New member here. Great site. Anyway, I'm in the market for a new plasma and would like to purchase some time before the 2007 NFL season. I currently own a 32" Sony LCD, but because I sit anywhere from 7 -9 feet away I'm looking to upgrade screen size. From what I figure, a screen from 50-65" should do. Obviously I'm looking for some suggestions. Here's some info:

My budget is variable. I would like to max out at $10,000, but I'm willing to go to $20,000 if the plasma is worth it.

I currently own a HD-DVD and plan on buying a blueray player with the new plasma.

I watch a combination of OTA HD and DTV.

OK. So I love what I see from the Pioneer Pro FHD-1 and was planning on picking that up, but now from this site I'm hearing that Pioneer is planning on releasing a 60" 1080p plasma? Also, Fujitsu has some 1080p plasmas which are very expensive, but likely very good. Finally, Runco has a 1080p 65" set which I hear is incredible, but at $20,000 may not be as good as what Pioneer can do at half the cost. I would love to hear what the experts on this site think. Thanks in advance.

With that budget I'd wait for both the 60" Pioneer "super plasma" when it comes out in the summer. I'd also wait and look at the 65" Fujitsu plasma....both are 1080p units.

Personally I've always found Runco units to be overpriced and not as good as Fujitsu or Pioneer.

With that budget I'd wait for both the 60" Pioneer "super plasma" when it comes out in the summer. I'd also wait and look at the 65" Fujitsu plasma....both are 1080p units.

Personally I've always found Runco units to be overpriced and not as good as Fujitsu or Pioneer.
With that budget, I would do only one thing. I would get both a plasma display and the new Lumagen Radiance external video processor. The display would be a 60"+ 1080p plasma accepting 1080p for 1:1 mapping via HDMI (1.3). I think the new Pioneer would be the ticket. I like its single pane glass w/bonded filter layer and of course the new super black technology. This combo will IMO be the best you can get period. The Reaiance is 4k and will be out by mid year (out as a prototype now). That leaves 16k for the display. You can also start with just the display but eventually putting a better processor will kick the PQ to a new level.

Cheers, :)

Gary

I agree with the lumagen suggestion, but thought newer Pioneers didn't have 1:1 pixel mapping...

Sean

I agree with the lumagen suggestion, but thought newer Pioneers didn't have 1:1 pixel mapping...

Sean
Don't know for sure. You could be right. Guess we will have to wait until they ship and are tested. I would only hope that Pioneer provides this feature. I am thinking in this direction myself, using a 1080p display as a pure monitor with external processing. Don't know if I will be able to afford the Pioneer though.

Cheers, :)

Gary

I would get a projector and a nice screen for that much money. Or you could get the Pioneer 5070HD for around $2500 and give me the rest of that 10 grand :D

Seriously though, don't rule out Panasonic's 65 inch 1080p plasma - it's already on the market. I do feel that Pioneer makes a better quality display, but it comes at a premium. If you want a good performing display at less than the premium price, check out the Panny.

Here's what I would buy:

Pioneer 5070HD plasma ($2500)
JVC DLA-RS1 1080p projector (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=24) ($4500-$5000)
Drop-down 106" powered screen ($2500)
Tivo Series3 ($600)

Use the plasma for casual viewing and the projector for movies and sporting events.

If your wife scraps the projector idea, you can send it to me.