Someone probably wrote that after finding out the hi-def stork blessed Pioneer with another KURO, the PDP-6020FD 1080p plasma HDTV. (visit site)
Pioneer’s claim is that this new KURO is an improvement over previous generations. This is a bold statement considering they make possibly the classiest hi-def television on the market.
Recently, I was able to speak with Paul Meyhoefer, Vice President of Pioneer’s Marketing and Product Planning for Displays, about the PDP-6020FD. (compare prices)
KURO's Quest for Absolute Black
According to Meyhoefer, Pioneer engineers developed software and drive sequences making this the 9th generation of technology inside the panel. Glass was revamped, filters were improved and video processing was refined.
(read product review for PDP-6020FD)
Black levels are blacker partly due to reducing idle illuminates, which improved the contrast ratio. Meyhoefer says this is noticeable when watching dark content.
Picture Settings - Optimum Viewing Mode
One of the newest innovations Pioneer included with the PDP-6020FD is an Optimum AV mode. This is targeted toward users with high expectations that don’t have a lot of time to calibrate a picture.
It’s pretty interesting how this works. (compare prices)
Pioneer’s product description says, “Built in intelligence seamlessly monitors content and room light, and then automatically adjusts both audio and video settings for an immaculate picture and pristine sound.”
Meyhoefer explained that the panel dynamically adjusts the picture and audio settings based on how dark or bright a room is. It uses an optical sensor that detects light in the room. The panel then processes that information to alter how bright or dark the screen is.
It goes beyond external lighting, though. Optimum mode also adjusts the on-screen picture based on how intense the colors are compared to each other.
Meyhoefer warns that the Optimum picture setting isn’t intended for the accurate user that requires the image to appear as it were intended. It’s meant to be a more pleasing experience for people with high taste that don’t want to continuously adjust controls.
(read product review for PDP-6020FD)
As far as other picture settings, one of the biggest differences with the PDP-6020FD versus Pioneer’s Elite panels is that the PDP-6020FD does not have the ISS configuration tools that the Elites have. For many people this isn’t an issue but for some it might be a deal breaker.
Energy Star 3.0 Rating
Pioneer has a lot of things to be proud of with the PDP-6020FD (compare prices) but one thing that stands out is their recognition of new Energy Star 3.0 guidelines and their motivation to incorporate it into their newest panels even before the mandate is required. It’s a refreshing business decision made at a time when the environment is in need of such proactive actions.
Of course, that doesn’t mean all AV modes are Energy Star compliant. The Performance mode is not Energy Star rated in case you wonder.
Image Retention or Burn-In
Image retention or burn-in is bound to be a topic when buying a plasma HDTV. So, I asked Meyhoefer about burn-in and Pioneer KURO displays. He said he was so confident in the built-in anti-image retention controls that he would play video games on the PDP-6020FD.
One of the controls is the Orbitor Mode, which is a technology I liked when reviewing the Elite PRO-950HD. (read review)
Meyhoefer also stated that image retention or burn-in is more likely to happen during the first several hundred hours of a panel’s life. If burn-in is a concern to you then I recommend reading Pioneer’s user manual.
(read product review for PDP-6020FD)
Key Specifications as posted on Pioneer's website
- 60” Plasma widescreen HDTV ( 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p)
- ASIC Video Processing and Scaling
- Detachable Bottom Speaker
- 4 Independent HDMI 1.3 Inputs
- Standard 3:2 (60Hz) Pulldown
- Advanced PureCinema with 3:3 (72Hz) Pulldown
- Fully Integrated ATSC & NTSC Tuner with Clear QAM
- Home Media Gallery
- Advanced Picture-In-Picture
- Microsoft PlaysForSure® Protected Content
- Audio Output: 18W + 18W
- Panel without Speaker: 57-11/16” x 34-1/2” x 3-21/32” (W x H x D)
- Panel (w/detachable bottom speaker): 57-11/16” x 37-5/8” x 3-21/32” (W x H x D)
- Panel Weight: 112 lbs.
- Panel Weight (w/integrated bottom speaker & stand) 131 lbs. 8 oz.