Hi guys,


I'm not a heavy poster as you can see, but I have been reading the forums for a few months now, so yes I have been doing my own research, etc. but I still cant make up my mind.

After doing extensive research, these are the 2 models I'm most intersted in, I can deal with both pros and cons of the "plasma vs LCD" argument, but the bottom line for me is PQ.

I have seen both TV's and the the Pio looked better, but then again I know for a fact the Sony was not calibrated, I noticed mild clouding while it was displaying Ultraviolet on blueray, on the other hand the Pio looked unbelievable while running the blue-ray demo at the magnolia section of best buy.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Pio due to the better black levels, and also because I dont have to worry about a defective panel with clouding (the sony problem scares me).

I will be using the TV mainly to be watching HD-DVD's, any help would be greatly apreciated, thanx! :)

Pio all the way......

EXCEPT, if you can sit further away than 1080P distance, at that price I say put the extra money into a larger Panny or Pio at 768P. While close-up viewing is superb with 1080P, it really provides little extra benefit unless you are close-in (others will disagree, I know). Down-rezzed 1080P will still look awesome from HD-DVD or Blu-Ray...in the same way that 1080i looks superb on even EDTV. Better to down-rez than up-convert. And the non-1080P Pios accept 1080@24 anyway.

For that money I think I'd shoot for the Panny 58 600U or the Pio 6070...but of just those two you mentioned...if you want 1080P and nothing less then go with the Pioneer Pro-FHD1.

I was facing the exact same choice only a week or so ago and opted for the Pio FHD1 FWIW...my decision was based on some information conveyed to me by my calibrator regarding the large sized LCDs having issues...the 65 in panny was too big for my application so i settled in on the 50in size...from that point the FHD1 was a no-brainer for me.

my set arrives this thursday, 12/7 ...

When spending this kind of money, use any comments/opinions on here as a starting point. Get out and view these fine displays and be sure you have excellent source material. Both are among the top tvs at this point in time. Price must also come into play when spending big bucks.

For movie and TV viewing only applications FDH1 - simply the best option in 1080p... I saw it in person and the thing is shockingly good. I couldn't justify spending $700 for a stand alone for the thing.

May I sugget you read my LCD vs. Plasma article at

www.hdguru.com

The HD Guru

Pioneer PRO-FHD1. My house is filled with sony and I love all them all but the Pioneer blew the xbr sets away in terms of pq imo. I have looked at both for a while now and to me it's a no-brainer. :)

I have a FHD1, but get it ONLY if you want to watch HD DVD or BD. Otherwise, my Panny 8UK display beats it in every other viewing respect - DVD, HD TV etc. The Panny has better blacks.....

However, for HD DVD this is the the best display I've seen at any size for now.

I have a FHD1, but get it ONLY if you want to watch HD DVD or BD. Otherwise, my Panny 8UK display beats it in every other viewing respect - DVD, HD TV etc. The Panny has better blacks.....

However, for HD DVD this is the the best display I've seen at any size for now.

can you elaborate on this plaz? my fhd1 arrives tomorrow and it is intended for everyday use...

I am viewing from around 8 ft away. At this distance when I compared my 8UK with the FHD, the Pio does better with colors and the video looks smoother and more film-like. However, only the HD formats have the depth in the image to allow you to se the difference. Also, since the resolution on the HD disks is so high the black levels look perfect - particularly for HD DVD. The details in dark scenes are better than the 8UK.

However, cable HD and SD look about the same and DVD or upconverted DVD looked better on the Panny. The Panny has better details in the dark areas and the black levels seem deeper. Overall, even my wife felt the Panny PQ was better. I'm not sure if it's scaler related.

don't get me wrong this is a very good plasma, and if I didn't have the 8UK to compare to, the FHD would be just fine.

I am viewing from around 8 ft away. At this distance when I compared my 8UK with the FHD, the Pio does better with colors and the video looks smoother and more film-like. However, only the HD formats have the depth in the image to allow you to se the difference. Also, since the resolution on the HD disks is so high the black levels look perfect - particularly for HD DVD. The details in dark scenes are better than the 8UK.

