Pioneer tuning out HDTV sets, including Kuro line

The top-notch electronics maker confirms that it's done with the TV business—and that's a real shame, because Pioneer cranked out some of the best HDTVs in the business.

Twice (via Boing Boing Gadgets) reports that Pioneer, facing a whopping 130 billion yen (USD$1.44 billion) loss in its soon-to-be-over fiscal year, will stop selling TVs as early as next month—and that includes its fabulous Kuro line of plasma HDTV sets, widely praised for their vivid color and deeper-than-deep black levels. (Never fear, Kuro owners; Pioneer says it will continue to offer service and honor warranties.)

Pioneer actually stopped making its own plasma HDTV panels about a year ago, handing off the actual manufacturing duties to Panasonic. Pioneer also sells LCD flat-panel displays made by Sharp.

That said, Pioneer still had a hand in advancing plasma TV technology, as evinced by its eye-popping (if pricey) Kuro line of plasma sets.

I had the chance to check out a 42-inch, 720p Kuro back in the fall of 2007, and I have to say … it was a treat. From my original review:

So the big selling point on the 4280HD is that it has the deepest, darkest black levels of any competing HD plasma or LCD on the market—and after a couple weeks of viewing, I'm a believer. The black levels on the Pioneer really must be seen to be believed—we're talking deep, inky blacks that I'm more used to seeing on CRTs than on plasma or LCD sets. Watching the HD DVD version of "The Matrix" was a revelation; the cavernous nightclub where Neo first meets Trinity and dark interiors of Morpheus' ship looked almost 3D thanks to the deep shadows. The 4280HD excels in bright scenes as well; switching to the Imperal Walker battle on my "Empire Strikes Back" DVD, the fireballs against the expansive snowfields looked vivid and detailed, and I was impressed by the natural skin tones on Luke's bloodied face. And just wait till you see the deep shadows beneath the Super Star Destroyer—amazing. Going back to the grayish "blacks" on my 42-inch Westinghouse LCD hasn't been easy.

Since then, I've traded in my old Westy HDTV for a 42-inch LCD Bravia from Sony, which I've been pretty happy with—or at least I was, until I saw a side-by-side comparison with the new Kuros during a Manhattan press event last year. Sure, my Bravia has solid black levels for an LCD HDTV, but compared to the latest plasma Kuro sets? Forget it.

Pioneer says we can still count on it for home audio, Blu-ray decks, and car stereos—indeed, I'm looking forward to checking out Pioneer's new mid-range HDMI receivers.

In any case … R.I.P., Kuro. You'll be missed.

Related:
Pioneer Exits TV Business As Losses Mount [Twice]