No doubt about it, this is a hell of a lot of cash to spend on a TV, especially at the moment. But Pioneer's gigantic PDP-LX6090 plasma is such a special television set, so impressive to behold and so gorgeous in action, that it somehow manages to justify its price.
What's the sound like?
This set provides internal amplification for optional speakers, which can be mounted either underneath or alongside the set as you prefer.
Our review sample came without them, though, so we're unable to tell you how they sound. That said, judging by our experiences of other Kuro sets, they ought to be more than capable.
But just the same, we wouldn't dream of using this Pioneer with anything other than a home cinema set-up: a screen this big and capable really deserves it.
What's the picture like?
Unusually for a set this big, the Pioneer is pitched as a TV, not a monitor, and it includes a built-in Freeview tuner (plus an analogue one).
The tuners are perfectly adequate: in fact, it makes a respectable fist of Freeview's less-than-scintillating image quality, although a comparatively low bitrate channel like Dave doesn't necessarily give it the best opportunity to shine.
Stick to something that's high-quality, like BBC1, and you'll be impressed by the low amount of noise and respectable stability, and the set's 100Hz processing ensures a flicker-free presentation, even with complex, fast-panning sports.
It's superb with high definition
But a screen this big really comes into its own with high-definition, and especially with Blu-ray. The Pioneer's Full HD resolution, proper 24fps support and simply outstanding contrast levels give even a murky, difficult-to-render movie like Sweeney Todd extraordinary impact.
Throw in a disc with a brighter transfer, such as Apocalypto, and you'll be awestruck by the vibrancy of the colours and the sharpness of the detail. It's the kind of image quality that has you reaching for Blu-ray after Blu-ray, just to see how good each disc can look when displayed at its best.
Downsides? The size is self-evident: if your room can't accommodate a screen this big (and you will need to sit at least 2.7m away from it, if not further), then don't buy it. Otherwise, if you've got this much cash to splash, look no further: the Pioneer is big and expensive, yes, but it's also brilliant.
