Hello!

Did You manage to set the system up for better blacks?

I consider purchasing BV 4-65, but not sure about the plasma panel generation. Yours is D10, and what BV-4 type? Does your serial number start 216*****?

Check out my thread, any reply is very much appreciated!

/forum/general-discussion-and-questions/bv4-65-plasma-panel

I have just this minute replied to the above thread on this very issue of blacks being dark grey. From the pictures you provide, this is completely normal for the BV4 and identical to how my BV9 looked, using the same panel type. The black levels were not brilliant although for the time they were as good as the technology allowed - to a point. Pioneer were always the leaders with their Kuro technology; which when it ended due to such costly research, many of the engineers then moved to Panasonic and created a Juro quality panel in the last Panasonic VT and ZT models - and this is the panel type that the BV12-65 has so that is most definitely worth buying if anything. Otherwise, this is circa 2007/2008 technology so 10 years old now with massive leaps forward in that period. Many LCD sets (especially backlit) will easily outshine the older plasma technology in terms of black levels. Simon.