Incredibly impressed with the levels of knowledge displayed on these forums. One thing I've learned is that for every TV model, somebody out there is saying "Don't buy it! I had a terrible experience!" So that makes it hard to identify a clear winner.

Anyway, I am picking up one of two models later today. Not sure yet which.

1) Pioneer PDP-5070-HD, or

2) Sharp Aquos LC46D82U (just-released Sharp model in Canada--yes the 82 series is correct).

The prices of the two models are within $100 of each other. The TV will be in a room with quite a few windows, but our viewing angles are such that I'm not that worried about reflection with the plasma.

The LCD is 1080p, the Pio is only 1080i.

Which would you recommend?

I was debating between the Pioneer PDP-4270HD Plasma and Samsung LN-T4066F 1080P LCD. After several trips to my local BB I purchased the Pioneer. Don't get hung up on the 1080P thing. The Pioneer looked much more natural and 3D like. The Samsung was OK and quite sharp playing 1080P content but still did not match the Pioneer's color accuracy and smoothness. I have both LCDs and plasma in the house and use LCD Medical Imaging displays at work so I really wasn't biased at all to any technology. The Pioneer had the best picture in the store.

....I am picking up one of two models later today. Not sure yet which.

1) Pioneer PDP-5070-HD, or

2) Sharp Aquos LC46D82U (just-released Sharp model in Canada--yes the 82 series is correct).

The prices of the two models are within $100 of each other. The TV will be in a room with quite a few windows, but our viewing angles are such that I'm not that worried about reflection with the plasma. The LCD is 1080p, the Pio is only 1080i.Need a little more info:

1. How many feet will your eyes be from the actual screen? (may be too far to justify 1080p).

2. Do you sit in front of the display or off to the side? (LCDs still have problems with wide viewing angles despite what anyone claims)

3. Do you require the display be a 1080p, or is 1080i good enough for what you'll be watching? (see question #1)

4. What kind of content will you be watching (% of HD, % of SD, % of DVD, % of games, etc)

5. Do you like the image an LCD renders compared to a Plasma? To my eyes, a good plasma has a better picture than even the best LCD TVs.

6. Will you be watching more during the daytime or mostly at night?

To me, the only reason i'd ever choose an LCD over a Plasma is if the room had so much light that it ruins the image, otherwise i prefer the image on a Plasma much more than any LCD i've looked at (and i was shopping for one until a month ago when i gave up due to lesser PQ compared to Plasma).

Thanks for your questions, Randy. I'll answer your numbered points:

1. We have an "open concept" home where we occasionally are sitting on the couch maybe 10 ft. from the set (say, 10% of viewing time). In the kitchen watching the set from 16-18 ft. away 60% of the time. At the table watching while having dinner, etc. 18-20 ft. away 30% of the time. People might suggest at this point we need a huge screen given these distances. But our built-in entertainment unit is 50" wide by 36" high, so we're constrained in that regard. Either of the models I've mentioned will fit.

2. Mostly in front of the set or at very slight angles. Not much from the side.

3. That's one of my own questions--do I "need" 1080p? We want a solid, reliable set that will last us for a long time. We'll have StarChoice HD satellite and a Pioneer HDMI DVD player. No games, etc.

4. 65% SD, 25% HD, 10% DVD would be my guess.

5. I consider LCD images to be very bright & clear, but even the best 1080p images I have seen on LCD to still be a bit "washy". Also have not had the benefit of seeing a perfectly set-up TV for either. If the 5070 could not be made to look any better than the factory settings I would be worried. But I think it will look better (brighter, sharper contrast) once I get it fine-tuned (possibly calibrated).

6. Most of our TV watching is in the evenings in a room that is kept relatively dim. The room has tons of lights but we generally keep them down a bit.

The room has several very large windows but we do not view the TV from an angle that creates a lot of reflection.

Also, for about the same price is one a much better deal in your opinion?

Thanks again for your thoughts on my issue.

Need a little more info:

1. How many feet will your eyes be from the actual screen? (may be too far to justify 1080p).

2. Do you sit in front of the display or off to the side? (LCDs still have problems with wide viewing angles despite what anyone claims)

3. Do you require the display be a 1080p, or is 1080i good enough for what you'll be watching? (see question #1)

4. What kind of content will you be watching (% of HD, % of SD, % of DVD, % of games, etc)

5. Do you like the image an LCD renders compared to a Plasma? To my eyes, a good plasma has a better picture than even the best LCD TVs.

6. Will you be watching more during the daytime or mostly at night?

To me, the only reason i'd ever choose an LCD over a Plasma is if the room had so much light that it ruins the image, otherwise i prefer the image on a Plasma much more than any LCD i've looked at (and i was shopping for one until a month ago when i gave up due to lesser PQ compared to Plasma).

Look at the new Panasonic 1080p Plasma TH-50PZ700 (available April) MSRP $3499

Okay, leaning pretty heavily toward the Pioneer after doing some more reading. Hopefully I don't regret it!

Okay, leaning pretty heavily toward the Pioneer after doing some more reading. Hopefully I don't regret it!Based on your answers the Pioneer would be a great choice! SD performance is better than most other plasmas, and much better than an LCD. It has two good non-linear 4:3 stretch modes, and at your viewing distance you don't need 1080p. To me, the only reason i would ever pick an LCD would be if the room was too bright to see the Plasma. I'm also itching to get a new Plasma to replace my 2-year old Panny and the two top contenders are the Pioneer or the upcoming Panny PX77U.

Cool. Thanks a bunch for your help. TV will be delivered next week & then I will comment on how it all worked out. Thanks again!

Thanks for your questions, Randy. I'll answer your numbered points:

1. We have an "open concept" home where we occasionally are sitting on the couch maybe 10 ft. from the set (say, 10% of viewing time). In the kitchen watching the set from 16-18 ft. away 60% of the time. At the table watching while having dinner, etc. 18-20 ft. away 30% of the time. People might suggest at this point we need a huge screen given these distances. But our built-in entertainment unit is 50" wide by 36" high, so we're constrained in that regard. Either of the models I've mentioned will fit.

2. Mostly in front of the set or at very slight angles. Not much from the side.

3. That's one of my own questions--do I "need" 1080p? We want a solid, reliable set that will last us for a long time. We'll have StarChoice HD satellite and a Pioneer HDMI DVD player. No games, etc.

4. 65% SD, 25% HD, 10% DVD would be my guess.

5. I consider LCD images to be very bright & clear, but even the best 1080p images I have seen on LCD to still be a bit "washy". Also have not had the benefit of seeing a perfectly set-up TV for either. If the 5070 could not be made to look any better than the factory settings I would be worried. But I think it will look better (brighter, sharper contrast) once I get it fine-tuned (possibly calibrated).

6. Most of our TV watching is in the evenings in a room that is kept relatively dim. The room has tons of lights but we generally keep them down a bit.

The room has several very large windows but we do not view the TV from an angle that creates a lot of reflection.

Also, for about the same price is one a much better deal in your opinion?

Thanks again for your thoughts on my issue.


It's easy, the 5070.

1. 10 ft is too far away to notice 1080p.

3. No games, no burn in, so no need for an LCD. Besides, the motion blur on lcds bother me in games.

4. Woah, lots of SD. The Sony XBR can do a decent job with, but if you tune the Pioneer properly, there will be no comparison.

5. Pioneer has AWFUL display settings. I like the brightness of LCDs too, but after having both for a while, I enjoy my 50" panasonic much better than my 46" 1080p samsung lcd.

6. I watch a plasma with plenty of light in the room, and I don't have glare issues. If it's mostly dim, you'll have no problem.

The Samsung 65F series is clearly the best LCD on the market, except for displaying SD content. It runs upwards of 3K. The sharps have problems, just read these forums. I own a Samsung 4665, and it's amazing. I also own a 50" panny plasma. I like the Samsung better for about 40-50% of my videogames because of the vivid, but fake, colors. The other games that are supposed to be more real or that require a high frame rate, I use plasma because I can see the motion blur on the Samsung and it makes me nauseous. Sports--again, lcds motion blur will drive you crazy. Movies? The sharp has amazing black levels, but no detail. Plasmas have amazing black levels, but also amazing shadow detail.

This is really a no brainer.

However, If money is important to you, I would check out the 50px60u at circuit city. its so cheap right now, and I actually prefer Panasonic pictures to Pioneers because I like the sharpness in the panasonics, where the pioneer is a bit softer, but may have better color rendition. Either way, you'll be happy.

Thank you for sharing your opinion, bbiggs32. I'm certainly getting the feeling that 1080p is not anything I need to worry about in this case. Certainly considered the Panasonic TH50PX60 that's popular 'round these parts. Would likely save me around $500. Certainly, money is important to us--but I've heard great things about the Pioneer and yes, it matches our decor (black vs. silver) somewhat better. So I'm paying a "vanity premium" I guess.

Again, thanks for sharing your advice/expertise.

I think you made a great choice by going with the Pio let us know how it works out!