Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD Review
Pioneer Kuro models have been the best plasma TV models on the market for quite a while. They have the deepest black levels you can see in a plasma TV or any other type of HDTV for that matter. The side effect of having such deep black levels is a positive one: you get great contrast ratio and color reproduction and that means a superb picture. However, because they are the best they cost more money than other plasma TV models. Considering the quality it is worth it though.
Without putting much weight on the price factor and focusing instead on picture quality, we pick Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD as one of the best plasma TVs of 2008. As opposed to last year’s Pioneer Plasma TVs, this year Pioneer Kuro models are not lacking just some extra fancy features. The Elite models are significantly better, but if you are not ready to pay the price for them, the regular Kuro models - as PDP-5020FD - are the next best models you can buy.
Specifications:
- Screen size: 50 inch (that’s what the “50” in PDP-5020FD stands for)
- Resolution: 1920×1080 (1080p / Full-HD – designated by “FD” in PDP-5020FD, the rule applies to all models, “HD” being used for Pioneer’s 720p displays).
For the full list of specifications see Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD product page on Pioneer site.
Pros:
- Absolutely outstanding black levels and detail in dark areas. The black levels are very good even in well lit environments.
- Very good contrast.
- Great overall picture quality (even though base colors are not absolutely perfect).
- Visible improvement in quality over its predecessor.
- Very good anti-reflective screen.
- Optimum Mode is a nice feature for the average user.
- Network connectivity and ability to play content from a computer or USB memory.
Cons:
- Fewer controls for fine tuning than its predecessor. The lack of color and temperature controls is the biggest minus for this plasma TV.
- Slightly inaccurate color reproduction for base colors. This is however very hard if not impossible to distinguish with naked eye when watching real content (movies, TV).
- Probably the price, though to be honest I think PDP-5020FD it’s worth the money. The MSRP might scare some people because it’s pretty high compared to top of the line Panasonic models but in practice the difference is not that big – you can find the PDP-5020FD at a good price if you look around.
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD Picture Quality
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD is one of the new models making part of Pioneer’s 2008 generation. Though the HDTV as a whole is new, the actual display (panel) isn’t. It is pretty much the same type of panel found in the older Pioneer models like PDP-5010FD. However Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD picture quality is much better than that of its older brother. This might make you raise an eyebrow but it’s true.
Five times deeper blacks
By developing better video processing and filtering electronics Pioneer managed to obtain better black levels without having to develop a new display. This is even more impressive when we take into consideration the fact that the new Pioneer Kuro HDTVs manage to produce five times (5X) deeper black levels than their predecessors. That is something pretty impressive especially that its predecessors ware the best HDTVs on the market last year.
Superb Picture Quality
Those deep black levels have the side effect to give better contrast ratio and color saturation. And like that wasn’t enough, Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD has one more ace in its sleeve: Optimum Mode – a setting that makes the Kuro dynamically adapt to the environment. More precisely, it has a built in sensor that detects the amount of ambient light in the room and automatically adapts the picture so it looks best in that environment. Same thing happens on the audio part. That is very convenient since you don’t have to manually change the setting to get the best picture. Of course, the purist among us will probably prefer to calibrate it by hand especially if they maintain a constant ambient light in the room – like it is the case with people who have a dedicated home theater room. By calibrating the plasma TV and using Movie Mode instead of Optimum Mode you can get more consistent picture quality. While Optimum Mode is a great feature for those who don’t want to bother much with calibration and the setting, it does mess up with the picture (something common to all automatic/inteligent modes of HDTVs).
SD Content
As one might expect from a top quality plasma TV as Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD, standard definition content looks good. Of course you can’t expect miracles but the video processing and filtering system of this plasma TV does a good job. In Optimum Mode it’s actually pretty good at eliminating noise and while you may prefer not to use Optimum Mode for HD content you fill find it a good choice for SD content.
Great Anti-Reflective Screen
Anti-Reflection or Anti-Glare is a characteristic of a screen that prevents it from reflecting light. This is usually achieved by coating the screen with an anti-reflective layer. Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020HD has a great anti-reflective screen – one of the best as a matter of fact. It is so good that even in a very well lit room you get minimal glare and the detail amount in dark areas is not affected. Just so you know, its predecessor has the same type of anti-reflective screen (which is natural since they share the same panel).
Keep the lights out!
