The Pioneer KRP-500 TV is a 50-inch (127 cm) plasma TV and ideally suits dark home-theatres. Available since November 2008 at about 4,000 GBP, we've yet to find it cheaper.

Florian Friedrich, November 26, 2008

• Outstanding picture quality with spellbinding contrast.
• Vivid imagery, thanks to the purest black to date.
• Super-sleek, attractive design.
• Separate box for connections.
• Well-adjusted picture, right out of the box.
• Built-in HDTV receiver.

• Some awkward operation.
• A bit noisy when running.
• High power consumption.
• Pesky gray side-bars in 4:3 format.
• Stand and speakers cost extra.

Despite a few minor hiccups, the Pioneer KRP-500 TV raises the benchmark. It's easily the best TV on the market.

Most common connections:

3x 4x 1x

Test Results in Brief:
If you love technology, the KRP-500 establishes a new level of indulgence. The meticulous Pioneer developers assembled and fine-tuned this luxury-class TV to near-perfection, producing the purest black ever achieved - the key factor elevating the Pioneer above the competition.
 
Never before has a TV produced such vivid images, realizing the dream of the cinema experience at home so naturally you can almost smell the popcorn. Make sure you put this 50 inch in a home-theater environment you can darken completely - only then will the breathtaking blacks and astounding picture depth really spring to life.
 
You'll be delighted by exceptionally realistic colors, and Pioneer's high-end set perfectly renders standard TV, DVD, and Blu-ray signals. HDTV signals look even better, making this set a "dead cert" investment for the future. If the global financial meltdown hasn't hit you yet, warm up a spot in your home-theater for the Pioneer KRP-500 while you can still afford it. For the best TV of all time, 4,000 GBP is a bargain.