Pioneer 9G Owners Thread - Present & Future

[kaputsport]

Well, my first post, and it's a big one...

I just joined the Kuro club, though I got an 8G, not a 9G. Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD...

Man this thing is incredible. I cheated the breaking for 20 minutes. I watched the opening scene to QoS on Blu-Ray, and then proceeded with setting it up for 100 hours of break in.

Here is the new set up going in this week, as long as components continue to show up. My budget was $2500 and I got everything I needed for $18 over...

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD
Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH Receiver
Sony Playstation 3 40 GB (With Nullriver Media Link software to stream all harddrive content from my 24" iMac and 1TB drive, to display on the Kuro)
Klipsch Quintet III Speaker setup
Klipsch 10" sub (Used from ebay, I forget the model)
Monster 2400 Power Center
Various Category 2, 1.3b certified HDMI cables
Various Fiber Optic audio cabled
Various Monster connections (Speaker/Component, etc)

All this replaced a Toshiba 51 Rear Projection HDTV.

My week end is going to rock!!!!

[edubb5]

Originally Posted by gamebred

After watching quite a bit of different sources and various material, here's what I've come up with so far...

"Pure" mode is by far superior for blu-ray play. No other mode can touch it, IMO. I'm no ISF tech but it was as close to accurate as I've ever seen on any other display...period. However, any other source other than BD seems washed out with only average blacks. Shadow detail was present but I couldn't overcome the "haziness". This was when viewing 720p material on Dish Network (HD movies mostly).

"Optimum" mode was used for pixars. Watched Kung Fu Panda on Dish without even touching any settings under this mode. Simply awesome...not to mention the audio with the SC-25 in THX cinema. I was very pleased to see that this mode was not over-saturated or eye-melting like most other displays are out of the box with similiar modes. Very easy on the eyes but with just enough "pop" to get you lost in the details of these types of movies. Doubt I'll watch anything but pixars in this mode but it is a perfect match for them. We have a daughter, so we'll definately get some use out of this mode.

"Movie" mode was tweaked to my liking when watching satellite movies and DVD, as they both seemed lacking when in "Pure" mode. I played with basic controls as well as Pro Adjust settings. I don't know how accurate the specs would be on paper but it looked much better when I did the before and after. I managed to retain detail while increasing the black level. I'm sure that I compromised somewhere, but I could care less. It looks great to me. Personal preference, right?

"Game" mode was fun to play with. It looked close to "Optimum" when I finished with this mode but without the settings and features that hinder gameplay. I used "Uncharted: Drakes Fortune" to calibrate this mode because I plan to get Uncharted 2 very soon. Gaming modes are very difficult to calibrate because each game differs from title to title ...even more so than film. Nothing basic controls can't fix, though. I mananged to get a good, all around base setting for this mode.

You could say I was very busy today. I was back and forth with audio and video all day. I just love all the adjustments on this panel. It's definately a tweaker's wet dream. lol I actually need to stop typing because this damn LCD screen is killing my eyes after looking at that beautiful Kuro all day.

Isf modes smack that pure mode around! It just give you more POP!!

[xcntuatd77]

i got another plasma.

krp-500m with matching stand from authorized dealer for $1500 shipped. I consider it a real steal

Not to brag but this is the pinnacle of pioneer technology - the best plasma they have eve rmade and probably the cheapest price at this price point, period. It make sno sense how the pricing is what it is and the picture daresay rivals theater quality, and perhaps even better.

[wafi]

Originally Posted by xcntuatd77

i got another plasma.

krp-500m with matching stand from authorized dealer for $1500 shipped. I consider it a real steal

Not to brag but this is the pinnacle of pioneer technology - the best plasma they have eve rmade and probably the cheapest price at this price point, period. It make sno sense how the pricing is what it is and the picture daresay rivals theater quality, and perhaps even better.

First off...congrats! Secondly where the heck did you get it from!

[wafi]

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Well, my first post, and it's a big one...

I just joined the Kuro club, though I got an 8G, not a 9G. Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD...

Man this thing is incredible. I cheated the breaking for 20 minutes. I watched the opening scene to QoS on Blu-Ray, and then proceeded with setting it up for 100 hours of break in.

Here is the new set up going in this week, as long as components continue to show up. My budget was $2500 and I got everything I needed for $18 over...

Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD
Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH Receiver
Sony Playstation 3 40 GB (With Nullriver Media Link software to stream all harddrive content from my 24" iMac and 1TB drive, to display on the Kuro)
Klipsch Quintet III Speaker setup
Klipsch 10" sub (Used from ebay, I forget the model)
Monster 2400 Power Center
Various Category 2, 1.3b certified HDMI cables
Various Fiber Optic audio cabled
Various Monster connections (Speaker/Component, etc)

All this replaced a Toshiba 51 Rear Projection HDTV.

My week end is going to rock!!!!

Congrats Kaput! I hear you about the opening scene from QOS, that was what I was using to show off the Kuro the last few months, but I think I'm gonna use the Transformers 2 Imax shot for now.

[gamebred]

Originally Posted by edubb5

Isf modes smack that pure mode around! It just give you more POP!!

The 500M doesn't have ISF modes without using ControlCal. Maybe I should have said "Pure" mode was superior to every other default mode on the 500M.

[gamebred]

Congrats to all that got their new Kuros. Welcome to the club! I'm loving my 500M more and more everyday.

The wife has been getting pretty annoyed with me tweaking everything. I try to explain how different source material will have an affect on how the overall PQ will look. She thinks I'm just obsessed and she keeps telling me that the picture looks beautiful as it is. Now she knows how I feel when she's stopping by every effing store in the mall asking me what do I think about this top, or these shoes...blah, blah, blah. It all looks like stuff she already owns two pairs of. lol

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Sonny,
Thank you very much for your service. You are helping to keep the United States safe. I will pray for your safety and hopefully the war will end soon with a victory.

