Home > Consumer Reviews > Pioneer PRO 111FD - 50" Elite KURO plasma TV with built-in network media player - widescreen - 1080p (FullHD) - HDTV

I recently upgraded from a Samsung 61" LED DLP which wasn't too shabby. I spent a good 3 or 4 months crawling around various electronic stores in Manhattan comparing models and was finally able to hunt down a Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD at an insanely low price ($2499). I've spent a little over a week with the TV and have to say that it really lives up to all the lofty praise it has received over the past year. The blacks, in a single word, are stunning and the colors are equally impressive. Last weekend I fired up my PS3 and watched the Criterion Collection version of Chung King Express and was blown away by the clarity and color depth. HDTV, especially programs broadcast in 1080i, are also excellent. I have mixed opinions about SD content on the TV (sometimes it looks great, other times not at all) but I can't offer an objective opinion because my AVR (Pioneer Elite SC-05) handles the processing and upconversion for those signals.

I still have a lot to explore (namely the 24p 72hz film mode) but can safely say that this is the best TV on the market. But keep in mind that there are plenty of other options that are just as drool-worthy. Namely the LED backlit Samsungs (A950 series) and the Sony XBR8s. And in terms of aesthetics, the new LED edge-lit Samsungs are beyond chic...you deserve to see how slim they are in person. The new Panasonic G10s also look great and couldn't have a more seductive price. It truly is a great time to be a TV buyer.

Have had this TV for a few weeks now. I researched the entire Samsung LCD and Plasma line, looked at the XBRs from Sony and some of the higher end Panasonic plasmas.

I used 12 criteria to evaluate each of the 16 TVs I looked at.

Kuro Elite was best in class in every category except for vibrancy and SD picture blur reduction. LCDs are clearly more vibrant. If you are looking for a picture that immediately jumps out at you and demands your attention, you're unlikely to find it in this TV. I much prefer realistic looking scenes (I'm also a photographer), so it's very important to me to have an image that is a reproduction of the original with the least amount of alteration. That is indeed exactly what the Elite delivers. The Samsungs have some post-processing that allow you to reduce the blur/hard-edges on a SD (standard defn.) source. Since I watch mainly Bluray, do HD gaming and cable, this isn't important to me.

The Elite won out in all the other 10 criteria (I did not evaluate native sound, since I use external surround sound).

So if you want completely realistic video/images with incredible crispness and black levels that you don't even notice after a while, because they are so darn good, this is the perfect TV for you!

Owned for a year now and haven't seen any plasma come close under 10k. If your debating with any other plasma stop looking cause this one is amazing!

This is hands down the best picture I have ever seen. I was somewhat hesitant about buying this product as Pioneer is no longer going to be making them, as I understand it. But after all the research and the price coming down to $2,800 I had to go for it. I love the picture. A negative reviewer wrote about bars on the side, mine automatically scales a 4:3 to 16:9 and it looks pretty good. Sure, when all broadcasts go to the wider format it will be even better but there are a lot more widescreen HD channels now. By the by, this TV is incredible coupled with a Blue Ray player. I bought a basic Sony stand alone and everything looks fantastic. I'm glad I took the plunge. As for the reviewer who didn't like the clock, my advice is to buy a watch and enjoy the TV.

The rumors are true. The Pioneer Pro 111FD 50" Kuro Elite HDTV offers the best picture and range of color I've seen. We researched Sony, Samsung, and Pioneer and found the Kuro to be the best. Yes it's expensive- but it's worth the additional investment.