If you really want to get the best from this TV you should know that you get the best picture from it in a low light room or even totally dark. As opposed to LCD TVs which look better in well lit rooms, Plasma TVs give you a better picture in a low light environment. By no means should you think that it performs badly in a well lit room because it’s not the case. Thanks to the very good anti-reflective screen it performs very well even when it is a lot of light. However if you watch it with lights turned off or with dimmed lights it’s absolutely fantastic.
Features & Connectivity
A New, Redesigned GUI
Other than the Optimum Mode, the new PDP-5020FD comes with a new GUI (graphical user interface) which Pioneer redesigned for improved ease of navigation. This is not something on which will base your buying decision but I guess it does add up to the other qualities of PDP-5020FD. Normally I would not have even discussed about this because I don’t find it important but it happens that I actually like it. Most HDTVs have a GUI consisting of an semitransparent overlay over the actual picture. Pioneer Kuro’s new GUI doesn’t have the semitransparent overlay but a filled black background which makes the text appear sharper.
Detachable Stereo Speakers & Audio Quality
Regarding audio, Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD comes with a detachable bottom speaker and integrated audio amplifier. The amplifier is a 2×18W which matches the two stereo speakers each hawing 18W. If you want to use a separate home theater audio system you can conveniently remove the bottom speakers. You can configure the sound settings per A/V mode or per input so for example you can have different settings for your Blu Ray player than the ones for TV.
The audio quality of the speakers, as you may expect, doesn’t match the one of a high-end home-theater audio system. However for watching TV is very good and if your budget doesn’t allow you to buy a separate home theater audio system I am sure you will find the audio quality good enough even for HD movies. If you’re a more serious movie enthusiast however I am sure you will want a 5.1 system or something that gives more spatiality to the sound.
Connectivity
On the connectivity part Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD has plenty. You get 4 HDMI inputs, 1 component, 3 composite, 1 S-Video, a PC connector and even USB and Ethernet (10/100 Base-T). That pretty much covers all your connectivity needs.
Home Media Gallery
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD as I said above has an Ethernet connector. That is used in conjunction with Home Media Gallery which gives the plasma TV network compatibility (designed according to DLNA™ 1.5 guidelines). The Home Media Gallery can play some of the most popular audio, video and image formats. This feature of PDP-5020FD gives it a few of the features of a HTPC (Home Theater PC) which are quite nice to have. You will need of course a PC to which to connect it. It is not uncommon to want to watch the photos you have made in holiday on your Plasma TV and the USB support and Home Media Gallery allows you to do that very easy.
Built-in Tuner
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD does come with an integrated NTSC (analog) & ATSC (digital) tuner with clear QAM so you can just hook up a feed and you’re ready to watch TV.
Tip:Usually if a plasma TV contains “HDTV” in its name it has a built-in tuner. For displays without a tuner, FCC requires the manufacturers to describe them as “monitors” instead of “HDTVs”.
Miscellaneous
It is thinner than it’s predecessors by about 20% - it is 3.7 inch deep. I don’t think it’s a big deal but it’s worth mentioning.
The usual anti burn-in features – pixel orbiter and white wash. Useful to keep the plasma TV burn-in free. Chances of burn-in are slim to none on such a new model. You would have to really abuse it to get burn-in. However such features are always welcome.
It also comes with a remote as you might expect. It is backlit and it has buttons on it. When you push the buttons it makes crazy animal noises like elephants, chimps, cows, etc. OK, I made that up but you have to admit it would be funny (for the first 2 minutes).
You have an opinion? That’s what the form below is for. Go ahead and write your thoughts. If you own one, I am sure your comments about it will be greatly appreciated by readers who are considering to buy one.
Loading ...
Why doesn’t anyone mention that annoying buzzing with the pioneer. People don’t always have the volume so loud that we can’t hear it.
Thnx
I’ve been researching this as well as the Elite 50 inch. I’m a little confused as to just how far the calibration can be taken on the 5020 versus the 111. The 111 has this note in it’s overview on Pioneer’s site:
The Elite KURO is a dream come true. For our most discerning entertainment connoisseurs, the Elite KURO is equipped to go beyond the standard set of audio and video settings. Further flexibility and distinct user settings can be finely tuned and set using the ISFccc™ calibration feature for both daytime and nighttime viewing.
Can the 5020 be calibrated to the same extent, but perhaps not as easily/conveniently? Or does the 5020 lock me into hiring a professional perhaps? I’m leaning toward the 5020, nd buying a calibration CD, I’d save about 1000 bucks versus the 111 based on prices I’ve seen but I’m not totally satisfied I understand the differences in the 2 models when it comes to calibration capabilities…
Thanks!
