Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD 60-Inch 1080p Plasma

No one does plasma like Pioneer. There are others you can compare vs. Pioneer's reputation as the premier manufacturer of plasma HDTVs -- Panasonic, Samsung, and the like -- but Pioneer is held by many to be the gold standard.

The 60-inch model PDP-6020FD from Pioneer's KURO line-up is likely to only extend this reputation further. (Current price on Amazon.com.)

But is it worth the premium you'll pay over sets from the also-rans? Here's a quick features review of what you'll get for your investment...

Perhaps the biggest buzz surrounding Pioneer's latest KURO series of plasma HDTVs can be summed up in one word: black. Many people buy plasma vs. LCD televisions because they generate a richer, deeper, darker black than LCDs can hope to produce, and many have also called this the reason to choose Pioneer over its competition. The latest KURO sets like the PDP-6020FD reportedly are without peer when it comes to generating black tones that match what the original source material intends to show. Tired of murky, washed-out night scenes? The PDP-6020FD could be the television for you.

The brilliance of the picture is thanks to a number of latest technological features that Pioneer has crammed into the PDP-6020FD. An improved crystal emissive layer and plasma cell structure help the set produce not only deep blacks but crisp, natural looking colors.

And an optical light sensor will automatically detect the ambient lighting in your viewing room to help create the ideal picture settings to ensure the contrast, brightness and other settings are perfectly tuned to the situation.

As you'd expect from Pioneer, the PDP-6020FD comes well equipped to accept all your high-end AV sources, with 4 independent HDMI inputs and a host of other connection options.

And you can't forget audio. The PDP-6020FD features an integrated digital amplifier which produces enhaced sound clarity to help produce a sound experience that should shame the home theatre sound systems of your most geeky videophile friends.

As always, don't let a handful of reviews on the Internet make your purchase decision for you. Take the next step and find out what other buyers like you think of the PDP-6020FD. Read their user reviews on Amazon.com.

Compare the Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD to these big-screen Plasmas: