I would very much appreciate some honest and straight forward advice here. A few years ago, when I was looking into moving from an old Sony 61” XBR rear projection to a plasma, I discovered and found this sight invaluable. I was able to determine from the thousands of posts here that my best purchase would be a Panasonic 42” EDTV based on the source of most of my viewing. In spite of what I saw in the stores, I took the leap to rely on real life experience of the many posters here, did not get the 42" HD, and have never regretted that decision to do so.

What I have come to believe is that people (like youse guys, and even me) go in to B&M stores and play around with settings on TVs that were never properly set to begin with. So I figure that whatever I see in a store is majorily screwed up and may or may not be indicative of what a TV will really be like in-home. Too many people screwing up the setting, the stores not know how to properly calibrate, and even worse, the store created a bias on purpose.

So….. having said all that….Our A/V receiver died and we had to replace it in a hurry. ( Got the Onkyo 605). While at the store, my husband got new TV fever. But I am the gadget person in the family, so once we decide to buy technology, I end up being the one to decide what that new technology will be.

So now we are in the market for a new plasma. We originally intended to move up to a newer and bigger Panasonic based on satisfaction with the current set we own. My husband went to a couple of the big box stores and came back all ga-ga over a Panasonic and a Samsung based on size, but also mentioning Pioneers.

Having waded through thousands of posts to threads here this weekend, I am dead set on a Pioneer Kuro. But now I cannot decide between the 5080HD, 1150HD, 5010HD or 110FD.

I originally thought I wanted larger than 50”, but have decide 60” might just be too big for my needs. I have always fallen on the side of “give me too much”, but based on my viewing sources back a few years ago, I found good advice here to not get too much, given the need for good SD viewing.

Here are my TV needs:

I will never, EVER play games on the TV. No Xbox, no Wii or whatever it is. Just no gaming in this house.

I will never hook a computer to the TV.

We mostly watch TV feed through Bright House cable. We are news junkies. We also watch a lot of DVDs. However, we do not have Blue Ray or HD DVD. Having lived through the 8 track/cassette, Beta/VHS, RCA/Laser wars, we think we will let this tech war play itself out without us.

So we still have a lot of SD viewing. But HD feed through digital cable is becoming more available. I watch from 8 feet, my husband watches from 12 feet. (There really is a logical explanation for that!)

I, more than my husband, am able to detect when something is just not quite right, even if I cannot identify what that is. Sensitive eye or something like that. So I do not want to “settle” for something less than ideal, even if it is only a placebo effect. I will admit to being susceptible to the placebo effect and am willing to pay the price to appease that. We are not at all price sensitive, so please do not take price to performance into consideration.

I apologize for this VERY long post. But based on my viewing habits, what is the best Pioneer for my needs. Not what is the best value, but what is the best at any price?

So what be it…5080HD, 1150HD, 5010HD or 110FD? And why?

Thanks in advance!

... But based on my viewing habits, what is the best Pioneer for my needs. Not what is the best value, but what is the best at any price?

So what be it…5080HD, 1150HD, 5010HD or 110FD? And why?

Thanks in advance!

That's pretty easy. Get one of the 1080p models. At your viewing distance you have a good chance of seeing the better resolution and improved (or lack of) scaling. I would choose based on the speaker configuratiion you prefer. Thats what I did and got the 6010.

In most cases the Elite is not worth the cost. Therefor the 5080 and the 5010 make the most sence. I vote for the 5010 as it will take you inot the future as far as the new devises that will be coming out.

Since you said you are not at all price sensitive and you want to make sure you have the best, get the 110FD, just don't pay MSRP. No need to waste money if you can get it for a better price. Then eventually get the unit calibrated and you will have the pest picture possible that the set can do for you and the Elites have all the features to make sure that a calibration gives the most accurate colors too.

Russ

Thanks for the advice so far.

Between the Elite and non-Elite models, I am likely to fall to the Elite said just because of speaker placement. I much prefer the side placement of the Elites.