@Mike Ruggiero:
You can’t perfectly calibrate the PDP5020FD. No matter what you do, red and green will not be spot on. Also the Kuro PDP-5020FD actually has less calibration settings than the older PDP-5010FD. You can calibrate it but you won’t get perfectly accurate colors as the ones found in the Elite PRO-111FD or Panasonic PZ800U series. However, the picture of 5020 looks great anyway. It’s just not accurate according to the HDTV standard. If you want the absolute best (or better said, accurate) picture, PRO111FD has it out of the box and it also has all the calibration controls you could hope for. Now you only have to decide if perfectly accurate colors are worth $1000. You might have heard that Panasonic TH-50PZ800U has more accurate colors, and that’s true. However, 5020 even though it’s not accurate looks much better in real life. Also, your personal taste might not perfectly match the HDTV standard. In my opinion, calibration is more about getting the picture you like than the “correct” picture. Anyway, if you’ve got that extra $1000, you can’t go wrong with the Elite. I hope my answer helps.
You can actually calibrate the PDP5020, you just need to download the software to get into the service menu and do it from there
@James: Can you give us more details about this? If you can write a short guide on how to do this, I’d be happy to post it on the site. I’m sure many will appreciate it (me included).
I need to know if this is possible? Changing the settings is very important, why would pioneer do this? That sucks. What’s most important to me in the settings is to be able to change the color temperature. I don’t like piss yellow for white. The ‘cinema’ preset is good, just not the yellowish instead of white. Exactly what can you change and what can’t you? Does anyone have a 5020 that can say? Thanks.
best buy has this for 2200+tax or abe’s of maine has it fo 2350 total
PDP-5020FD lacks color temperature, gamma, and other controls that you would have found in the previous generation. It has just the basic controls. Why would Pioneer do this? So you buy the more expensive Elite version. Personally I still prefer the Kuro over a Panasonic. If you want to talk with owners I think you can do that on http://www.avsforum.com - look for the PDP-5020FD owner’s thread.
I just purchased this TV and the Geek Squad folks are coming over on Tuesday to install/set up. They will calibrate for another $200.00, is this worth it?
@Sean: It depends how good they are and what you can do yourself. If the technician that calibrates it has proper training to calibrate the TV beyond common settings and go into the TVs service menu to do fine tuning then you will get the best picture possible on this TV. However if they will just change the settings you normally have access to, you can do it yourself for free - just go to http://www.avsforum.com, look for PDP-5020FD owner’s thread (or official thread) and see what settings they use and what they did to get the best picture. Do it anyway, it’s free! I don’t know if is worth it for you. Only you can tell after they do it - if you like it more after calibration than you hate paying $200.
Sean: I am curious if you ended up having your 5020 calibrated or not, as BB is delivering and installing my 5020 next week. From what I have read on the AVS forum, if you plan to use break-in settings to help avoid burn-in and IR, it may be best to delay calibrating you set until after the break-in period. What do you think of your 5020? I can’t wait to get mine.
all you that are complaining about calibration i wish you could see my Pioneer maybe who ever did your calibration didn’t know what they were doing. I have no complaints about my TV that I’ve had for three months.
Hi all,
If we watch DVD all the time with black stripes on top and bottom of the screen, will the TV still have burn-in problem even with the pixel orbiter feature.
Thanks for all your help.
KK Law
@KK Law: Unlikely with Pioneer Kuro PDP-5020FD (or any Kuro from this generation). It is the most burn-in resistant plasma TV.
Has anyone setup the Digital tuner on the PDP-5020FD. The area that I have to set it up is Grayed out. Is there a setting or switch to change to allow digital tuning? Does it need to have an antenna connected first?
Hi,
Does anybody knows service command - to check how many hours your TV has been used (Model of TV is Pioneer Elite PRO151FD)?
Thanks in advance.
Val.
@Steve Skogsberg: I don’t understand the question. You want to watch HD over air using a HDTV antenna?
@Val: I once knew how to enter service menu, but I don’t remember anymore. Go to http://www.avsforum.com and ask in Pioneer PRO-151FD official thread. People that have this TV will probably know.
The Pioneer krp-500m was the last plasma that pioneer made and their BEST… PERIOD!.. They put their 10th Generation parts inside this plasma!..
What should I do
PDP-5020FD @ 1999.99
PN50B650S1F @ 1239.99
TC-P50G15 @ 1246.00
@Burge: Personally I’d choose TC-P50G15.