Something I think gets glossed over about the Kuro Elite 101/141 Monitors

[McCrutchy]

I really think the fact that the Kuro Elite monitors accept PAL, SECAM AND NTSC signals gets glossed over in many forums. I mention only the Kuro Elite monitors because I own one--it is extremely hard to find signal info on the 500m/600m models, while the 101/141s world-wide signal support is listed on Pioneer USAs spec page. Now, I don't know if this feature is common to all monitors, or simply to those a given manufacturer allows, but I really love it and gladly paid $500 more for my 101 monitor as opposed to the 111 TV. Why do I love it? Because if I buy a European Blu-ray, I can watch not just the HD film, but also the SD PAL extras (Hidden (Caché) is a great example of a region-free BD with PAL extras). When I add to that a region-free Blu-ray player, I can also play any PAL DVD upscaled, and also region-locked Blu-rays. For example, Gomorrah is locked to Region B and has SD PAL extras, but I can watch everything on it, including the extras, because my Blu-ray player will play them and my monitor will display them. Yet I never see the Kuro monitors world-wide video sinal support being touted anywhere. Is it that most don't realize it, or is it that most, even custom installers, don't care?

[scweb13]

The KRP's also accept world-wide signal. They are kind of a junior Signature model.
I have a region free NTSC/PAL upconverting dvd player but not a region free BD player (yet). I guess I'll have to wait because I'm not sure if the OPPO is region free.

[ArieS]

Originally Posted by scweb13

I'm not sure if the OPPO is region free.

It's not. I still bought it though

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

...I really love it and gladly paid $500 more for my 101 monitor as opposed to the 111 TV....

I can verify that the 111FD TV also supports "PAL" although it is not documented officially. Even my ancient US/Can 3G Pioneer non-Kuro plasma supports it via HDMI-DVI-D. Pioneer seems to have PAL and NTSC support in their plasmas and players more than others. My US Pioneer BD player plays PAL and NTSC out of the box - again it doesn't say in the manual.

It's no good asking the Pioneer rep. or the salesman for the info as they don't know or don't want you to know nor do they care from my personal experience.

[scweb13]

Just to explain "world wide signal" a little more completely.
The KRP -500M/600M accepts the following video signals via HDMI/DVI/Component/VGA

480i/60
480p/60
576i/50
576p/60
720p/50
720p/60
1080i/50
1080i/60
1080p/24
1080p/50
1080p/60

Composite
NTSC, PAL, SECAM, 4.43NTSC, PAL M, and PAL N

[Kilian]

It is all set out in detail in the KRP manual (in the Appendix) and if you are talking about watching DVDs then SECAM and PAL M/N aren't relevant at all. Even PAL doesn't come into it unless you actually take it to a PAL broadcasting country. "PAL" DVD is just a convenient shorthand for 576i50 or 576p50.

I believe all the 8G and 9G Kuros support at least 480i60 and 576i50.

[scweb13]

Originally Posted by Kilian

It is all set out in detail in the KRP manual (in the Appendix) and if you are talking about watching DVDs then SECAM and PAL M/N aren't relevant at all. Even PAL doesn't come into it unless you actually take it to a PAL broadcasting country. "PAL" DVD is just a convenient shorthand for 576i50 or 576p50.

I believe all the 8G and 9G Kuros support at least 480i60 and 576i50.

I wasn't. I was just relaying the info from the manual. So, yes, it accepts NTSC, PAL, SECAM, 4.43NTSC, PAL M, and PAL N over composite video input. And yes, I do know what PAL is.
I'm not even going to get into all the PC inputs.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Kilian

I can verify that the 111FD TV also supports "PAL" although it is not documented officially. Even my ancient US/Can 3G Pioneer non-Kuro plasma supports it via HDMI-DVI-D. Pioneer seems to have PAL and NTSC support in their plasmas and players more than others. My US Pioneer BD player plays PAL and NTSC out of the box - again it doesn't say in the manual.

It's no good asking the Pioneer rep. or the salesman for the info as they don't know or don't want you to know nor do they care from my personal experience.

This is the first time I've seen anyone say this about the 111. Can you confirm that this capability is native to the panel itself (that you didn't have to use a PAL/NTSC converter or some other special equipment) and that it isn't that your DVD players have converters in them?

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Can you confirm that this capability is native to the panel itself (that you didn't have to use a PAL/NTSC converter or some other special equipment) and that it isn't that your DVD players have converters in them?

Yes, because Pioneer BD player does not convert PAL to NTSC and has a very useful resolution display to confirm video source and output as 576i. I tested the 151FD (same as 111 except size) but others on AVS have said the same about the 111 and 151.

[HDTV1080P]

The Pioneer 9th generation specs only says the Elite Signature series supports PAL/SECAM. If the regular Elites also support PAL/SECAM I am surprised Pioneer would not mention it in the specs since it would be a excellent selling point.

Main advantages of the Elite Signature series according to reviews and spec sheets

1. Worldwide signal support: Including PAL & SECAM

2. Expanded picture setup controls (example: 5 gamma settings and Blue only mode)

3. Hand inspected and certified parts for the highest quality picture. Each monitor is completely tested by a human before leaving the factory.

4. Ultra thin only 2.5 inches thick

[Kilian]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The Pioneer 9th generation specs only says the Elite Signature series supports PAL/SECAM. If the regular Elites also support PAL/SECAM I am surprised Pioneer would not mention it in the specs since it would be a excellent selling point.

Main advantages of the Elite Signature series according to reviews and spec sheets

1. Worldwide signal support: Including PAL & SECAM

We don't know if the Elite TVs support PAL and SECAM analogue television. Nobody that I've read has tested the Elite TVs for analogue television broadcast signal outside the US. The 111's and 151FD's TV tuners may only be able to tune for NTSC in the US for example but not PAL in the UK or SECAM in France so technically Pioneer is not wrong in not advertising 'worldwide signal support' for the TVs.

Also, nobody that I'm aware of has tested the 111/151 for SECAM or PAL variants via external tuner (connected via composite video). So it may still be the case that only the monitors but not the TVs have support for these analogue broadcasting signals. As I said before, these have nothing to do with DVDs.

I think Pioneer should tell customers upfront what formats are supported but conceivably it is in their interest not to do so. If they reveal the Elite TVs also support 576i50 or 576p50 digital video format ("PAL") from DVD sources then some customers who specifically want to watch PAL DVDs but don't care about the other special features in the Signature monitors might just end up buying the TVs for cheaper and won't necessarily pay more for the Signature.