The Kuro range of plasmas is designed to deliver the “absolute best flatscreen picture quality in the world” to “show filmmakers’ work the way they intended it to be seen.”

The first sets in the range were launched in 2007, so the smartypants among you will know that the name means black in Japanese.

“But not just any black. Perfect black,” a very dark statement from Pioneer said.

“In the world of televisions, black is everything. The ability to create the deepest, truest black results in the richest colours and depth of vision.”

Kuro’s power, according to Pioneer boffins, is that its screens have up to 80 per cent deeper black levels than any other flatscreen on the market.
 
Pioneer said that rather than resting on its laurels, the Kuro range has continued to push the boundaries of picture quality to produce black levels five times deeper than the previous models.

“This new range of Kuro plasma televisions exceeds the boundaries of what was thought possible,” said Heidi Johnson-Cash, general manager for marketing at Pioneer GB.
 
The units also offer unique sound settings associated with each of the Kuro video settings – Dynamic, Standard, Movie and Game.

SRS WOW HD technology - which provides greater control to manage low, mid and high audio frequencies - is added to the virtual surround sound effect and produces clearer and more precise audio.

An adjustment feature called Optimum Mode allows the TV to synchronize sight and sound by monitoring the content and light conditions of a particular room.

So if the light in a room changes from day to night, or a light is turned on or off, the Kuro will seamlessly adjust the picture and sound settings to reflect this (although the PDP-LX5090 and PDP-LX6090 can adjust only picture settings).

The new Kuro plasma TVs are all 1080p and come in 50 and 60-inch models, with SD Terrestrial TV reception. They will be available to buy in the UK from June.