Pioneer PDP-436SXE 43 Review

Pioneer have finally came around to everyone else's way of thinking and integrated a Digital Tuner into their plasma televisions. Not exactly ground breaking news but when you look at the Television they have now created it is something to get excited about.

The Pioneer PDP-436SXE is one of the coolest looking TV's on the planet. High gloss piano black with curved edges and silver finishing. The speakers are hidden underneath the screen and if you weren't looking for them you would never know they where there. The Pioneer makes the Panasonic Viera and the Sony Bravia look like they got dressed in the dark.

Can the picture and sound quality live up to Pioneer PDP-436SXE designer looks.  

The connections on the back are adequate, there is the all important HDMI Input and the usual S-Video and Composite Input along with 3 Scart Inputs. However, we were a little bit disappointed not to see a PC connection. When you have hooked up to one of these connections you will not be disappointed. Pioneer have improved the quality of the blacks using its unique Pure Black Crystal Emissive Layer. Which means that blacks on the screen are sharp and without blocking. The picture information is displayed beautifully at 1024 x 768 resolution. As with most of the new Plasma and LCD TV's the sound quality lets down the improved picture quality. To remedy this we recommend that you look at adding something like the Yamaha YSP800.

Over the past 2 months I have reviewed most 42" plasmas available and I can honestly say this is the only one I would go out and buy. It has a few flaws but it is by far the best looking TV under £5000.