Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: pioneer, kuro, elite | Themes: Display Panels and Monitors
Videophiles, a question: Is there anything finer in this world than a Pioneer Kuro Elite 60-inch Pro-151FD plasma display?
Because if there is, we'd really like you to tell us about it in the comments below. It will help us deal with our grief. You see, according to a report in the Japanese newspaper Nikkei today, Pioneer plans to leave the television business for good. If this is true (and, so far, Pioneer's U.S. division hasn't confirmed the report), there will soon be no more new Kuros for us to drool over.
Kuro-obsessed plasma-lovers have been worried about the line of TVs for a while. In May 2008, the company said it would stop producing its own plasma display panels, and instead outsource production to Panasonic. That, alone, was cause for concern: Could Panasonic possibly build panels that display the overpoweringly deep blacks and contrast that Pioneer's panels do? Pioneer made reassuring noises that the company's engineers would continue to oversee operations and keep the panels at Pioneer's extremely high standards.
But what now? Pioneer has produced nine ever-evolving generations of Kuro plasmas. Many videophiles have traced the product line from its inception, hoping to one day--when they finally saved up enough cash-- join the ranks of Kuro owners. Those aspiring Kuro owners will never have a chance, unless they act now. But with the economy in its current state, even Amazon.com's deeply reduced price of $1,988 for the 50-inch (non-Elite) Kuro is very steep. Pioneer lists the MSRP for the 60-inch Elite model at $6,500. Ouch.
But Pioneer's bottom line is obviously hurting as much as its customers--why else would the company leave the business where it has become an extremely high-end niche player? We should have realized something was up at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, when Pioneer had absolutely nothing new to say about its line of plasma televisions. If Pioneer is truly exiting the game, the best fans can hope for is for another manufacturer to swoop in and buy up Pioneer's engineers, intellectual property, and deep, dark, plasma secrets.
"Videophiles, a question: Is there anything finer in this world than a Panasonic Kuro Elite 60-inch Pro-151FD plasma display?"
Don't you mean Pioneer?
See? I'm still in denial....sigh.
ahem. Don't you mean a Pioneer Kuro and not Panasonic?
(Yeah - oops, not Panasonic - Pioneer)
Better than the brand new Kuro's ?? Ehh, I'd say the Samsung 8000 series or the Mitsubishi Laservue.
But yeah, the brand new Kuro's are definitely in my top three (maybe top two when it comes to levels of black)
I hope they have crazy sales when they sell off their inventory!! 2008 Kuros for $2K ... mmm, drool !!
It is so hard to find a Laservue to actually buy (@ $7K)...let's hope those prices come down and Mitsubishi stays in the business.
There's a market out there. Mitsubishi knows that. That's why the Laservue was at CES. The price will eventually come down to $5K, especially in this economy, I'd say by summer of 2010. Once the market is back on its feet, pensions revived, 401K's back in action, the home theater market will be back in full force AND - with new technology to drool over. I wish SED TV's would get it in gear. SED !! SED !!!
Pioneer got what they were asking for, and what they deserved! Markets, and consumers, are never forgiving of gougers. Bad economic conditions only accelerate the ultimate demise of culprits. Quite simply: Pioneer has priced themselves out of the market.
This is what I say: they make a good TV, but not good enough to command a 2x price premium. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!
That's a deterministic point of view. Just because I can't afford 10 carat diamond earrings, does that mean that they shouldn't exist? It is a luxury item, no doubt. But I do agree with you that perhaps Pioneer should try lowering their margins to attempt to sell more units before they decide to opt out of the market all together.
What a crap! I don't have money now for a Kuro, but I always want to have a reference brand which sometimes I will be able to buy.
Samsung, Panasonic, Sony are all (large) consumer products, good but with valuem not quality in their DNA.
Pioneer is for TV what is Rotel, B&O, Denon, Marantz in audio.
So sad...
I would think there is still some hope left for the Kuro's line. If Panasonic is already making them for Pioneer, wouldn't there be a good chance that Panasonic would just purchase the rights to it and keep on making them?
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but it seems Panasonic would benefit since they will be losing production if the Kuros line goes away.
just go online and buy it now and stop complaining.
LAME article!
FAIL!
This isn't exactly news. Pioneer announced over a year ago that they would no longer be producing plasmas in house. Panasonic has made some sort of deal with Pioneer to provide the Kuro glass panels. Although it hasn't been announced. I think it's highly likely that panasonic also acquired the rights to the Kuro technology as part of the deal.
This isn't exactly news. Pioneer announced over a year ago that they would no longer be producing plasmas in house. Panasonic has made some sort of deal with Pioneer to provide the Kuro glass panels. Although it hasn't been announced. I think it's highly likely that panasonic also acquired the rights to the Kuro technology as part of the deal.
It is news that Pioneer is completely divesting from the TV business...a new development. And we haven't yet heard whether Panasonic bought the Kuro brand and technology.
just go online and buy it now and stop complaining.LAME article!FAIL!
Dan, ya gotta relax, man. I'm sure everyone who loved Kuros would buy one right now if they could afford them. That's why they are complaining...there's no hope of trickle-down technology (cheaper TVs with Kuro quality in the future) if the company that makes the technology now, stops...
I too am saddened by this. I am a big movie buff and have dreams of one day having enough loot to splurge on a Kuro Elite. But if they stop making them, there won't be any around when I actually do have enough to afford one