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Pioneer PDP-5080HD or PRO1140HD???

1417 Views 17 Replies 7 Participants Last post by phorts, Jan 21, 2008

phorts

Discussion Starter · Jan 21, 2008

I just got back from my buddy's house, and he has the PRO1140HD. For those of you who don't know, that's last years (7G) 720p Elite 50". That TV is the reason I set my heart on Pioneer. It is just so beautiful.

After several months of discerning, I went w/ the Kuro 5080HD and picked my new baby up last week. I just couldnt find any evidence supporting spending the extra $1500 for the 1150HD. I knew that 1080p wasn't worth it for me, but the jump to Elite is something I have a feeling I'm regretting. I could have had an open box PRO1140HD for about $500-$800 more. Should I have?

The reason i'm second guessing myself is that I feel that the PRO1140HD is brighter. I've never seen a kuro and non kuro or even an elite and non-elite sit side by side. At BB, the Non-elite's are in the regular showroom and the Elite's are in the Magnolia room. I've seen the 1080p kuro sit next to the 768p kuro and was able to tell a slight difference, but not $2000 worth of difference. But was it worth the extra $500-$800 for the Elite? Even though it was last years?

The reason i'm secong guessing, is because his TV just looks brigther. Colors seem richer. Resolution looks about the same, but I just feel that a lot of detail gets lost in the blacks of my TV. And Kuro is supposed to be the king of blacks.... ugh, I'm half tempted to bring my TV over to his house to check them out side by side, but i know that's ridiculous.

I know i'm going to get some smart comments like "shut up and enjoy your TV you got a great set.." blah blah. Maybe so, and maybe it's just a setting issue...which i'm thinking it is... But what I would really like is someone who has seen these sets together and can shed some actual real life light on this situation..Please set my mind at ease!!!!

Thank you!

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

wjr858

· #2 · Jan 21, 2008

Have you had your 5080 ISF calibrated? If not, I recommend you consider having it done as it made a world of difference for my 5080. Brightness is only one of many interrelated settings that when properly adjusted will ultimately yield a superb picture from your 5080. I've not compared a PRO1150 to my 5080 but from reading this forums many posts on the 8G Kuro line it was a big step up from the 7Gs.

omeletpants

· #3 · Jan 21, 2008

The Kuro is going to have a much crisper picture than the 1140 which is why I got rid of mine.

phorts

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by omeletpants /forum/post/12880057

The Kuro is going to have a much crisper picture than the 1140 which is why I got rid of mine.

Well that does it right there. You had an 1140 and now you have a 5080? So you went from an Elite to a non-elite? Very interesting. That pretty much says everything right there.

I have not gotten my TV ISF Calibrated but am seriously considering it. I'm just having a hard time justifying paying someone $300+ for it. Although, i'm starting to see how it might be worth it. I was just trying to sort out if I made the right choice or not.

Now I guess the last question is, should I have gone w/ the 1150HD, or can you acheive the same PQ with the 5080 via ISF Calibration? From what I gather, you're paying $2000 for a showy "Elite" emblem on the front... The extra color settings are nice, but can you access those through the ISF Calibration console?

Thanks again, i'm feeling a little better..

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omeletpants

· #5 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by phorts /forum/post/12880130

Well that does it right there. You had an 1140 and now you have a 5080? So you went from an Elite to a non-elite? Very interesting. That pretty much says everything right there.

Never said that. I got rid of the 1140 and bought a Samsung. The picture on the 1140 was very soft and the colors were over saturated. You'll find similar comments from others.

But the Kuro is in a different league. Both the standard Kuro and Elite are as crisp and anything on the market and the colors are not cartoonish like on the 1140. Now between the Kuro and Kuro Elite I have seen no difference in PQ

D-Nice

· #6 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by phorts /forum/post/12880130

Well that does it right there. You had an 1140 and now you have a 5080? So you went from an Elite to a non-elite? Very interesting. That pretty much says everything right there.

I have not gotten my TV ISF Calibrated but am seriously considering it. I'm just having a hard time justifying paying someone $300+ for it. Although, i'm starting to see how it might be worth it. I was just trying to sort out if I made the right choice or not.

Now I guess the last question is, should I have gone w/ the 1150HD, or can you acheive the same PQ with the 5080 via ISF Calibration? From what I gather, you're paying $2000 for a showy "Elite" emblem on the front... The extra color settings are nice, but can you access those through the ISF Calibration console?

Thanks again, i'm feeling a little better..

You will never get te same PQ with the non-Elites compared to the Elites. The non-Elites do not have all of the picture controls the Elites have.

Allen050

· #7 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by phorts /forum/post/12879899

ugh, I'm half tempted to bring my TV over to his house to check them out side by side, but i know that's ridiculous.

Please do that...

And post pics!

phorts

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Nice /forum/post/12880319

You will never get te same PQ with the non-Elites compared to the Elites. The non-Elites do not have all of the picture controls the Elites have.

Ugh, ok i dont feel better anymore. Thanks D-nice! Heh, jk...

Ok, but that still doesn't REALLY answer my question. In your opinion, D-nice, does the 5080HD have better PQ than the PRO1140? Even though the 1140 is Elite? I could have had the PRO1140 for about the same price... Did i make the wrong choice?

