Pioneer PDP-5070HD 50" Plasma TV

Great plasma TV!

Posted Nov 10, 2006 - PERFORMANCE: (Excellent) The picture quality of this TV is nothing short of amazing. The color quality is of the highest I've seen in any plasma. The reds and greens are very vibrant. The brightness and contrast are excellent. The blacks are the deepest I've seen in any plasma. The skin tones are natural, warm and accurate. The HD image is out of this world with crisp and sharp details. The standard definition channels look above average and I'll even venture out to say that they look good. The sound from the speakers is good for their size. FEATURES/CONNECTIVITY: (Very Good) This TV has all the necessary connections i.e., digital/analog, in/out, audio, pc, s-video, antenna, composite/component/HDMI, and even an usb port. My two favorites are the HDMI and sub-woofer output. It has TV-Guide on scree, although I don't use it; PIP & split screen for those who like that. SRS sound which sounds good for the size of the speakers. The OSD Menu is intuitive and easy to get used to. The remote control is rather long and not as intuitive as the OSD but it's no big deal. The remote glows in the dark. AESTHETICS: (Excellent) The TV has shiny black bezel borders around its cabinet and black glass. It just look beautiful! PRICE: (Fair) The PDP-5070 cost me $3100.00 with shipping included. I bought it at Coza. They're the best of all the authorized Pioneer dealers in the market. The reason why I gave it a "fair" in this catergory is because I think that for what I got with this amazing TV the price and value are fair. FINAL THOUGHTS: My TV, I hung it on the wall with its speaker removed and I'd tell you, it just looks beautiful on the wall. I hung it with the Peerless SF660 from Big Screen Center and it cost me $74.95 It's perfect for it. New owners should read the Trips & Tricks section on CNET's review of this tv. They'll tell you how adjust the picture/video capabilities. I have mine set at: AV Selection: Standard; Contrast: 30; Brightness: +3, Color: +3; Tint: 3 to the left; Sharpness: 0; Purecinema: Standard and Color Temp: Mid - All these adjustments were made due to the ambiance light conditions in the room and I recommend new owners to play with these 'til getting them right to their liking. I'm extremely happy I bought this Pioneer. No regrets what so ever. I hope this review help make the decision process better for some...

89% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

The Pioneer PDP-5070HD...phenominal functionality and true versatility!

Posted Dec 10, 2006 - I have been researching many different kinds of HDTVs over the past several weeks and few months, and I have to say that in the end, the Pioneer simply ran away from the competition. For starters, the TVs ability to display a VERY GOOD signal with standard definition channels fed via coaxial cable is very impressive. I've seen other HD plasmas provide a standard def and make it look like garbage. Now when I made the upgrade to HDTV programming, I was, of course, blown away. I've seen the newest Panasonic HDTV plasma in a buddy's place, and it looked nice enough, and I had seen the Pioneer at Best Buy and was impressed as well, but when I bit the $$$ bullet and brought the Pioneer PDP-5070HD it into my home and mounted it on the wall, I was just stunned at the picure quality, depth of black contrast, and clarity of colors, as well as its versatility (although I have yet to try my PS2 games on it, as I'm still in the process of "breaking it in"). Setup was a snap, no surprise there. This TV is mounted on the wall right next to a huge window in our living area, and glare is no more of a problem than if an LCD screen was there instead (probably less so, actually). lastly, I have a up-converting HDMI DVD player, and movies are nothing short of amazing. I can only imagine what HD DVD/Blu-ray would look like on this puppy. COST/OTHER COMMENTS: I was able to purchase this TV on DTVcity.com for $2729 including insured freight shipping. Still more expensive than others in/near its class, is an improvement over the prices dating back even a couple of months ago. It was the best price I could find online from an AUTHORIZED online distributor, which is important, as Pioneer will not honor the 1-year manufacturer's warranty if the product is NOT purchased from an authorized online dealer. Follow the link below to see a listing of all authorized online distributors of Pioneer plasma TVs: www.pioneerelectronics... Hope this all helps. Cheers!

79% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

Holy Cow.....wow.....OMG.......YEEEEESSS......

