Switching from a CRT rear projection to LCD or Plasma

Pioneer Kuro 50" models:
5080HD (720p)
5010FD (1080p)
Elite Pro-110FD (1080p)

Get any one of these and you are getting one of the BEST 50" flat panel tvs ever produced. Going from CRT to Kuro is like going from VHS to DVD --> JAW dropping everytime. THere are no other TVs currently available, LCD or Plasma, that can best Kuro.

What is the viewing environment like? The retail environments are typically way brighter than a home setting, and that makes the plasma look "dim".

I have a Pioneer Elite 64" RPCRT and a Kuro 5010. I can tell you that the Kuro is every bit as bright as the RP display in my home. In fact I'm not pushing either display in terms of light output.

This could be another case where you don't realize how much more ambient light is in the retail environment and how that skews your perception.

If you want more BRIGHTNESS wait until the spring and buy a Panasonic Z85, 800, or 850 series.

It won't have quite as great blacks as the Kuros but will be much brighter than Pioneers and Panasonics from the past.

The image on my 5010 is crisper than my RP, yes. But I'm not that obsessed with sharpness as much as I appreciate a film-like presentation of a movie. As such I would have a hard time justifying replacing my 720 with a 60" Elite plasma on that basis.

I will say that the Kuros are the first displays that made replacing my RP cross my mind. For now I'll limp along with my 64" elite RP for the main home theater and my 5010 as my bedroom TV.

Something went in the green drive on my Toshiba 42H83 (42" 1080i/540p crt RPHDTV). I replaced it with a Toshiba 40RF350u (40" 1080p lcd). I am pleased with the LCD. It has a clearer picture, the colors are more consistent across the screen (no more dessert sands in different hues depending on screen position). The blacks are better on the lcd (maybe a tic more crush), but then I have a window (with blinds closed) opposite the tv position, so I had brightness etc turned up some on the rptv (which caused some light bleeding on the sides from internal reflections).

And the reason that I only considered an LCD and not a plasma. Is that I also use my hdtv as my one and only computer display. In that respect 1080p lcd without a doubt beats the old 1080i rphdtv as a computer monitor. Note: I set the geometry and convergence in the service menu on my old rphdtv to make it usable as a monitor.

Similar to you, i will be replacing my 51" crt rp hd set (Sony KP-51WS520) with a 52" lcd panel later this year. Recently, i did buy a Panasonic 32" lcd panel (32LX700) for the bedroom and have been comparing the two. I will disagree with a previous poster in that in my case, black levels are still better on my Sony crt rptv. When watching the Panny, dark scenes are fine but still a little washed out in comparison. Otherwise, the advantages go to the lcd for me. I enjoy watching the lcd set more. The Panny is sharper and brighter, especially on hd sources. The attributes of lcd tech really becomes evident for me when watching sporting events. Watching the NFL playoffs on this panel has been stunning! The image just "POPS" out at you, something are sets don't do. I do not get any motion blur, which seems to be the albatross of many current and past lcd sets. This Panny has a 120hz refresh rate and 6 ms. response time which i assume is eliminating any blurring. I still prefer watching the Sony for movies that have a lot of dark scenes, but i will say the more i tweak the settings on the Panny the less of an advantage it's becoming.

In summary, i have been spending too much time in the bedroom watching this panel and neglecting the old "boat anchor" in the den. So if i want to get out of the bedroom more i guess i will have to get a bigger panel for the living room! In your case I say go for it! Just make sure you buy locally from a store with a friendly return policy. There are some nice panels coming out this year so you may want to wait a bit and do some research. Enjoy the hunt!

Regards,
Paul