Pioneer has all the right to call its current line of Plasma TVs KURO because it is the Japanese term for black. And true enough, all the Kuro models of Pioneer have superior black levels. This is, perhaps, one of the best selling points of Pioneer plasma TVs. Ever since LCDs came into the picture, plasma TVs have been losing their charms due to issues such as image retention (aka burn-in) and power consumption. However, with the current releases of plasma TVs, including the Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-151FD, these issues are not really counted as issues anymore.
Top-Notch Picture Quality
Pioneer Kuro is indeed the best in its league. No other models are able to come close to what this Pioneer series can produce in terms of image quality. If there would be, maybe only one or two. In terms of black level, the company’s current line of plasma TVs has the lowest level of black at 0.00066 fl which translates to extremely deep black. The next lowest level is already at 0.004 fl, so you can just imagine the significant difference in the black levels. When watching movies with top and bottom black borders, these already blend with the bezel. And when the scene is totally black, it would seem like the unit has been turned off.
With the Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-151FD, there are amazing picture settings that are built-in to the unit already such as the Pure mode. With this mode enabled, the colors are almost 98 to 99 percent accurate and the color saturation is excellent, giving the lifelike look of images on the screen. There is also an Advance mode under Film Mode where the refresh rate easily switches to 72Hz to allow for smoother video processing on a 24p input. This makes the film look more realistic.
Stylish Design
Just like the PRO-150FD, the 151FD still comes in a very stylish black exterior with minimalist design, except that there is already a small Pioneer logo on the lower left corner of the bezel. To match the elegant and expensive look, the remote control had a few enhancements. The clicker is backlit which is helpful when watching in a dark room.
The menu of this Pioneer model also now follows the Kuro theme and there are several adjustments and controls that hard-core TV enthusiasts will be glad to know about.
Old Plasma Issues
Going back to the issue that plagues most plasma TVs, burn-in and power consumption are almost non-issue at all with the Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-151FD. Image retention may still occur, but perhaps, only upon really careless use of the unit; because even after several hours of non-stop games and hundred hours of watching TV, no image retention had been apparent. When it comes to power consumption, plasma TVs these days are more expensive than similar-sized LCDs but only by a dollar or two a month. Hence, it’s not much of a concern considering the quality of entertainment you are getting.
Overall Judgment
The Pioneer Elite Kuro Pro-151FD is truly the best. With its current selling price of about $6,000, this 60-inch plasma TV is definitely worth every penny, especially for those who want extreme entertainment experience.
The final score for PRO 151FD is out of 5.