[mgamon]

Received my Pioneer PDP-5040HD just before the rebate deadline of Sept 30. Attached photo shows support structure I made to mount the 5040 in an existing audio/video built-in cabinet. Many years ago, the alcove was originally a wet bar. I tore that out and built cabinets for audio/video stuff. Over the years, the cabinets kept getting modified as the TV's grew from 27 to 35 inch and now the 50 inch plasma.


The plasma is hung on a 3/4 inchs plywood sheet, the black board in the photo. The black board is attached to the upper shelf structure, and to the lower cabinet top. The black board has cutouts left & right, top & bottom to allow air flow from the air volume behind the board. The 5 in wide finished wood boards on each end close the gap when the plasma is installed. A Chief mount is attached to the black board, and the 5040 is hung on the mount.


So, this is like a wall installation, except the wall is the plywood board. The final installation is shown in my next post.


Max

 

[chris5977]

Why not just use a tabletop stand for the plasma? I believe the stands come with your plasma.

 

[mgamon]

I did use the tabletop stand for a while. The front of the stand hung out over the front of the base unit, while placing the plasma too high and too close to the top bookshelves. In fact, with that setup, the plasma would overheat and shut off, since there was so little room for air circulation.


For most people though, that is a very nice stand. I hate to waste it.


Max

 

[OHBIE1]

Let's hear all the details about the PQ, and how and what you are feeding it. (I'm looking to get a Pio too)

 

[mgamon]

Just got it going. Feeding it HD Tivo, which looks great on HD channels, so-so on SD stuff. We're sitting about 13 ft from screen. Some SD channels look OK, but DirecTV can get kinda ugly on some SD channels. Don't think the Pioneer is to blame.


Also using cheapo DVD player (Go Video), with component connections. Haven't looked at that much yet, but looks awfully good to me. I really like the separate media receiver that Pioneer uses - makes for cleaner installation.


I guess some find fault with the blacks, grey shades, etc. of the Pio, but I'm not that much of an expert. To me it looks just awesome with good HD material.


Discovered one problem with HDMI Tivo connection. I'm using HDMI from Tivo to Pioneer, and expected to be able to use optical digital output from Pioneer to my Denon receiver to get Dolby digital. The Pio to Denon digital connection works when using the internal HD tuner on the Pioneer, but when selecting the Tivo HDMI input, the audio does NOT get passed thru the Pioneer. Suspect this is a fault of the HD Tivo, not the Pioneer. So now I send HD Tivo audio directly from Tivo to Denon receiver.


Max

 

[msebae]

mgamon,


I also have a 5040, and discovered the same shortcoming of it's HDMI input. I just bought a Toshiba SD-5970 dvd player with HDMI out. When plugged into the Pioneer, the optical out stops working. I find this annoying as I want the Pioneer media center to control both of my HD source (terrestrial HD and HDMI DVD), but the audio portion is non-functional with HDMI. I just wrote to pioneerelectronics with this complaint, but I have a feeling this is simply an oversight as HDMI inputs were slapped on after that fact....


Gene

 

[tmsmith]

To those of you who purchased a Pioneer PDP-5040HD plasma, where should I look for a good price on the TV?


What other plasmas did you compare with the Pioneer?