This is my second Pro-111FD with similar problems. The first one I obtained from BuyBestPlasma had one dead pixel and one pixel with a dead green subpixel (incapable of displaying green). I basically had to sale that one because my viewing distance (6 feet) made it very apparent, and Pioneer would not honor the warranty for some inane reason.

I vowed to never make the mistake of ordering an Elite from across state lines again and bought another (in March 2009) locally at Best Buy. This appeared to be pixel-perfect and stayed that way throughout the break-in. Fast forward 6 months later (last night), I just so happen to be a few feet away from the screen when I coincidentally see what looks like a dead pixel (emitting nothing but blackness) just left and down from the center and then I happen to see another one about 4-5 inches from that one (they seem to fail in clusters). I haven't had a chance to do much viewing yet but from my above-stated distance, I get the strong impression they will be available on solid color backgrounds and pans of such. With the kind of perfectionist/obsessive person that I am, the knowledge of the mere presence of these defects will cause my eye to wander in their general area during movie playback and thereby distract the viewing experience. I didn't pay good money to be miserable! If only I had better mind control...

Both sets were manufactured in October-November 2008, so it seems like I truly lucked out with a questionable manufacturing period. I'm somewhat glad Pioneer is finished with displays if this is what passes for quality control, especially considering the premium these sets demand.

I didn't purchase the Best Buy Service Plan but that wouldn't cover me anyhow since the pixel failure count is only 2.

I had prior contact with Teresa at Pioneer Support with the first set and have emailed her the pertinent information in getting service initiated but I am not confident they will do right by me and instead use the bogus argument about it being within spec (not when I can see it on normal content from my normal viewing distance...I don't care about your spec!).

This is a call for opinions/suggestions. Should I just sell it, set aside the cash and pray a set with comparable PQ comes along in 2010? The person who bought my previous set has made no fuss about the pixels (but he intended to mount it above a fireplace thereby creating a significant viewing distance...I am a mere 6 feet away for immersion purposes).

Dead pixels are a possibility in virtually any of these technologies. When you're talking millions of pixels on a panel and you have two bad ones, it is no wonder that the manufacturer doesn't replace the panel unless certain limits are exceeded. Frankly, Pioneer's warranty is better than most regarding dead pixels. I know with my panel that I purposely did not and do not look for dead pixels as I would be like you (drawn to look at them). I watch my 60" from 11 - 12 feet and have never noticed one. Anyway, I'm not sure that plasma technology, etc. is the thing for you if you're going to look for dead pixels. Good luck, I hope you find what you're looking for.

Thanks...but did you fully read what I typed? I coincidentally found the 2 on this latest set just by being close to the screen (fiddling with the new Oppo BD player) when I happened to glance at what was playing on the screen. When I noticed them, my eyes were naturally were drawn to them. Once one reaches this point, the damage to some psyches can't be easily undone. This is why I made sure to do a thorough inspection of the screen in the first 30 days of ownership and during the break-in period...but I hadn't considered the very real possibility that they might stop dropping like flies at 6 months into ownership. I'm always derelict in having contingency plans for these things because it seems like if something can go wrong, it certainly will when I buy a Pioneer Elite TV.

The entire reason for buying up this second one was to obtain a pixel-perfect set before the supply dried up. So much for that!

I'm pretty sure Pioneer's dead pixel policy is 10 or more...I could have sworn Panasonic's was less at the very least.

Also, I've owned scores of LCD screens (Samsung, BenQ, Olevia, Acer and Polaroid off-brand), none with nary a dead pixel so this phenomenon with Plasma has been quite revealing to me.

I did read your post. I'm not bustin' your chops about noticing the pixels. I'm just saying that if you're that sensitive about it that maybe it isn't the technology for you.

Just curious....what do you do when your car gets chipped or dinged?

Do you really notice the dead pixels from your 6 ft viewing distance?

Genuine dead pixels are incredibly tiny, and I can't imagine that they'd visually interfere with the picture in any way from a reasonable distance.

If it's simply a psychological issue, then I don't know what to tell you. One of my LCDs had a stuck pixel for several months (it eventually fixed itself, thankfully) and my other LCD has had a dead pixel since it was new.

It's a potential problem that can occur on any current fixed-panel display.

Just curious....what do you do when your car gets chipped or dinged?

In my case I take it to the shop and have it repaired. I feel the pain of the OP. I'd obsess over the tiny little pixel and not the rest of the screen.

As I said, I haven't had a chance to view much in the way of regular content since discovery last night. I managed to see them at 6 feet out during one scene in Kung Fu Panda but admittedly had trouble even detecting them for the most part. It would be much simpler if I could just learn to tolerate their presence and put them out of mind...I just hope the failures won't become progressive.

Re: a car chip/ding...it pains the hell out of me but since the car is primarily to drive and not to observe, I eventually get over it. This pixel nightmare is harder to let go.

How many threads/posts are you going to make?

I can understand you want to vent, but it accomplishes nothing. You have received some pretty good advice, give them a try.

Have I? All I've seen so far is sell it and get something else, or suck it up and suffer.

Those other posts I made were primarily to applicable threads but I wanted to achieve a little more visibility with a new thread. Petition to have them locked/deleted if you think it's excessive...sorry about that.

In fact, I will delete one of them myself.

obsess

That is the operative word isn't it?

Ironic thing is I have visible DSE but I've come to accept it even though it is slightly distracting. I find black (or other colored) dots in the screen to be more distracting in the overall picture quality scheme because I'm drawn to the area of the screen where they reside.

That is the operative word isn't it?

Absolutely! I'm not saying it's normal. :)

I'd take three-dozen dead pixels (which I probably couldn't see from my couch) over DSE any day of the week. :)

Lucky for me, I have both afflictions. :D What a piece of junk.

Pioneer's response to my service inquiry:

"I understand that the document requests you contact Pioneer if the pixels
are visible at the standard viewing distance of between 8.2 and 11.5 feet.
However this is not a serviceable issue."

I am just curious how many more may fail...

On the bright side, I watched Event Horizon BD (bad transfer) last night and didn't notice the pixels...it took every fiber of my being to not fixate in the area of the screen where they reside. :)