Pioneer Kuro Break in period a myth??

You take the word of a person on this forum over an actual technician from Pioneer? Are you kidding?

Just think about it for a sec...what exactly has to "break-in", your eyes or the placebo effect? What exactly is there inside a plasma design that has to "break-in"? I can understand a few things in life that need to be broken in like tires, but is there a thin level of tread that needs to be taken off to get to the actual part of the tire that you will be used to driving on the rest of the tire's life (using tires as the analogy for a plasma)?

The "only" real way to test break-in, is to buy two of the same sets, validate that they are operating correctly, then break one in, and let the other sit in the box. Take the one out of the box and tweek it to its best look to you...or use the AVIA disc and tweak it (let it be on for like 1 hour so it has generated enough heat to give you a nice warm and cozy living room). Then get out the set you have have been watching with obviously optimized settings you have grown fond of...you could even do the Avia disc on the non-broken in set and then optimize it for your personal pleasure based on a dvd you know very well.

Play that DVD on both sets and see if the one "broken-in" shows anything different than the one not broken in.

There's so many on this forum that talk about how amazing their sets just keep on getting the more and more they are broken in. I think it's just how much they have grown more and more familiar with the look of the set and accepting the compromises any set has...

my question on break in---if the Pio sets need it, why not do it at the factory first? why send the customer a unit that doesn't have the phosphors evenly burned it?

I received a flyer from the local BB from the ISF calibrator they use that says for typical flat panels wait (something like 100 - 200 hours) x amount of time before actual calibration. The Pioneers were on a serperate line and said 500 hours!!

Why would someone looking to calibrate your set (hence earn money) would tell you to wait?? From my understanding the color tracking shifts ever so slightly during the run in time.

I will say this. When I first opened my 6010 I noticed a lot of dot crawl. After a few measly hours of watching it the dot crawl has abated considerably.

As for the break in dvd I heard that it's is over the top (not needed). Just watch tv as normal. Would you drive your new car JUST to put miles on it to get through the first 2000? Someone told me (not confirmed) that break in dvd's can alter the color tracking making it worse because of the stressful nature of them ie full screen all one color for 30 seconds then on to the next screen one full color screen etc. It's not natural for the screen to ignite all the blue phosphors in the screen for instance for 30 seconds and hold it.

@50hrs break in i'm also seeing less noise, but it was never horrible to begin with

I'm no industry insider or technician but....I've owned 3 plasmas the past 3 years and I feel that "break-in" procedures are no longer needed for current gen plasmas. Just use muted contrast/brightness for the first 100 hours or so and watch a variety of programming/aspect ratios. Don't deny yourself anything however..

Not another break-in thread....ugh!

Break-in is simple:

It is a process that EVENLY and RAPIDLY ages the overly excited plasma cells to a point where they act they way they will for the life of the panel. Break-in is actually performed at the factory. However, it is not done long enough where the cells have fully settled. If they actually did that, it would slow down production.

Did you mean to contradict yourself in the same post? You said that break-in is not needed for the current gen of plasmas and then follow by saying "Just use muted contrast/brightness for the first 100 hours or ss...". Reducing the settings is a "classic" form of break-in....although it's not correct, per say.

D-Nice-you unretired?? Great to see your sage advice continuing. I have been a silent member since 7G Pio and appreciate all the useful info you have provided (and hopefully continue to provide). You and a handfull of other members contribute clear, concise posts from which us newbies can learn. My thanks to all of you as I have finally ordered my 5080 after the recent price drop.

Roman at forum sponsor Invision Displays got my business with his knowledge and in pricing better than the current sale price plus tax at that largest brick and mortar electronic retailer. When advised that viewing will be at 11 feet, he immediately recommened the 5080 and did not try to upsell the 5010. I really wanted a 6010 but the wife objected and I had to agree that it would dominate our family room.

D-I for one will follow your settings and break-in recommendations-and keep the new ones coming. You and a few others have "creditability" in this forum and, IMHO, the other 99.9% don't add value. Admittedly, this post doesn't add value but it is only my first in 18 months and I wanted to express my thanks to you and the few others that present or clarify facts and keep opinionated or inaccurate bloggers honest.

What I really meant was take it out of default torch mode that tv's are in out of the box...having the contrast too high can worsen image retention and it seems to be worse (at least on mine) for the first couple of weeks and then goes away forever. The brightness isn't as important but it kind of goes along with contrast so it needs to be adjusted as well. Just my uneducated .02

He is Semi-Back which is better than nothing for me
I recommend break in because I never seen anyone get hurt by it.

seems someone else is being dominated in that room too ........

j/k ~ enjoy the 5080, all of the Kuros dominate.

Ahh, makes sense now.

Welcome back. Thanks for the kind words.

Hi D-Nice - sorry to grab you here, but you don't allow PM's. I asked you a question back in the "ISF Panny vs. Kuro" thread and you never answered, just curious as to your thoughts on my question.

Here's the thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=975077&page=2

THANKS! I appreciate all your sage-ness