Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX6090

Hello HD fans, I'm Ian Morris and today I'm appearing on TV. But this is not just any TV, this is the delightful Pioneer PDP-LX6090 which is a 60-inch plasma TV from the masters of all that is black. The 6090 is one of Pioneers ninth generation plasma panels and the second generation of Kuro televisions, so you can expect some very impressive blacks, in fact, we think it's safe to say this TV will give the most accurate representation of black you've ever seen. Unless that is you've seen the inside of a black hole. Which is, let's be honest, quite unlikely. Of course, this sort of screen size doesn't come cheap. Without speakers or a stand expect to drop around £4300. But, it's important to remember that a really good video projector will cost you that much, or more, and will also need feeding new bulbs every now and then. Plus, you'll need a dark room and a decent screen to make the most of them. With this, you can happily watch the lunchtime edition of neighbours without problems. So, what of the performance? It's fair to say we were impressed. The high definition picture quality of this 100hz 1080p TV is out of this world. We looked at Blu-ray and HD DVD movies, and were amazed by the clarity, and the deep, rich blacks are only part of this, the detail levels are also quite simply the best we've seen on any flat panel. Upscaled DVDs look fantastic too, so much so, we think you'll want to re-watch your film library in its entirety because the experience is just so enjoyable. What surprised us most is that even Freeview looked good. Sure, it’s not a patch on Blu-ray, but it was at least tolerable. Come with me to the back of the TV, and I'll show you the connection options you've got. There are three HDMI sockets as well as three Scarts. You also get component, VGA and composite video in. Because there are no built-in speakers, you also get ports to connect the optional ones, or some of your own. As I said earlier, speakers are an extra cost option, but you can chose either side mounted or bottom mounted speakers, depending on the amount of space you've got in your house. We tested the side-mounted models, and were actually really impressed by the sound quality they produced. The menu system on the TV is simple enough to use, but look deep and you'll encounter a wealth of configuration options that will allow you to maximise the performance of the TV. You can even have it ISF calibrated, if you really want to get the best out of it. The overall quality even extends to the remote control, which has a weighty and expensive feeling and can help tone arm muscles when lifted. If you simply must have the biggest and best TV money can buy, look no further than this bad-boy. We've fallen totally in love with the stunning picture quality, and we've given it a score that is reserved for only the very best TVs. It's certainly not cheap, but it will make you drool every time you switch it on. I've been a lightly salivating Ian Morris, and this is the Pioneer PDP-LX6090.