Lcd & Flat Panel Televisions

Pioneer PureVision PDP-5050HD 50 in. HDTV Plasma TV Key FeaturesFlat Panel Type:Plasma TVScreen Size:50 inchDigital TV Standard:HDTV TelevisionDisplay Resolution :1280 x...

Pioneer PureVision PDP-V502 50 in. TV Product MPNMPN:PDP-V502 Key FeaturesScreen Size:50 inchWeight:88 lb. Display CapabilitiesNative Aspec...

I have been looking forward to buying an HGTV for a number of years. 5 years ago my place of work bought 6 plasma sets and I was amazed by the picture and price, at the time $10,000 a piece. So I had to wait until the price came down. As the price came down the sets got better and bigger. Looking at my room size the set was to go into 18’X13’, the big set size to get for that room size was a 50” screen. There were a number of sets and prices to go by so I had to do by homework. Dropping 3-7 grand for a set makes you think good and hard on this.

First thing to remember when buying plasma is price does make a difference. There picture quality is great for most sets, but you also have to look at features, brand quality, and how quiet the set is. These do make noise from the cooling fans. The newer set are pretty good in this area, but the cheaper sets get hotter and there fans are noisier.

I ruled out some sets right off. They all had great pictures and looked good. LG and Samsung mid to low price, new in the plasma field and unknown quality. Panasonic had some great reviews and were priced very well, but Panasonic sold lower end electronics and I have had bad past experience with the brand.

So with the money limit I set for myself ($5000) I looked at two sets Sony KDE-50XS955 and the Pioneer PDP5050HD. Both had an excellent picture, but the Pioneer had a lot more going for it.

1. Pioneer has been in the business of plasma sets longer than anyone. In fact starting in 2005 plasma screens is the only thing they are making.

2. Outboard control box, this unit allows you to make all connection in this central area and take only one cable to the set. This is a must if you are to hang the unit on the wall. All high end sets have this feature, but cost a lot more. Mine is sitting on the supplied base and the box made installation a breeze and the look is great. If you hang the set add about $500 to the cost. $250 for a good hanger and another $250 for the longer video input cord you will need, unless you can get the control box within 10 feet. Remember with other sets ever wire that has to plug into the set has to be long enough to make up the wall and installation is very difficult.

3. The set looks great. I preferred the black look over silver that the Sony has. Some say the gloss black finish gives a reflection in direct light, but this has not been an issue for me.

4. I like the remote. To me the layout is good and the buttons are easy to push without pushing the wrong one or two. It lights put in the dark for 5 seconds it needed.

5. Programming the set is easy and the manual is simple to read.

6. Viewing range is 160 degrees; you can’t get that with a projection set.

7. It is cable card ready. This means with a small card from the cable company (Still waiting for mine.) you get rid of any extra box needed to get digital or HDTV from the cable company. Only thing the set will not get with this option is pay per view and the on screen TV Guild. People I know that have the card in their set love them. If you have TIVo the cable card will not work for you yet. I read they will a TIVo cable card ready box out soon.

8. The $500 rebate I got from Pioneer (It must be an authorized dealer) made the set cheaper than the Sony.

Digital cable or satellite is a must. The set can do both if you choose to. Some areas do have over the air HDTV but most areas don’t. The set will do over the air with a HDTV antenna. The analog picture is good, but you can really see what the set can do with a digital picture. I have not got any HDTV channels yet, but I have heard it is fantastic. DVDS are excellent to watch on the set, clear and beautiful.

I bought my set from Monitor Outlet .com. They are an authorized dealer and had no pressure sales people; they do not work on commission. I tried 5 other dealer from Price Grabber that had a lower price listed, but if you don’t want the things they are trying to sell you, they will brush you off. I had a real bad experience at IBUYDIGITAL .com (Stay away from these con artists) The Monitor Outlet sold me the set for $4800.00 free 2 to 4 day shipping, which was excellent. Minus the $500 rebate I got, the set was $4300.00 no tax charged.

The last area to consider is a service contract on the set. I am not a big fan of these, but I did get on for this item. These sets are pricey and new to the market. They are rated of 20000 hours of prefect service, but are expensive to fix. Most experts recommend one. The Monitor outlet had one of the better ones at the best price. I Paid $249 for 3 year full in house service or they replace it free. I saw the same deal at other sites for $999, but if you do get on haggle on the price. They will come down fast. Also make sure you buy from an authorized dealer, VERY IMPORTANT with Pioneer. I read a number of bad reviews from people having trouble getting their set service because they got the set from an unauthorized dealer. I don’t see anything in the warranty from Pioneer about that, but it does say limited full warranty. It seem some places sell the set for to low of a price. I bet any bad review you have read about a bad tv, you will find the person bought the set this way. Another good reason to have a good extended warranty.

The only area that seemed to be an after thought is the sound. The speakers that came with the set do a good job, but could be better. I believe most people will have a home theater system hooked into the set. I do and it completes the package well.

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