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General discussion

Pioneer Elite PRO-1120HD Vs Panasonic TH-50PX500U

Oct 1, 2005 10:38AM PDT

Hi. Can anybody tell me how the Pioneer Elite PRO-1120HD and the Panasonic TH-50PX500U compare?

I'm looking for a top of the line 50" plasma TV, and found a great looking set at the Pioneer site: the Pioneer Elite PRO-1120HD. The specs sounded great with advanced pure cinema and 10 bit processing providing 1,792 Grey Scale gradation steps for over 1 billion colors.

However I then checked out the Panasonic site and learned that the Panasonic TH-50PX500U provides 2,048 Grey Scale gradation steps for 3.62 Billion colors on avarage and up to 8.58 Billion colors in scenes with low brightness.

I'm wondering if your eyes can actually perceive the the additional colors, and if all of Pioneer's other advances make up for the difference in greyscale and billions of colors.

Please Help. thanks

Discussion is locked

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I'm wondering if your eyes can actually perceive the the add
Oct 3, 2005 2:13AM PDT

Well if you had two static images side by side and spent a long time looking the two and comparing them,,,,maybe!
But them your watchinf video which is not a static image.
Spend you time comparing the other specs of the two sets. John

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I looked at both sets......
Oct 12, 2005 11:33AM PDT

and bought the Elite. I couldn't see the difference and the sets were side by side in the store.

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Isn't The Pioneer Substantially More Money?...
Oct 12, 2005 12:44PM PDT

...If so, what made you decide to go this way instead of the Panasonic presuming you couldn't see a difference when you were auditioning them?

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Reviews Pioneer: accurate life like color and movement
Oct 12, 2005 8:19PM PDT

Thanks!

The Reviews and manufacturers claims That lead me to post this thread contend that the Pioneer Elite has the smoothest most cinematically accurate color, and 3/3 pull down, and is capable of producing over a billion colors

but that pany TH-50PX500U has a larger number of grayscale gradations resulting in around 3 billion colors on average and up to 8 billion in dark scenes for better blacks and detail in dim scenes.

While the MSRP of the Pioneer is 6k more than Pany's TH-50PX500U, the lowest web prices I've found so far seem to be within around a thousand dollars each other.
Of coarse, you have to buy Pioneer from an autherised dealer to get the 2year warrentee.

The Panasonic TH-50XVS30 Onyx series with its separate media box and higher style and price would seem to be more comparable to the Pioneer Pro, but according to Panasonic the TH-50XVS30 is only capable of 729p via pc input and has an earlier generation panel than the lower price TH-50PX500U.

I don?t understand why they still use an older panel for their flagship series, but I guess they may want to work out any kinks in the new panel before offering it in the Onyx. Of coarse newer and cheaper doesn't necessarily mean better eather.

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New 50" Pioneer Elite PRO-1130HD New 4000/1 C.R. Panel
Oct 15, 2005 5:14PM PDT

I went back to the pioneer site to do some more comparisons and found the new 50" Pro-1130HD with a new generation plasma panel, new features, feature upgrades, and a lower price.

The most interesting new feature is something called a crystal emissive layer. They claim it charges and discharges the plasma cells three times faster creating blacker blacks and better detail.

Contrast Ratio is up from 3000/1 to 4000/1;

Its maller, thinner, and lighter;

Has a "Dynamic Range Expander" that sounds alot like the greyscale color management in the pro-1120 so I don't know if this is an inprovement or just semantics.

Gone is the cool graphite grey bezel and black speakers. I love the sleek look of the Pro-1120hd. The Pro-1130hd has a black bezel and dark gry speakers, but the MSRP of the pro-1130hd is 3,500 less than 1120hd.