Pioneer PDP-428XD / 508XD

alaTest has collected and analyzed 222 reviews from magazines and websites. Reviewers really like the menu. The color also impresses, but many are less positive about the performance.

Experts rate this product 92/100 and users 91/100. We analyzed these ratings, the product age and more factors. Compared to other tvs, the Pioneer PDP-428XD / 508XD is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 93/100 = Excellent quality.

With its 'Kuro', blacker-than-black styling, the Pioneer PDP-428XD does live up to its hype. It might sound like a ridiculous thing to say about a TV but we really fell in love with the styling. It would make a great centrepiece to any home cinema and ...

Black levels ; picture quality ; styling ; menu system ; build quality ; sound ; connectivity

Picture can look a little soft with certain settings engaged ; price

A high-quality TV with the sort of black levels that we last saw on CRT TVs. It's not perfect but it does move home cinema screens up to a new level where they can offer something the LCD-based competition can't

Pioneer's top-of-the-range PDP-508XD is without doubt one of the best screens we've ever reviewed. Its design and build quality are difficult to fault, it has no less than three HDMI inputs and the picture quality is truly outstanding

Awesome black levels ; blazing colours ; smooth motion ; heaps of picture tweaking options ; classy design and build quality ; great range of connections

Lack of 'Full HD' 1080p resolution ; some reflections on screen

Televisions don't get much better than this. A winning combination of excellent picture quality, stylish design and user-friendly features, this 50-inch plasma should be at the top of any serious home cinema fan's shopping list. It's pricey, but it's ...

The PDP-428XG is a near-clone of the full-HD LX Kuro in most respects, except that it's priced a lot more affordably.

Deep blacks and excellent color graduation ; overall sharp pictures ; triple 1080p24-ready HDMIs, onboard JPEG playback ; sleek clean design ; dedicated input buttons ; extensive tweaking options

Fixed tabletop stand ; no side HDMI ; a bit pricey

Easily accessible USB port but no side HDMI input

The actual 50Â" model is a beautiful looking screen with its polished back surroundings, neat (optional) speakers below and a presence that shouts quality before the power switch is even turned on. Looking directly at the screen, on the left hand side ...

Excellent

Equivalent to the PDP-LX508D, but in its HD Ready version, this plasma displays the same fine qualities: deep blacks, nice colors and fluid images. We loved it!

Equivalent to the PDP-LX508D, but in HD Ready and 42 inches (107 cm), this plasma displays the same qualities: deep black colors, nice colors, and a fluid image. Superb!

Near-perfect pictures, features galore, awesome audio, designer finish

Expensive versus most rivals

Pioneer's extraordinary new Kuro range of plasmas is nothing short of a revolution in TV picture quality and this 42in model is one of its finest sons

Fabulous black depth. Amazing contrast. Generally wondrous picture

Not Full HD. But when everything else is this good, that doesn't matter

When we looked at Pioneer's 50in PDP-508XD plasma recently, we didn't just find it good: we found it positively revolutionary. So our expectations for the 42in version of the TV are understandably sky high

Superb pictures and black levels, Generous connections, Excellent sound

Expensive

The smallest of Pioneer's new 'Kuro' plasma screens is every bit as world-beating as its bigger brother

The Kuro's fantastic pictures are matched by its looks

Unprecendented black levels, Excellent colours, Impressive audio

Pioneer's PDP-508XD really is as uniquely good as it thinks it is, and were it not for its premium price, the competition might as well just pack up and go home. Project Kuro looks set to be a real success