easily calibrated almost exactly to either. It is DeepColor capable even if theres no mention of xvYCC, but the wide colour space option in the menus (not used for this CIE chart) would suggest its inclusion. The 72Hz refresh rate of its PureCinema Advanced mode caused a 24% drop in brightness, but a proportional reduction in black level leaves contrast ratios fairly consistent.
A PLASMA APART My goodness does it deliver! This plasmas greyscale, dynamic range and deep black performance really sets it apart from any other at panel display Ive seen. The black level is so dark my colourimeter gave up trying to measure it. Luckily I had Minoltas super-sensitive LS-100 on hand and can report a real-world contrast ratio of an astounding 8682:1 plus an all-important ANSI ratio of 657:1. The latter gure is helped by Pioneers unique direct colour lter, which replaces the front glass found on other plasma TVs. Although not a bright panel, measuring similarly to Panasonics 50PX70, the direct colour lter bestows the 508XD with excellent performance in both bright and dark environments, with clear sharp details, vivid

THE HD GUIDE SAYS.

DID YOU KNOW?
Founded in 1938 by Nozomu Matsumoto as Fukuin Shokai Denki Seisakusho, the slightly easier to pronounce name of Pioneer was adopted in 1961. Pioneer is living it large in the club DJ world with its digital sound and video manipulation technology just ask DJ Yoda!
Ive been impressed by plasma TVs before but never excited, and I have always left wanting better. But the 508XD Pioneer had me mesmerised within minutes of firing it up and that was before any calibration. Theres no doubt about it, this is a reference display.
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5/7/07 18:28:57