However, cable HD and SD look about the same and DVD or upconverted DVD looked better on the Panny. The Panny has better details in the dark areas and the black levels seem deeper. Overall, even my wife felt the Panny PQ was better. I'm not sure if it's scaler related.

don't get me wrong this is a very good plasma, and if I didn't have the 8UK to compare to, the FHD would be just fine.

thanks...

someone needs to start an official owners' thread for the fhd1...i wouldn't feel right since i don't even have mine yet :)

my fhd1 arrives tomorrow and it is intended for everyday use...
I have been using the PRO FHD1 for everyday use with a pair of SA8300HD DVRs watching 95% HD source material (without the Panny or anything else nearby to compare it with) but I can say that I am loving every minute. :D

I set the SA8300 to output 480i, 1080i and 720p and let the PRO-FHD1 do the scaling (don't let a cheap cable box process your image) and my jaw still drops daily.

There are instances where the black levels could be better...but I have also observed that this varies with the source material...and I am typically pleased with the black level performance 99% of the time.

Congrats on your purchase...and I hope you enjoy you set as much as I am enjoying mine. :)

Thanx for all the comments and help guys, I thought this thread died so it's been a couple of days since I checked it.

I am set on buying the Pio now, like I mentioned before, this TV will be used mainly for HD content, so looks like the perfect match for my HD-A1.

I've seen both sets running BD content, Ultraviolet on the Sony and the BD demo on the Pio, and the Pio looked definetly better, I've read a lot of feedback on this set, so I was kind of expecting some for the 52XBR. The clouding was there, it wasnt as bad as some have reported but I could see it, and that's a big no-no for such an expensive TV, another thing that worried me was motion blur, and that's also not an issue with the plasma.

One thing that I havent been able to figure out yet, I know the Pio doesnt have a a tuner, but it will take a regular cable connection right? I know I said I'll be watching HD content, but I turn on the TV and leave at about 30 minute sleep time, before I pass out :p

FWIW, I have only ever seen two sets that I thought were jaw-dropping--the FHD1 and the new Panny 1080p 65" 600u.

I have been using the PRO FHD1 for everyday use with a pair of SA8300HD DVRs watching 95% HD source material (without the Panny or anything else nearby to compare it with) but I can say that I am loving every minute. :D

I set the SA8300 to output 480i, 1080i and 720p and let the PRO-FHD1 do the scaling (don't let a cheap cable box process your image) and my jaw still drops daily.

There are instances where the black levels could be better...but I have also observed that this varies with the source material...and I am typically pleased with the black level performance 99% of the time.

Congrats on your purchase...and I hope you enjoy you set as much as I am enjoying mine. :)

yep, using an 8300hd here as well (i always set it to auto pass thru the native signal to allow the panel to scale, like you...notice that that makes changing channels a bit slow, but nothing intolerable); go the set today around noon and after setting it up, i haven't stopped watching it...funny thing is the furniture isn't here yet so i am watching on a cold hard wooden floor ... i could be downstairs in my media room watching my Qualia 006 but here i lie :D

the picture is beautiful...blacks are awesome; i read some about "brightness" issues but if there are any, i can't see them...this set blazes away!

i haven't quite figured all the settings out yet but i continue to fiddle around...that is why i wish there was an owner's thread so the first post could summarize all the tips/tricks/tweaks/settings, etc.

Thanx for all the comments and help guys, I thought this thread died so it's been a couple of days since I checked it.

I am set on buying the Pio now, like I mentioned before, this TV will be used mainly for HD content, so looks like the perfect match for my HD-A1.

I've seen both sets running BD content, Ultraviolet on the Sony and the BD demo on the Pio, and the Pio looked definetly better, I've read a lot of feedback on this set, so I was kind of expecting some for the 52XBR. The clouding was there, it wasnt as bad as some have reported but I could see it, and that's a big no-no for such an expensive TV, another thing that worried me was motion blur, and that's also not an issue with the plasma.

One thing that I havent been able to figure out yet, I know the Pio doesnt have a a tuner, but it will take a regular cable connection right? I know I said I'll be watching HD content, but I turn on the TV and leave at about 30 minute sleep time, before I pass out :p

tobi, not sure what you mean by "regular cable connection" but as you noted, this is purely a "monitor" ... no tuner on board. you have to connect it to a cable box/sat box or other video source.