What I am concerned about with the 1080p vs. the 768p question: is 769p actually a better picture for my viewing?

I wonder because back when I was going to get a Panasonic HD, I discovered here that I would get a better picture for my almost exclusively SD source by getting the ED model. It was a leap of faith to get the ED instead of the HD, but it was indeed the correct choice. So I don't want to get more than I need if it will actually make for a less quality picture for the sources I actually use.

Somehow, I suspect the 1080p vs. 768p is not the same issues as ED/HD for standard def sources though. If not, I think the 110FD is the right choice.

Talk me out of it. :)

Any would be very good. Wait for the reviews to come out and this is what i would look for, see if these new Kuro 1080p sets handle sd or your news programs, just as good as the 5080. With 1080p, you benefit sitting up closer and seeing no screen door effect. More pixels and the pixels are smaller. They claim, they will have a bit more better blacks.

I am waiting on the same and i also am a news junkie. I watch them all. The 5080 is already fantastic but let's see if these 1080p sets can scale as good or better than the 5080. No doubt the 1080p will be beautiful on blu ray or hd dvd. I also want a 50" for the bed room, not 60". If these 1080p sets, show sd as good as the 5080, and does not have any flaws, i would go 1080p.

Since you said you are not at all price sensitive and you want to make sure you have the best, get the 110FD, just don't pay MSRP. No need to waste money if you can get it for a better price. Then eventually get the unit calibrated and you will have the pest picture possible that the set can do for you and the Elites have all the features to make sure that a calibration gives the most accurate colors too.

Russ
This raises a question I've often had - where can you get a good deal on Pioneer Elite products? Doesn't Pioneer hold their Elite dealers to more stringent pricing guidelines (i.e. don't these models stay at MSRP for MUCH longer than non-Elite products)?

I've already seen authorized Pioneer dealers selling the 5010FD significantly (four-figures) below MSRP, and it's not even out yet (to my knowledge). How long until Elite's get discounted similiar dollars/percentages?

Sorry for the off-topic question - to answer directly, I think you're on the money with the 110FD being the best choice, price no object... especially with the 605 receiver, since it doesn't have any of the high-end VP chips inside (like the 875 and 905).

I would probably go with a 768p set since you will watch lots of SD and SD DVD, and you don't plan to invest in the 1080p media players anytime soon.

I would probably go with a 768p set since you will watch lots of SD and SD DVD, and you don't plan to invest in the 1080p media players anytime soon.

Ditto that! The Elite will also allow you to adjust the color in the user mode as opposed to SM on the non-Elite which you will appreciate more and may allow you to sit closer:) As a side note the Tosh HD-A2 which is an excellent upconverter also can play HD/TV and can be had for ~$250.

I understand that the 8g Pioneers have much better upscaling circuitry. If you watch mostly SD then purchase this years model (1080p).

We watch mostly HD so we went ahead and purchased last years 6070 TV and saved a couple of thousand.

if your considering the pro110fd you might as well get the 6010 or the Pro150Fd, they have 44% larger screen area and are only 8-25% more msrp :)

I understand that the 8g Pioneers have much better upscaling circuitry. If you watch mostly SD then purchase this years model (1080p).

We watch mostly HD so we went ahead and purchased last years 6070 TV and saved a couple of thousand.


There are brand new 720p sets from Pioneer this year as well.

On the same subject..... I am going to purchase either a Pioneer 5080hd or a 1150hd here in the next week. I have not been able to see an Elite and non Elite next to each other. What is the difference between the two beside the Elite will accept 1080p? Trying to keep the cost down, but if there is a big difference, I will spring the extra dough. Any advice appreciated. Thanks

I think that something with 1080p would be good .

In most cases the Elite is not worth the cost. Therefor the 5080 and the 5010 make the most sence. I vote for the 5010 as it will take you inot the future as far as the new devises that will be coming out.

I wish my 6070 was a TV/time machine...:p