plasma TV

An earlier flat panel TV that used the plasma display technology. Plasma TVs were always considered to have the best picture quality; however, by 2016, they were no longer being manufactured. Today's OLED and LCD/LED TVs have great picture quality and weigh half as much while using a fraction of the power. See LCD vs. plasma, OLED, flat panel TV and plasma display.

The Pioneer Elite Kuro Plasma Sets
In 2008, Pioneer introduced its Kuro 50" and 60" plasma TVs at prices up to USD $6,000. Considered the best by nearly every A/V expert, they cost a lot more than competing TVs, and the line was discontinued in 2013. Kuro TVs were known for their black levels, and kuro means black in Japanese. Panasonic acquired some of the Kuro patents.

An Elegant Presentation

The Kuro line was so exclusive that the remote control came in a fancy box with a congratulatory note (top). After 12 years of occupying a place of prominence, this 50" Kuro was banished to the storage shed for recycling.