I meant if it has an input for regular cable tv, the one that comes off the wall, I'm sorry if that sounds like a noobish question, it's just that I couldnt find a straight answer on the reviews I read.

Can someone recomend me a good place on the Net to get this TV from? I've had problem with a store before and I dont want to go thru that again. Thanx again for all the help. :)

...that is why i wish there was an owner's thread so the first post could summarize all the tips/tricks/tweaks/settings, etc.

Ben,

I encourage you to start the PRO-FHD1 owners thread. I am mostly a lurker so I rarely post...but I will contribute to that thread if you start it.

I meant if it has an input for regular cable tv, the one that comes off the wall, I'm sorry if that sounds like a noobish question, it's just that I couldnt find a straight answer on the reviews I read.

Can someone recomend me a good place on the Net to get this TV from? I've had problem with a store before and I dont want to go thru that again. Thanx again for all the help. :)

no, you can't take the coax out of the wall and plug it directly into the fhd1...you need some sort of tuner as the fhd1 is simply a display panel...think of it just like a very large, and very expensive, computer screen :D

...that is why i wish there was an owner's thread so the first post could summarize all the tips/tricks/tweaks/settings, etc.
Ben...per your request...I have started the thread below.

see "The OFFICIAL Pioneer PRO-FHD1 Elite 50'' 1080p Plasma - OWNERS THREAD" - jScottmsc

Ben...per your request...I have started the thread below.

see "The OFFICIAL Pioneer PRO-FHD1 Elite 50'' 1080p Plasma - OWNERS THREAD" - jScottmsc

great...sorry, i didn't ignore your post but hadn't yet gotten around to it...i was thinking of maybe registering a new nick and giving access to a few owners so that it the first post could be maintained by a few posters as their time allows...but i wanted to check with "management" before doing such a thing.

sure would be nice if they had an option that would allow a poster to grant permission to another nick(s) to edit a specific post/thread :)

Does the 52 XBR3 have ANY advantages over the FHD1.

Sorry Noobie.

well, the sony is a full up tv whereas the pio is simply a monitor...ie, it doesn't have a built in tuner of any sort, no speakers, no cablecard slot, etc.

but in terms of pq, the fhd1 was my choice.

Tobi,

Please reread the first response you received from Clarkbar. I agree with him. If you sit beyond about 8', I would not do 1080p in a 50" display unless you see SDE from your viewing position. Inside about 8' definitely as that is where the 1080p comes into its own in the 50" size. I would instead consider a 60" 768p display from NEC or Pioneer.

Cheers, :)

Gary

Every time that I am near the local Pioneer dealer in this city I drop by to see the FHD1 again. I have seen it display broadcast HD, Blu-ray from the Samsung, Blu-ray from both the pre-production & today the production Pioneer Elite.

The PQ from the production Pioneer Elite Blu-ray player (listed at CA$1700) is absolutely stunning! They had a demo Blu-ray that had clips from several movies. I was about 3 feet from the display and I did not see any artifacts and the color reproduction was amazing. I have never seen a better picture on any display.

For me it is not just the resolution the has sold me on the FHD1, it is ...

1. Color purity ... every shade of color looks very realistic
2. Color tone ... facial tones are second to none
3. Grayscale ... no muddy shadows

And even though The Perfect Vision was somewhat critical of the black levels, I have found them to me more than adequate for me on any material that I have watched.

I finally decided today ... this is the display for me, even though it may mean waiting another 6 months while I save the difference between the FHD1 and a top rated 50-55" LCD display (about CA$3000 or so). The wait is worth it ... as is the price difference!

Does the 52 XBR3 have ANY advantages over the FHD1. Well, the KDL-52XBR2 comes with a really ugly grey bezel... :eek: if you're into that sort of thing. :rolleyes:

KDL-52XBR2 versus the PRO-FHD1... which would you choose?

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/KDL-52XBR2.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/PRO-FHD1.JPG

Well, the KDL-52XBR2 comes with a really ugly grey bezel... :eek: if you're into that sort of thing. :rolleyes:

KDL-52XBR2 versus the PRO-FHD1... which would you choose?

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/KDL-52XBR2.JPG

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzequg9f/PRO-FHD1.JPG

get the 52xbr3 no ugly bezel looks awesome
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/344991961_743a886ef6_o.jpg