ELITE TV's are back

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by prepress

Do you have any concern about the reports of rising black levels? I don't know about the 2011 models, but the issue doesn't seem to have gone away. Is yours a 2011?

I have had mine just under a year now. It is the TC-P65-VT25 not the current year 30. I have no issues at all with the unit.

[trponhunter]

About 4 years ago panasonic made home theater sets called the premier series- sold only through high end specialists and custom installers. I saw that set next to a pioneer kuro at a CES show at a private booth. Both sets were professionally calibrated with Sencore gear, playing the same signal, split through sencore gear. There was no doubt the panasonic was better. panasonic is now 3 generations improved since then.

The new elites are made by sharp, but are completely different panels than used by sharp. All video electronics are cooperative with pioneer. They are quite confident that the performance will be stunning. I don't know anyone who has seen them yet. Local reps will put their eyes on them tomorrow at a special event- I think in New York.

[TommyC]

Originally Posted by trponhunter

About 4 years ago panasonic made home theater sets called the premier series- sold only through high end specialists and custom installers. I saw that set next to a pioneer kuro at a CES show at a private booth. Both sets were professionally calibrated with Sencore gear, playing the same signal, split through sencore gear. There was no doubt the panasonic was better. panasonic is now 3 generations improved since then.

The new elites are made by sharp, but are completely different panels than used by sharp. All video electronics are cooperative with pioneer. They are quite confident that the performance will be stunning. I don't know anyone who has seen them yet. Local reps will put their eyes on them tomorrow at a special event- I think in New York.

Yes, the VX100 was fantastic. I've seen it in person several times. It looked very natural and 3D. The upcoming VX300 will be much better I'm sure.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Nope. Nothing! I have since purchased many more flat panels that were not exactly cheap simply because I couldn't find any more Elite Plasmas and I sure hope my Kuro Elite Plasma keeps going because if it ever dies, I will cry!

You didn't get a spare?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Sorry, but I replaced a Pioneer Elite with one of the new Panasonic's. I prefer the color and detail of the newer unit.

Jim, I have 4 of those Panasonics in various sizes around the house now. I spend most of my tv watching time in other rooms but when I turn on my Elite in the bedroom, it is a very noticeable difference.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

You didn't get a spare?

Unfortunately not.

[enatai252]

Have you guys compared the Runco to the Kura?

I have two Runco plasmas (61&50) with the outboard controllers...I love the picture and didn't find anything to beat them.

Owned them for about 4 years now...all pixels still working...I need them to last a few more years so I can finish amortizing them down to a rational per year cost

[turntable]

Originally Posted by MikeSp

I must respectfully disagree about potential quality since Sharp's technology is involved -- I will predict that these new "Pioneer" HDTV's will compete quality-wise with Vizio (thought I read somewhere that price-wise they were going to compete with Vizio too).

IMHO, Pioneer dropped the ball when they got out of video and suspect that their new products will NEVER come close to the Kuro. From everything I have read (have never actually seen one in any area stores), the Panasonic VT30 plasma line might very well be a match for the Kuro.

I will predict that after a year, many of us will look back and confidently say that Pioneer video is a shadow of its former self.

YMMV

MikeSp

One would think the panys should be better than the pioneers now. After all they bought all the patents and hired most of the pioneer techs

[prepress]

Originally Posted by Still-One

I have had mine just under a year now. It is the TC-P65-VT25 not the current year 30. I have no issues at all with the unit.

That's good, but I also believe that this is supposed to be a long-term issue. I don't know where this is at now because I haven't kept up with it much, but it bears watching. I may need to replace my 111FD someday and will want to know my options.

[esteban]

I have a Panasonic 65V10 (top 2010 model, with THX mode) and black levels DO change from time to time. I do not understand how this is possible, but I did notice, on multiple instances, that the display will behave differently on any given day. Color reproduction would stay the same, but blacks could be WAY dark, inky, deep and almost KURO-like, and then, after turning the unit off and back on, they would be lighter. This is easily noticeable on 2.35:1 BD's. The black bars do not lie. For example: yesterday was a "bad black level day" for me, made even more evident while watching "Harry Potter 7", which mostly takes place at night and/or in dark places. The black bars simply looked "dark gray". But the day before that, things looked terrific and with plenty of "pop".

My theory: a power-related issue. (Note: my TV is connected to a PS Audio Duet).

But at least I do not have the "floating" blacks that my 2007 Panasonic has. THAT is a deal-breaker for me.

I agree with Still-One, though, and believe that Panasonics have, in general, better color accuracy and fine detail than even the best KURO.