The Official Pioneer 9G Elite KURO Owner's Discussion Thread - Page 322

Ok, this may be an indication that something else might be wrong then. Is the buzz coming mostly the front (the flat panel screen itself), or is it coming from the back of the panel? If it's the later, then it might be from the transformer/drive circuitry and I seem to recall that some previous Pioneer owners had success in calling a tech that swapped a board and the buzz was reduced.

I have listened to a few 60" Pioneer screens and they all buzzed pretty similar, including my 141FD (except for one 6020 in a store which seemed much louder). With no sound, sitting at about 9' distance, powersave mode "standard" (off) and with bright images on screen (TV menu, PC image, snow...), I can hear it clearly, but I never "noticed" it during a movie. My set is currently at 236 hours and I have not noticed any change in buzz volume.

In my opinion, if you're watching a movie and you start to notice the buzz when you're NOT looking for it, then either you have a set that is defective in some way, or you have very sensitive hearing. To check which one, have you tried to listen to other 151 panels?

I believe no one who hears the buzz has ever found a buzzless Pio. I don't think anyone who says their Pio is "dead silent" has ever reported hearing the buzz on another Pio display. Other plasma brands may be quieter because they have an additional layer of glass which probably reduces the buzz sound but lowers the picture quality a little. What I believe we should expect from these sets is that they do produce a light buzzing sound that can be heard in a silent room, but that sound should not interfere with your viewing. It is a tradeoff for the better picture quality. Looks like currently, no amount of $$$ can buy the "perfect" set.

For new readers who are considering a Pioneer and wondering about the buzz, here is a link to my previous post on the subject: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...6#post15270526

Dan.

Based on the posts I've seen, it's mostly the 60" sets that buzz, so if you're looking at a 50" it's less likely to be a buzzer.

No such thing as a "non-buzzing" Pioneer. You will hear buzzing with low to no volume. Its inherent in the tech. Just making sure you know where to set your expectations. It honestly is a non-factor for me. I never hear it with normal volume levels. I say relax and enjoy the pic

I agree Dan.

Audiolover, my statement above was a bit mean thanks for disregarding it.

Call Pioneer plasma support and explain your problem to them
Pioneer's warranty is very good on these Elite pdps.

Its all in home, they won't tell you to bring in the panel to
have it looked at , they will send someone over to your house.

Its all in home service with the Elite pdps.

1-800-421-1625

Thats how loud mine buzzes on that same slide. Its rather annoying, but, I dont think it will buzz like that during normal viewing.

Just last night I popped in a BD that has some rather bright scenes. The people in my home started getting a little loud .. but I did not hear the buzz like I did on the light gray slides. Im going to try it again here soon.

I might take my panel back for another, just a little apprehensive. I just need to test when the house is actually quiet.. and all i hear is the TV. I mean with my surround sound on all this buzz might not be an issue. But .....

Wow , so that is the buzz eh. Wow , that is pretty loud and
higher pitched then what id have expected.
In case nobody saw the link you posted I am post it again.


Audiolover and others , is this the buzz you guys are hearing?
click this link>>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLTKjvgmctk

If this is it then please tell me what Pioneer says about this buzz.
Yes , even my deaf ass can hear that buzz and I can say 100% for
sure that ive never heard anything like that buzz in the link
I posted above.

Dang I almost feel like calling Pioneer and getting a tech support
guy that link.

The break-in disk amplifies the buzz big time.

At first I made a big deal out of the buzz I heard, but after a while I forgot about it.
Now, It has been months since I remembered about the buzz.
I simply just watch my set and don't turn the sound down and listen hard to hear it.

The best advise I can give people is not to sit there and listen really hard to hear a buzz. Because you will.

Just watch the set with normal volume and if you hear it then you do if you dont you dont.
more than likely, with the audio at normal levels you won't hear it.

also, it has alot to do with where the TV sits.
In that Youtube video, the set is in a cubby which is probably amplifying it.
Also, we don't know how sensitive the mic is in that video.

Some have issues with the buzz, most don't.
The best thing to do is just enjoy your set and don't try to hear it. I know that may sound hard to do for some cases.

I disagree. I used the DNICE sport mode break in settings and I could BARELY hear any type of normal electronic buzz on the all white screens. There is nothing wrong with my hearing either. I was sitting in a completely silent house with not a thing running and I could detect the ever so slightest faint noise and that was only within a few feet of the tv. From across the room at 15 feet I could just barely detect it on the all white screens but nothing on the color screens. Any type of radio on, typing the keys at the computer, anything at all and you couldn't hear it.

You should not be able to audibly hear it that loud from such a large distance like in that video. My personal opinion is like another poster said earlier, I think on these panels that have that high pitched very audible noise to them, that they have some type of micro crack in them that is basically indetectable by the eye. Basically a panel defect. A good panel while it may have normal electronic buzz, or like mine under break in torch mode be SLIGHTLY audible on the all white screen, shouldn't be that bad. A normal panel should be drowned out by any type of normal room noise.

I can cast my vote: I have a 111FD (50") and haven't heard any buzzing at all since I turned it on the first time (in early Nov.). Can't tell you about its big cousin, though.

Regarding the buzz, I can't help because I have a 111 that does not buzz (loudly). If you put your ear next to the back panel, then yes, you can hear it and yes, it's louder for the bright scenes, but for actual viewing, no, I don't hear it.

However, when I was buying my 24" computer LCD monitor, the same issue was prevalent. I can't remember which LCD it was (maybe the BENQ 24" widescreen?), but the issue seemed to be the power supply. Some guy over on Hardforum figured it out and came up with a fix, although I'm not sure the average person could fix it. It involved making some modification to the power supply but it's been a year or so and I don't remember the details. I'm not recommending anyone do that, but for those of you with loud buzzing noises, see if you can't get it to go away by pressing on the case around the power supply just to make sure it's not a vibration induced buzz vs. an electronic buzz. Just a thought.

Quick question: How high up do I "want" to mount my 151? I was planning about 35" up, but now I think that might be too high. When sitting down it's just above eye level. At the same time, I'll be mounting a center channel below the set, so I don't want the center channel to be too low to the floor either.

Suggestions?

At the moment, PS3 is a no-brainer. I would not go with any of Pioneer players. I hear Oppo will be coming with a universal and affordable BD player around February. You may want to wait for it if you have the patience.

If you don't have surround, you're missing a key piece of the movie experience.

Our system is intended both for excellent two-channel audio, and for surround. Before we added the center and rears, movies were okay but not compelling.

We can also play excellent multi-channel sound (for example, SACD).

Don't cheat yourself out of 5.1!

ok I am in the same boat here. If you have dish network HD DVR, odds are you will have difficulty in making it communicate with Harmony. It seems the problem is with the remote's address in DVR and noone knows this in Dish or Harmony's support. I figures after searching internet. It is amazing. One would have thought it would have been easier since Dish DVR is such a popular and common item.

Mine only worked after I changed remote's DVR address to 1 from 2

I use APC. I am very happy

I hope you guys don't mind, but I made a post regarding PureCinema modes earlier, and I found something interesting so I'd like to expand a bit on it.

I used the HQV Benchmark DVD (NTSC Version 1.4), which is authored in 480i60, and ran the 3:2 detection test with a few different settings on my Blu-ray player (Sony BDP-S350) and on the 111FD.

======================================================
Blu-ray HDMI ouput = 480i; Blu-ray Cinema Conversion = Auto; Pure Cinema = Off, Std, Smooth, or Advance (Adv Not applicable here?);

Test result = Fail (> 2.0 sec to detect 3:2 cadence)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Blu-ray HDMI ouput = 1080i, 1080p, or Auto; Blu-ray Cinema Conversion = Auto; Pure Cinema = Off, Std, Smooth, or Advance

Test result = Pass (< 0.2 sec to detect 3:2 cadence)
======================================================

According to the documentation included with the HQV DVD, if the Blu-ray is set to output 480i, I'm testing the TV's processing, whereas if the Blu-ray is set to output 1080i or 1080p or Auto, I'm testing the Blu-ray's processing.

What do the results say, if anything, about the TV's processing using PureCinema? I'm not sure if I can jump to any conclusions because there may be something I'm not considering here. I'd appreciate any input!

monster surge protection works as fine, but not "better" to justify the price premium they charge over other brands. I would imagine that's why the other poster would have recommended to stay away. Not from a quality, but more from a value perspective.

Not to the pioneers' extent though. You will not be finding threads dedicated to the buzz of any other plasma or non-plasma panel.