Posted Dec 28, 2006 - How can anyone describe the perfect television? I certainly can't because I am not well versed in electronic lingo but I can tell you, as a layperson with more than her fair share of TV watching time under her belt, that I can not imagine a time when I will ever regret buying the Pioneer PDP5071. Yes, my model is a 5071 which we got at Best Buy. I have not been able to ascertain the difference in the two model numbers unless Best Buy has some kind of proprietary deal with the manufacturer....you know how that goes. Anyway, we spent days....DAYS....watching televisions....doing side by side comparisons....and the Pioneer won hands down. Our Best Buy had sooooo many televisions there to view and we made sure we viewed them side by side with the Pioneer. All I can tell you is that the Pioneer's picture was so far beyond what any of the others offered visually that we could not have purchased anything else and felt good about it. We read every review we could get our hands on and were impressed that in addition to the excellent performance, there was very little after-purchase problems with breakdowns, malfunctions, etc. We have had ours for only a month or so but have experienced no problems whatsoever....unless EUPHORIA is a problem. Sure, this tv was priced higher than any other tv there. Best Buy had it on sale for $3200 when we went in. But they also took off $200 just because my husband asked if they gave discounts to first time plasma purchasers!! We got a 10% off coupon in the mail about a week after we purchased the tv and all the audio components, cables and a very nice tv stand....and they applied that coupon to our previous purchase as well.! So, we definitely got a good deal with those guys. I highly recommend going to BB and at least doing price comparisons. Anyway, overall, YES...buy this tv. You will not regret it. It's a true gem.

75% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Customer Review for Pioneer PDP-5070HD 50" Plasma TV

Posted Dec 11, 2006 - I highly recommend this TV! Great value for the price tag. Beautiful design, easy to use and configure. The picture is mind blowing, the sound of the speakers are jaw-dropping. Plenty of inputs and options in the back to use. You won't be disappointed. Just remember this TV does not display in 1080p it accepts 1080p.

73% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

Want a great HDTV and not completely break the bank? Look no further

Posted Jan 14, 2007 - Not only does this baby look great hanging on the wall, the quality is unsurpassed at this price level. HDTV cable channels are extraordinarily deep, rich and crisp. You literally feel like your there watching the game and not through a transmission media. I did alot of research and narrowed it down to this one, Samsung and Panasonic. I went to brick and morter store and compared all 3 TV's side by side. NO CONTEST! This model won hands down. Suggest you go to B&M store and make the same comparison and you will be sold. The higher cost is well worth it. Plus, this was my first major on line electronic purchase from a Pioneer authorized seller (Pioneer manufacturer warranty therefore applies) and I paid hundreds less than what I would have paid at B&M store.

73% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

This Plasma Rocks!

Posted Aug 24, 2006 - This is in my opinion the best 50" Plasma TV on the market. I did a lot of research for around a year before I decided on this one. Panasonic is good, but the picture on the Pioneer is definitely superior. The all black bezel makes it easier to watch, just like in the movie theatres. This one can actually take the 1080p signal and convert it to 1080i. I think Pioneer is the only one doing that at this point. The speakers actually sound really good also (unlike other TV's). This came out of the box with the stand already attached. I paid around $4,000 for this one. If this is in your budget, get it. If it is not....remember most people will keep the same TV for 15 years.....make it happen.

72% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

More expensive, but best quality plasma display

Posted Sep 16, 2006 - Compared to other high-quality plasmas (panasonic, hitachi), pioneer display is the the best -- noticeably better than those other good units. Reason is Pioneer (propietary) pixel technology, which generates more defined pixel display. Compare side-by-side at your local Best Buy / Circuit City and you will see the difference. But it comes with higher price tag. Also, be careful with online sellers (many are unauthorized). Pioneer has strict policy and WILL NOT honor its warranty from them or Ebay. But if you look hard you can get a decent price from authorized dealers (see Pioneer website for list).

71% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

Pricey...but very good

Posted Oct 25, 2006 - Was about to buy a 55 inch Hitachi plasma for the same price, but reported problems with the Hitachi (and disappointing picture quality of current Panasonics) steered me to the Pioneer in spite of price. The HD picture quality is stunning on good program material like the HD Discovery channel. Travel/nature shows just jump out at you. Even my wife who thought I was nuts to be willing to spend this much cash now says it's worth it. DVD and digital (non-HD) programming is very good, but not up to HD, of course. Analog is, at its best, quite good, but way off from HD, of course. The speakers are just adequate. The remote is adequate, but really should be back-lit,not just glow in the dark. Set up was very easy. I even managed to put the thing on our stand without help thanks to the lift handles molded into the case. Surprisingly, even though power consumption is about 500 watts, the set runs warm, but not hot. The screen is pretty reflective, like all plasmas, but still better than our old Hitachi rear-projector. Tolerable and rarely distracting. Prices on all HD sets, especially plasmas, are dropping like crazy and I will definitely get another one for our rec room. Would not be surprised to see the son-of-5070 going for $2000 in a year. Definitely, plasmas are the way to go and I think this Pioneer is at the top of the 768 plasma heap. Very, very happy with it.

69% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

Best Plasma for the money

Posted Nov 29, 2006 - I was pleasantly surprised to see such high quality in a picture. I debated about purchasing a plasma, but now am so very happy I did. The images seem like they are floating off the screen, the colors are so vibrant. The price has come down dramatically, if you can afford it, do it! This plasma goes for $3500, search the web & purchase for less than $3000 including shipping. What a bargain! Pioneer has put a lot of reasearch into this model and it shows. The audio and video inputs are versatile, and the technology supreme. The convenience features are exactly what every person would expect from the best in the field. A split screen / PIP feature pleases the whole family. Sound technology uses 13 watt stereo amp w/TrueBass 2-way stereo speakers. The table top stand is included ( a $600 value) and looks great on the media table. This is a truly great TV.

69% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

expensive, but you won't regret!

Posted Nov 8, 2006 - I had been looking for big screen plasma tv for a long time, and I kind of narrowed down to two models. One was Hitachi 55HDT52 55" and the other was this Pioneer tv. I loved this pioneer tv when saw it first at best buy more than a year ago, but I thought it was too expensive for me then. I first ordered Hitachi because it is bigger and less expensive. Many stores did not have it in stock, and I talked a lot with sales representatives. With some information from store salespersons and some more online reviews, I had to admit that Pioneer has better quality in terms of its picture. Luckily, I found a store that has pretty good price and Pioneer was about the same price as Hitachi. I have to tell you it is the one of the best quality tvs even though there are now newer models. What I like about this tv is it has removable speaker (I may take it off when I get a home theater system) and PC input. Also, how it looks, grossy black frame, is very simple, but stylish. This tv is more expensive than tvs from other major manufactures, but I think you won't regret that you spent a little more money on this great tv.

57% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

Awesome!

Posted Dec 17, 2006 - This set is incredible! I am coming from a Sony CRT Super Fine Pitch HDTV which has arguably the best picture you can find in a television, but it was over 150 lbs and only 30" screen size. So I finally figured it was time to upgrade. After many, many hours of research I decided on a plasma because I feel plasmas offer the most realistic color depth and clarity over any other type of set (lcd, dlp, lcos, etc.). I am currently using it with Directv HD, HD DVD, Blu Ray, and a PS2 and all sources look incredible on this set. After lots of research I determined that the whole 1080p buzz is a lot of fluff. Even Imaging Science Foundation (the one and only group of professional television calibrators) feel that there are far more important aspects to picture quality. Contrast ratio, color saturation and color accuracy are more important than a set's resolution. And this set performs beautifully in all these areas. Additionally, this set has an incredible internal scaler which means Standard Definition content will still look respectable on this set whereas most other HD sets butcher Standard Def programming. Ultimately you cannot go wrong with this one. It's as close to perfect I've seen in a TV under $5000!

55% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

best in it class

Posted Feb 14, 2007 - The best picture quality I have seen in any unit out there. A bit pricey but I got mine for 1800.00. I will highly recommend this unit to anymore interest in buying a good plasma unit.

43% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Best Plasma on the market, but cost higher than most

Posted Dec 30, 2006 - Did a lot of research before pulling the trigger on this bad boy, and finally decided to get it based on numerous reviews of how good the SD channels look on this tv. Maybe my expectations were too high because of that, but the SD looks just as good as other plasma displays I've seen...no better, no worse. Otherwise, I've had this TV for over 3 weeks now and I haven't been dissappointed! HD looks outstanding!!! And I only listen to my surround sound system when watching movies or a big game, so I have used the included speakers most of my watchign so far and haven't been disappointed. The included stand is great and since the spearkers can detach, this tv would look awesome mounted on a wall. I got the tv for $2800 from an online retailer and the price should be coming down even more, making it more competitive with the rest of the 50" plasma market. Definitlely recoomend to those who want the best plasma on the market.

40% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

PDP-5070HD Super! Spectacular!

Posted Dec 3, 2006 - What a find! The Best of Everything All in One Package! Great for gaming, movies and in your face HDTV. Bring on the Super Bowl! If you want it all, it is finally available right here.

30% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review

New owner needs help

Posted Jun 25, 2007 - Have my tv hooked to an indoor antenna. After turning on the unit with the remote, I'm unable with the remote to scroll up or down on the tv guide screen that pops up. I can use the + - inputs on the side of the tv to scroll, but I don't know how to enter my selection. Personal preference would be to bypass the tv guide option, and just use auto tuner. Seems like after the unit is on, it's not recognizing the remote signal, the little red light by tv button on the remote doesn't flash red. The thing I don't understand is, I can work other features like volume and toggle between antenna a and b, with the remote. Have the antenna plugged into the "a" option in the back, and have not connected the speaker since I'll be hooking them up to my suround sound system. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Will change my rating after I get tv to work.

0% of readers found this review helpful. Did you find it helpful , unhelpful, or inappropriate?

Comment about this review