By Chris Nicholls

MELBOURNE: Pioneer Australia has released further details of its coming ninth generation Kuro plasma range, with the first model a panel only, and costing over $10,000.

The KRP-600M (RRP $10,999) will follow Pioneer Australia’s desired retail direction by only making it into specialist retailers to use it as a ‘reference quality’ unit, according to Pioneer Home Entertainment Group PR and Events manager, Michael Broadhurst.

“Pioneer has identified a core need in the Australian specialist installation market for a reference quality full-HD monitor that can be calibrated and sophisticatedly integrated into the most demanding home theatre situation, including picture and room light conditions,” he said.

“A custom Full-HD monitor rather than a one-body Kuro TV, the KRP-600M monitor is not a direct replacement for our current 8th Gen range, but rather broadens our Kuro offering.”

Pioneer claimed the KRP-600M had black levels “five times” greater than its current eighth generation models, with a “unique set of calibration and integration features”.

In keeping with the ‘thin is in’ trend in flat panels, the KRP-600M comes in at 63 mm in depth, something Pioneer claims is the thinnest plasma panel of that size in the market.

Details of the other four models in the ninth generation range were not available, but were due to released soon, said Broadhurst.

The KRP-600M is in stores now.