Video Processing of HDTV Signals

A high-definition TV like the Pioneer seems a bit under-challenged by normal TV and DVDs. To the eagle-eyed Blu-ray collectors, however, this 50-inch display will be especially impressive - they won't miss out on a single detail at the typical sitting distance of around 3 meters.

To cut to the chase from a technical standpoint: Powerful video processing displays every pixel accurately, without scaling, whether at 1080/60i, /60p or /24p resolution. It reproduces fine details so well that you can still clearly distinguish even a checker-board pattern composed of 2 million diamonds - provided you are not sitting too far away, and you select the "Dot for Dot" picture format, which maps every pixel on the Blu-ray to its own pixel on the plasma screen.

However, staunch perfectionists will find one shortcoming with the KRP-500. This only appeared when using test discs, and not with movie pictures: The set cannot differentiate the so-called "above white" and "below black" regions.

De-interlacer and 24p Signals:
In terms of sharpness, motion depiction separates the men from the boys. As with PAL, HDTV also comprises a so-called "interlaced" signal (1080i), which the display must then de-interlace to produce a normal picture. A scene containing fast movements can trip up many video processors. Naturally, this is not the case with the KRP-500; we would have been bitterly disappointed if it were.

We checked its capabilities with the James Bond adventure "Casino Royale". In the fourth chapter, the decorative stripe on a seaplane and, a little later, the railings on a yacht put the de-interlacer to the test. As we expected, both of these potential stumbling blocks appeared accurate and flicker-free. The Pioneer does a great job with HD documentaries, such as the fascinating "Antarctica Dreaming", where it renders fast pans of the hand-held cameras sharply and free from frayed edges.

If you've got a friend that's always jabbering on about Blu-rays lacking cinematic-impression, recommend the KRP-500 to him. Of course, you may then have to prepare instead to be told - at length - just how good the new set is, since the KRP-500 displays movie-theater-style 24p signals with no added judder or undesired motion "enhancements".

A good example of this is, once again, the opening credits of "Casino Royale", specifically the red diamond (at playing time 00:05:45). At 60 Hertz playback, it glides across the screen with a light judder, but at 24p the motion is completely clean.

This even works with an older Blu-ray player that doesn't offer 24p output, since the KRP-500 has an "Inverse Telecine" function and will convert a 1080/60i signal back into a 24p picture. You can activate this trick by selecting "Advance" in the "PureCinema" menu (in the picture menu under "Pro Adjust").

"Film Mode" Menu:

The "Film Mode" menu is buried deep in the on-screen menu and can prove useful in some cases: If you have an older Blu-ray player that cannot output 24p, set the "Film Mode" to "Advance", and enjoy 60i input signals as low-judder 24p playback. If you choose "Standard", on the other hand, you get optimum playback of DVD movies. Here's where to find the setting: Home Menu > Setup > Picture > Pro Adjust > PureCinema > Film Mode.

No Indication of Input Signal Frame Rate:
Only a select few, top-end TVs can produce film-like motion depiction to the same perfection as the KRP-500. Nevertheless, Pioneer could do better: We were disappointed to find that the TV does not indicate the input signal's frame rate. Pressing the "Info" button on the remote control merely displays the vertical resolution.