The company will roll out two 50-inch Kuro TVs (RP-500A and KRP-500M) and two 60-inch models (KRP-600A and KRP-600M, which is pictured above) starting April 1. But the 2,500 50-inch models and another 500 60-inch TVs will be the last Kuro products.

Pioneer says they will take care of after service in Japan until 2017 (details about other markets aren’t available at this point). After establishing the high-quality Kuro brand in September 2007, the company managed to sell 300,000 Kuro plasma TVs in Japan and 2.8 million units worldwide.

Pioneer is making two Limited Edition Kuro HDTVs available to lucky Euro A/V trash this Holiday season. It seems these editions are simply the KRP-500A with a different color bezel options. They sport the same external set-top box style input receiver, extreme black contrast ratio and the rest of the stellar Pioneer specs. Only 1,000 KRP-500ABG beige models and 1,500 KRP-500AW white models are going to be produced. No word on price yet, but it will probably be higher than the standard edition.

Let’s start with a quote:

The Elite KURO Signature Series PRO-101FD (50-inch class) and PRO-141FD (60-inch class) monitors are now shipping for the suggested price of $5,500 and $7,000, respectively.

50 inches of pure black Kuro for $5,500? Where do I sign? Pioneer is launching two new high-end monitors – probably for retail and design use – that offer monstrous blacks in a monitor the size of a small child. You’ve got 4 HDMI 1.3 inputs, 1 DVI input, and a before/after settings monitor that allows you to compare monitor settings while tweaking things.

These things look hot as heck. I would totally do all my blogging on a 60-inch Kuro, given the option.

Pioneer’s Elite KURO Signature Series Monitors Capture Industry-Leading Black Levels with Heightened Flexibility Crucial to the Custom Installation Market
CEDIA EXPO 2008
Booth #620

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is now shipping its highly-anticipated line of Elite® KURO™ Signature Series monitors designed to deliver KURO’s reference-class picture quality with a bevy of features designed and built for high-end home theater installations. Each Signature Series monitor is carefully selected at the factory, representing the highest-level of Pioneer® technology and craftsmanship. Every monitor is accompanied by a signed certificate further validating the Company’s commitment to providing only the best-in-class panels for this limited run series.

“The development of our new Signature Series monitors began more than two years ago when we set out to deliver a panel that addressed the specific needs of high-end custom installers,” said Paul Meyhoefer, vice president of displays for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our Signature Series line embodies the unsurpassed KURO black levels combined with a wide range of advanced installation features that offer complete flexibility and control for our customers.”

Signed by Pioneer KURO Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Yoichi Sato

Packaged with an elegantly-boxed certificate of authenticity unique to each panel, the Signature Series monitors assure custom installers that each monitor will perform and can be calibrated with the finest increments for the most precise picture possible. The new Elite monitor line embodies Pioneer’s highest performance standards by exceeding capabilities and settings found in the highly acclaimed line of KURO televisions. Many of the precision parts used in the monitor line are carefully selected by factory engineers and undergo further hand and machine inspection, including measuring for the deepest black levels, peak brightness, white balance and heightened color accuracy that collectively are vital for extensive professional in-home calibration.

A Monitor Worthy of Professionals

Long known for its best-in-class picture performance, Pioneer takes the lead again with the new Signature Series line. With pinpoint accuracy at the forefront, studio and movie professionals are seeking the new line of monitors as their new reference standard and a replacement to the CRT in editing. Citing the ability to produce intense black levels combined with the power to finely tune each picture setting to the precise measurement studio professionals agonize over for days in production.

Flexibility, Control and Customization at the Forefront

Pioneer has addressed the needs of custom installers by building a monitor equipped to handle the demands of the most complex installations.

With a host of control options, including IP control, integrators are able to set up, monitor and run self-diagnostics on the panel for an entirely new level of customer service. A broad range of signal support, multiple menu structures and finer steps of adjustment for picture and gamma widen the gap between the new line of monitors and Pioneer’s KURO televisions, giving custom installers another alternative within Pioneer’s offerings.

“Pioneer Elite continues to set the benchmark in video performance, and the new Signature Series monitors will raise the bar even higher – they could be the finest flat-panel products ever offered,” said Joe Barrett, president of Barrett Home Theater. “It’s great Pioneer is taking the Elite brand to the next level with these Signature Series monitors, addressing the discerning needs of the upscale custom client who is always looking for best-in-class products.”

Built for Installers from the Inside Out

Pioneer designed its Signature Series monitors with an integration-friendly design for improved versatility and consumer convenience:

* Slimmer Profile – With a depth of only 2.5-inches, the new monitors are 35 percent thinner than Pioneer’s KURO televisions. A thinner design gives installers maximum flexibility for a variety of high-end home theater spaces. This enhanced form factor also brings Pioneer one step closer to its ultimate goal of producing a stunning picture that appears to be floating on a wall.
* Slimmer Wall Mounts – To maintain the sleek installation appearance, Pioneer brings to market a uniquely designed optional wall mount that maintains the monitor’s minimal design and aesthetics.
* White Balance Certification – Using the unique serial number, Signature Series owners can access the white balance their monitors had when leaving the factory. This microsite gives owners the confidence in knowing their monitor is a one-of-a-kind piece offering optimum performance.

The Elite KURO Signature Series PRO-101FD (50-inch class) and PRO-141FD (60-inch class) monitors are now shipping for the suggested price of $5,500 and $7,000, respectively.

Update: A separate press release for their “absolute black” monitors is here, but to be honest I see very little difference between the monitors and the HDTVs, since the hardest specs in the release are “near flawless” and “pristine.” The monitors have TBA prices, which probably means “expensive,” so they probably have better color reproduction.

Product Name: Project Kuro
Description: 50-inch flat panel display that weighs a mere 41 pounds and is the thinnest panel at 9mm.
Price: Concept
In-store date: These fully-operational concept televisions will not be commercially-available in 2008.
Site:
Why it’s cool: It’s cool, but it’s a concept so don’t get your hopes up just yet.

[photopress:Project_KURO_Advanced_Design_Concept_Display_Side.jpg,thumb,pp_image]

[photopress:kuroproject.png,thumb,pp_image]

Wow. Pioneer is trying a little too hard to advertise its Kuro line of HDTVs. Pioneer’s plasmas are usually fine, so its “look how great they are!” is a little troubling. The Kuro line is split in two: the Kuro and the Elite Kuro. Both are available in 42-, 50- and 60-inch models, but none of them are 1080p. Hmmm… Strange, considering it’s 2007. Both models have the usual suspects like HDMI 1.3, but Pioneer is really pumping the hell out of how black their blacks are. We get: more black equals more gooder.

Maybe someone should tell Pioneer that no matter how many bleeding advertising firms it hires (that eye is creepy not cool, guys), it’s gonna have a hard time selling 720p sets to our technology-rabid readership. It’s like trying to sell us a solar powered flashlight. 1080p or bust.

Kuro [Pioneer]