I think this is a pertinent question, especially now where people will see the 1140 come down to about the same price as the 5080HD and people will have to serisouly think about this choice. For me, i thought it was a no brainer, but, again, i'm starting to doubt decision.

thanks for the insight.

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Allen050

· #9 · Jan 21, 2008

You will never get to quite the same color accuracy with a non elite. That said, you will get an OUTSTANDING picture with a calibrated 5080. So either way, you will get a pioneer with callibration, since theres not much point in getting an elite if your not going to callibrate (IMO). I say go with the 5080. Superior blacks, and after callibration, probably an inpercievable deficit in color accuracy, will in my opinion yield a better overall picture.

My vote is 5080, because when its really time for this tv to shine (girl, movie, lights off), The deeper blacks will be the most valuable.

brentsg

· #10 · Jan 21, 2008

I would not choose an 1140 over a 5080, if that's what you're primarily asking. If you're just interested in Elite vs. non-Elite then that's well documented here already.

They just made too many advancements this year to go with the 1140.

phorts

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by brentsg /forum/post/12883437

I would not choose an 1140 over a 5080, if that's what you're primarily asking. If you're just interested in Elite vs. non-Elite then that's well documented here already.

They just made too many advancements this year to go with the 1140.

And that's what I am ultimately getting at, and I just wanted to sort of get that out there too for people who are deciding on a new TV. BB may try to get you into that old dusty 1140 Elite in the corner of the Magnolia room. They like to lure you in there....but i stuck to my guns, and i'm glad I did.

What i'm NOT positive on, is when i get my 5080 calibrated, even though I dont have the same color controls on the 5080 as the Elites will, can an ISF Calibrator access those through the TV's serial console? Or do these TV's just not have the technology?

And you already answered my next question of ...does it matter?... I can live w/ "Close enough"... and save my $2000...tyvm.

Thank YOU..hope this helps y'all out there.

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Allen050

· #12 · Jan 21, 2008

If you can "live with" anything... A calibrated 5080 would be it! I too just bought a 5080, so, after calibration, please post a review and pics if possible. I'd really like to know exactly how much it improves the picture (i know it will be significant)

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brentsg

· #13 · Jan 21, 2008

I know the 5080 can't be calibrated exactly as a 1150 can but I'll leave the details of that to someone with more calibration knowledge.

Funny thing happened to me when the Kuros launched. I contacted the local high-end HT shop asking to see the new Kuro Elites. I was first told they were not yet available, maybe another month or so. When I pressed that I knew they were available elsewhere the salesperson admitted that they had them in the warehouse but not on display.

He told me that they were exactly the same as last years model, which I could see "over here" and he then proceeded to price the outdated 1140 to me at full price... So yeah I won't be buying anything there anytime in the future.

phorts

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Allen050 /forum/post/12884020

If you can "live with" anything... A calibrated 5080 would be it! I too just bought a 5080, so, after calibration, please post a review and pics if possible. I'd really like to know exactly how much it improves the picture (i know it will be significant)

I certainly will, atm i got about 40 hours on my TV, so it's gunna be a while. Just from my intial searching, i'm having a hard time finding an ISF Calibrator in my area (New Hampshire). I may just do the Best Buy thing, since I think they take a $100 off (so $200 down from $300). I heard, while they may not be the most qualified, it's gotta be pretty good.....

I'm gunna take some pics tonight of a non-calibrated... i'll see how they come out, but i'm only workin w/ a canon point and shoot (SD750).

I browsed through the pictures thread and there are only a few 5080 pics in there, and none really that are that good qual. We'll see what I can come up w/.

brentsg

· #15 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by phorts /forum/post/12884158

I may just do the Best Buy thing, since I think they take a $100 off (so $200 down from $300). I heard, while they may not be the most qualified, it's gotta be pretty good.....

Honestly I'd be afraid that the BB tech would get into the service menu and do more harm than good. I most definitely wouldn't expect that it would be pretty good.

If I couldn't get a reputable individual to work on it then I would settle for the user menu adjustments that you can do yourself.

wjr858

· #16 · Jan 21, 2008

I would be leery of the BB calibrator. I'd ask a lot of questions about how his/her qualifications, experience, certifications, etc. before I'd let them touch my TV. Alternately, check out the calibration portion of this forum for ISF certified calibrators that make trips through your area. The northeast should have a few.

I had my 5080 calibrated and the factory settings were not very close to the magic 6500K (in particular the red setting was pretty far off). The result was any changes in the user accessible settings yielded an odd looking picture. I'm not technically proficient in this area, but there was a very clear improvement in the PQ following calibration. JMO, but I think you have your 5080 properly calibrated you will say the money was well worth it; I did. And you'll never question why you didn't buy a PRO1140!

tvrbob86

· #17 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by phorts /forum/post/12884158

Just from my initial searching, i'm having a hard time finding an ISF Calibrator in my area (New Hampshire).

Gregg Loewen is from Maine and services NH. I don't have any personal experience but I know he has a great reputation.

phorts

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jan 21, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by tvrbob86 /forum/post/12884746

Gregg Loewen is from Maine and services NH. I don't have any personal experience but I know he has a great reputation.

Awesome, thanks. Email sent. His services page says $400. Which is about $100 more than what i've found to be the average cost. But it looks like he goes all out.

Thanks for the link.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

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