[pma72]

Hello All, (newbie to this site)


Am looking for some help as we are moving into a new place. We have had a Sony 32" Wega for the last 5 years with a HTIB (Panny).


Want to really set up the new place and have been doing tons of research over the last few months and am in the final buy phase.... was looking for some last minute help on which way to go with our purchase.


Pioneer 6070 - Was leaning this way due to the picture quality of the TV. reliability. Performance with movies and hd tv (love my Hockey and Football)


I was initially battling between this Pio and the Sharp Aquos but have recently come accross the


Sony 52"xbr3 - I've seen them side by side and can see a little bit of difference in picture quality but not all that much that it would deter me from one over the other.


The reason I come in here is because I saw them at BB and obviously they were running through prerecorded material. So I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on performance comaprison for these 2 with everyday set ups and regular tv, as well as HD tv.


Also am I better off going with the Sony TRUE 1080p especially with where this is all heading or am I still better off with the Quality of the Pio 6070 and the 8" inch increase in size even tho it is not 1080.


Any and all feedback welcome plus if anyone has a preference to the Aquos I'd like to hear why as well as which make.


Thanks in advance. Looking to buy in the next week or 2 and my sitting distance is aprox 13ft. Also looking to match whatever tv I buy with the following if it make a difference... Onkyo 674, oppo 981, and orb audio speakers.

 

[Elemental1]

Just say no to the Sony and Sharp LCD's.

Get the Pioneer and never look back!

You could also wait for the new 'Super Pioneer' which will pretty much put most current displays to shame if it is out this summer.

 

[dhy8386]

Both TVs you have mentioned are the top of the line in their respective classes (plasma and lcd). For movie watching and sports, the plasma for me has a much more realistic, 3d picture than the Sony. LCDs, especially the Sony's have a lot of "pop" because of their brightness and extrememly white whites - however the colors are oversaturated (even when calibrated) and the depth of view for the picture is not quite as good. However, these qualities would appeal to someone who does alot of gaming and also to people who have a lighted viewing environment (brighter tvs look better in brighter rooms and appear less washed out). At 13ft away with a 60inch TV, the simple math tells you that you wont be able to resolve more detail from the 1080p tv from the 768tv. However, the simple math is only part of the equation as better circuitry and components help make up the picture which affects color, detail, etc. Im getting to my point.


From my months of research and experience with viewing all these tvs in comparison with each other, the Bravia is simply an amazing TV. When compared at the distances you mentioned (i happen to have an apt where i have 12.5ft) the Bravia to me looks better than any LCD and most 60 inch plasmas - however not the pioneer. I simply dont know how they do it but the pioneer is hands down the best looking TV I have ever seen. Their scalers are amazing, color reproduction is dead accurate, the picure is so 3d when properly calibrated that you feel like you can reach in and grab someone. Add the extra screen size and in my opinion, pioneer is the only way to go based on what you described.


As for the 1080p argument, like i said, i have compared the tvs watching HD materials and also using blu-ray (most hd material is 1080i so its a fair comparison today for tomorrow as 1080p is not providing any more detail, its just progressive which depending on the source may improve the picture slightly but not dramatically). I dont think you should be worrying if all broadcasts become 1080p because if you think HD looks better on the Pioneer today, thats not gonna change 2 or 5 years from now.


Lastly, the new super plasma as people are calling it that pioneer put out supposedly is real next gen stuff but it will cost you mega bucks when it comes out. We could all wait for the next greatest thing but given where the pioneer is today and the picture it produces, I think you are making a good investment.

 

[housecor]

If PQ is your #1 priority, Pio. No contest to my eyes.

 

[notreally]

Before deciding, be sure to look at sd material as wellas hd material on both sets..

 

[FerretHunter]

I had a very familiar situation earlier this year. I was in the process of getting a new 50" tv for my "B" room. After returning an SXRD 50A2000 due to silk screen effect, I went with the 46XBR2. After it was delivered, I noticed a few things that caused me to return the set:


1. Images just didn't pop as much as they did on the SXRD. Sports, movies, xbox 360 games, ... they all just seemed better on the SXRD. The black level and contrast just didn't compare (and the black level on the SXRD wasn't exactly to die for).


2. More visible motion blur. Everything that wasn't high def material just looked more digitized with the XBR2. Since my viewing isn't 100% high def, it was important that regular cable and dvd looked good or acceptable. SD stuff was fine on the SXRD, but it just didn't cut it on the XBR2.


3. On any input with no signal, the black screen showed cloudiness and uneven backlighting. This problem is well documented in a seperate thread.


Ultimately, I returned the set that day due to the cloudiness. It just wasn't acceptable to me.


I hadn't pursued plasma before, but with no other option left, I wondered into the Pioneer 5070. What a difference! Here is what I noticed with the Pioneer:


1. Incredible black level and contrast compared to either the XBR2 or the SXRD. It makes a tremendous difference. Anything high def is jaw dropping to me now. I was never impressed with high def hockey until I saw it on my 5070. It's been years since I last watched a hockey game and I find I'm watching more and more of it because it is so life like now. I finally have a tv that provides a better picture than my Optoma H79 projector that is in the "A" room.


2. Fantastic picture on regular cable and dvd. It is more than acceptable considering all the other high def televisions I've had over the years. This one clearly performs the best on SD material.


3. Uniform brightness accross the entire screen. Plasma really comes closest to CRT picture quality.


When looking at plasmas and lcds in the showroom, keep in mind that those conditions are the best possible for lcd, while the worst possible for the plasma. If a plasma competes very well with an lcd in the showroom, that says more about the plasma than the lcd. Try seeing both in a darkened room. This is my viewing environment, and the plasma clearly was the way to go in my situation.


Regarding resolution, I gave up two 1080p tvs (SXRD and XBR2) and settled for a 768p plasma. I sit about 9' away from a 50" screen and I can't tell the difference. To me, the increase in contrast and better black level are more beneficial than increased resolution. HD DVD on the 5070 are jaw dropping. When watching that stuff on the SXRD and XBR2, I wasn't in awe. It was a nice picture, but the same material on the plasma is just so much better, without a doubt. I did some serious comparisons between the 5070 and the 1080p Pioneer plasma, and I just couldn't justify the huge price difference. From 9' back, I couldn't tell a difference.

 

[ClarkeBar]

Truth.


Especially if buying now.


But when I go 60" (which will be awhile), 1080P in Plasma will likely be the way to go...even factoring in the realities of visual acuity and distance. The same is likely for a lot of folks.