Wow, I cannot believe you have a Pioneer Elite display and
do not have a blu-ray player.

Though another very big thing you get with blu-ray
is a wonderful HD audio.
You need a receiver that can decode the newer codecs.

Even if you just have a 2 channel system you can
still benefit from HD audio if your system is pretty decent.

Panasonic makes great players.


Go get a blu-ray player right now, that is an order!!

Guys , what does Pioneer sat this buzz is?

something like?>>>>>"That is nornal, it is what plasmas do." ??

yes. He pretty much had to to get consistent readings.

I don't think 35 is too high. If you hang center over your TV and aim it down to the ear level, I doubt you will hear any difference unless you are an audiophile. I don't.

People will disect a 6-7,000 dollar set far greater than they will a 1-3,000 dollar set. No one is going to cry about a Seiko watch if they glass pops off, or the band busts, but I pretty sure they would on a Rolex.

Good idea. I hadn't even thought about lowering the TV a bit more and putting the center above it. I will have pretty tall floor-standing speakers, so this might even make more sense. Thanks for the advice!

The buzz on the gray seems to be just about the on the thumb drive slides as on the breakin dvd - is it just me or does it seem there are more color immages on the DVD files than on the thumb drive img files?

Im going to fiddle around with how I have everything plugged in to see if that makes any difference.

35" does seem pretty high to me. I have mine sitting such that the bottom bevel strip is a little below eye level (when seated), so that puts the bottom edge about 25" from the floor. I wouldn't want it any higher than that or I'd have to be looking up too much.

I do think the center channel looks and sounds better when it's lower, under the TV. But in general, placement that puts its drivers on the closest plane with your front drivers is preferable. These big ole TVs make that difficult (), but usually under the TV is best.

ROMAN O:

Your gonna "fix" these issues? The fact that you would even suggest that "you will work with..." a customer who makes these statements rather than suggesting a replacement or another set entirely (at this point and inlight of those statements) makes me question if your company is a forum sponsor from which I would want to purchase. In fact that is exactly why I don't order most of my CE online. I pay a bit more for products at B&M stores so I can just take them back when I find after some auditioning that they don't suit my needs or work as expected.

Clearly - and I don't know how you or Progprog can even suggest otherwise - audiolover has some serious ears. This set has a buzz that to him is a fundamental flaw with same. To force this set down his throat (essentially that is how I see the "persuasion" going on this forum) RATHER THAN direct him to either a replacement that you pre-audition or an alternative product is IMHO poor judgement.

I also forgot to mention his issues with his computer, his SD feeds from cable and concern about flat colors.... The later can be cured but the former will require significant changes to his CPU/Video card feeds and his SD source (provider changes). So my advice - that's why Audiolover is here and not just working with his supplier - is to return the set.

I don't need to speak with the man as I didn't sell him the TV. If I heard his story at a B&M store and I were the manager - I would immediately take the set back and find him a new option or refund him his money. He will NEVER be happy with a buzzy panel with his hearing.

Who can pipe in and say their panel buzz has decreased over their first 150 hours (again focusing on one mode and one brightness level of input)? I for one can't - my 111FD sill slightly buzzes on all material and my hearing is very good.

Hey, don't throw me into the mix! This is between Roman and his customer.

I was speaking from the experience of having had three Kuros now and knowing the variability of the buzz. My suggestion that audiolover give Power Save Mode 2 a serious try came after his initial comments. If the buzz is as bad as he now says it is, I know as well as anyone that it won't get better and that he will not be happy with it.

In Roman's defense, though, he has been very clear about his policies. I think he is an upstanding guy who stands by his customers, but I also know enough about the potential issues with these sets that I would not personally buy one without a solid return/exchange policy.

And that is why I'm leary about mounting my TV too low. If I mounted it at 25" the center channel would hang about 20" from the floor. The drivers in my floor-standing speakers are about 40-45" from the floor. That is almost a 2' difference.

I just measured the back of the sofa and it's at 36", meaning eye-level is at about 36"-40" when seated. Mounting my set at 35" would make the center hang at 30", a height that is better suited for the height of the drivers in the mains.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

Ideally it should be at ear height. Since ear height is not possible with flat panels, whether above or below is a personal preference. If I am not mistaken THX recommends above whenever possible, I am not 100% sure though, I need to check on that.

As far as height, again personal preference.