Pioneer Elite Plasma

MacLeod

One word: drooooool.

I went to Ultimate Electronics today here in Austin to look around and saw one of these things. It was breathtaking and flat blew the other plasmas out of the water. And at $8000 it wasnt that much more expensive than the others.

Hell, I didnt even know Pioneer made tvs.

It seems like Pioneer is trying to make a name for themselves in the high end market. I wish em well. Ive always been a fan of their car audio gear.

Is all their Elite gear this good? I know theyve got a pretty big price tag.

lomic

Pioneer has been making high end home audio and big screen TV's for quite a while now - back when LaserDisc hit the market my family use to go to a local store called LaserLand that carried primarily Pioneer's Elite line of everything from AVR's to Speakers to TV's.

gregure

Personally, I think the Sony plasmas are the best I've seen-the higher end ones with the glass frame surrounding the screen. Think they are the XBR model of the plasmas. As far as in-store comparisons go, I've always found the Sony picture to be the best.
The Pioneer plasmas are also very nice, though.
Fujitsu is another good brand, although I still think the Sony has better color and clarity.

madmax

I ended up with last years step down model (standard pioneer, not elite) and am VERY happy with the unit! $8000? Last year the standard model was $5000 more than that. Wont be long until they really become affordable!
madmax

MacLeod

$8000? :eek:

I mentioned this in another post but now that the 16:1 tv's and plasmas have become so popular, you can get 32" and 35" CRT tv's for a song.

For instance, in '01 I bought my Sony 27" for $500! Then you couldnt touch a 32" for less than $600 and a 35" couldnt be had for less than $750-900 from a reputable manufacturer (i.e. NOT Sansui or Broksonik).

Now you can get a Toshiba 35" for $500 and a Panasonic 36" for $450 and Toshiba and JVC 32" sets can be had for UNDER $300!!!

I think when it comes time to upgrade, Im just gonna go with a 35" CRT and save about $7500!

Too bad Pioneer doesnt make CRT's!

brettw22

Mitsubishi's are one's to miss with regard to CRT's......My 40" has done very well for me for the past 10+ years.

MacLeod

Im not sure what the hot brands are right now.

Back in '01 when I was researching the hell out of tv's, Toshiba was the best reviewed by magazines and consumers alike. Sony was good but always had geometry problems (as mine does).

Sharp always got stellar reviews, especially on a value basis.

As far as showroom comparisons, I usually always like Toshiba's CRT's picture better.

The best showroom 16:3 tv pictures was the Mitsubishi models at Best Buy, but this Pioneer plasma has been the best so far on the showroom.

Frank Z

The Pioneer plasma screens are so-so, but the Elite screens are spectacular.

VR3

I really like Pioneer Elite...

They released a really high end tower a couple years back, was like 2.5, 3,000...

Was actually pretty good and can be had cheap now days

madmax

Originally posted by Frank Z
The Pioneer plasma screens are so-so, but the Elite screens are spectacular.

I thought plasma technology didn't work in Colorado.
madmax

Frank Z

I think you're talking about the screen noise issue. For those that don't know, some plasma screens have nasty little buzz that comes from the screen when used at higher elevations. The reduced atmospheric pressure is the culprit.

One of the local B&M stores had a 61" Zenith that was so bad they yanked it from their display area.

Some models are more prone to the noise issue than others but I think the issue got blown out of proportion really. Would I want one if I lived in Leadville, CO. (Elevation 10,000' above sea level).....probably not. Her in the Springs we're at 6011' and although I've heard a bit of very minor buzzing/noise it's not mind-numbing noise...like finger nails on a blackboard...but if you strain really hard during quiet scenes you can hear it.

Regarding my earlier post, there's nothing really bad about the Pioneer models, the picture quality is still damn good, but the Elite models just have to been seen to be believed.

madmax

Yea, the noise is what I heard about. Does it affect the pic quality when you have one buzzing real loud?

About the pioneers in general I've heard they have a higher contrast ratio and are brighter while the black level isn't as good as some others. They are better in a slightly brighter room than many. Tons of info over at AVS forum. Luckily in this area we have "the great indoors" which has quite a selection of premium panels. They seem to set them up nicely too. Nothing like walking into best buy and being blinded.
madmax

Frank Z

As far as I know, there's no effect on PQ.

As with all things A/V, it's really in the eye/ear of the beholder.