Thats very nice of you to say & thank you.

Congrats to the new Kuro owners!!!

[sarge1976]

After having my 500M for a couple of weeks now I have noticed that it is slightly better than my 600M. I have noticed that the blacks are a little darker and the picture looks a little better than the 600M. I am using D-Nice's "Pure" mode setting on the 500M and it looks almost the same as ISF Day on the 600M, maybe a little better. I really don't watch the 500M much since it's in my bedroom but I can tell a difference now that it has been broken in for a few weeks now. I would love to put the 500M in my livingroom but I don't think I could adjust to the smaller screen after having the 600M July.

[fuwa]

Originally Posted by sarge1976

After having my 500M for a couple of weeks now I have noticed that it is slightly better than my 600M. I have noticed that the blacks are a little darker and the picture looks a little better than the 600M. I am using D-Nice's "Pure" mode setting on the 500M and it looks almost the same as ISF Day on the 600M, maybe a little better. I really don't watch the 500M much since it's in my bedroom but I can tell a difference now that it has been broken in for a few weeks now. I would love to put the 500M in my livingroom but I don't think I could adjust to the smaller screen after having the 600M July.

Each set varies. You probably should be able to make some minor adjustments to the 600M to bring it to the quality you like in the 500M.

A smaller screen picture should look somewhat sharper or "better" than a picture on a larger screen. I have noticed that some standard dvds of older movies look borderline unwatchable on the 60" whereas they can be tolerated easier on the 50".

[sarge1976]

Originally Posted by fuwa

Each set varies. You probably should be able to make some minor adjustments to the 600M to bring it to the quality you like in the 500M.

A smaller screen picture should look somewhat sharper or "better" than a picture on a larger screen. I have noticed that some standard dvds of older movies look borderline unwatchable on the 60" whereas they can be tolerated easier on the 50".

You could be right but my 600M is calibrated and my 500M is not. I wish they made a 500M in a 60" version (I know, the 600M is the 60" version). I am truly impressed with the 500M's picture quality without being calibrated. You are correct about standard DVDs looking better on smaller tvs. I seen a DVD on a 19" LCD and it looked pretty close to a BD.

[kaputsport]

Originally Posted by sarge1976

You could be right but my 600M is calibrated and my 500M is not. I wish they made a 500M in a 60" version (I know, the 600M is the 60" version). I am truly impressed with the 500M's picture quality without being calibrated. You are correct about standard DVDs looking better on smaller tvs. I seen a DVD on a 19" LCD and it looked pretty close to a BD.

That is the problem I have. I have a 24" imac, which can display 1080i, and now a 50" kuro, at 1080p. The imac makes movies look amazing. 2 feet away from a screen that size is nuts, but the pixel density is the cause. The larger the TV, the larger the pixels.

Maybe your calibrated tv has an issue, or the calibration is wrong???

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by sarge1976

You could be right but my 600M is calibrated and my 500M is not. I wish they made a 500M in a 60" version (I know, the 600M is the 60" version). I am truly impressed with the 500M's picture quality without being calibrated. You are correct about standard DVDs looking better on smaller tvs. I seen a DVD on a 19" LCD and it looked pretty close to a BD.

After reading several reviews on many Pioneer models, I have noticed that some of the professional reviewers have documented that sometimes there are slight production variations in screens. For example a person purchasing two KRP-500M screens might notice that one is slightly better in picture quality do to a slightly deeper blacks even though the model is exactly the same. Also once a while a reviewer has mention a Pioneer Elite screen does not have as good as black levels as a non Elite screen. The reason for this is slight differences in production quality of components. Even in computers with memory and CPU chips there are quality differences with the same exact brand and model that allows one person to over clock a PC more then another. The Pioneer Elite Signature series monitors has hand picked parts and the production quality difference between Elite Signature series displays is smaller compared to other Pioneer models.

[potee]

Originally Posted by Sonny

What model is it???

well I just got the info its the PDP 5020 FD. They have 4 left in the box $2349.00 The panny 54 inch V10 is the same price. What to do? They don't have the set on diplay so can't see picture.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

After reading several reviews on many Pioneer models, I have noticed that some of the professional reviewers have documented that sometimes there are slight production variations in screens. For example a person purchasing two KRP-500M screens might notice that one is slightly better in picture quality do to a slightly deeper blacks even though the model is exactly the same. Also once a while a reviewer has mention a Pioneer Elite screen does not have as good as black levels as a non Elite screen. The reason for this is slight differences in production quality of components. Even in computers with memory and CPU chips there are quality differences with the same exact brand and model that allows one person to over clock a PC more then another. The Pioneer Elite Signature series monitors has hand picked parts and the production quality difference between Elite Signature series displays is smaller compared to other Pioneer models.

Are you saying my 151 might not have good black levels?

How would i know? they look black to me, real inky, i guess a pioneer technician will be able to to tell.

As for sarges 500M, yes i believe he is seeing better black levels than his 600M. but why are you guys surprised? over at AVS its been said that it contains some tech from the 10g kuros. D-nice him self said he saw a difference with the 500Ms black level compared to the elites. but its something you can only see side by side.

[wafi]

Originally Posted by potee

well I just got the info its the PDP 5020 FD. They have 4 left in the box $2349.00 The panny 54 inch V10 is the same price. What to do? They don't have the set on diplay so can't see picture.

I'd say go for the V10.

[sarge1976]

Originally Posted by potee

well I just got the info its the PDP 5020 FD. They have 4 left in the box $2349.00 The panny 54 inch V10 is the same price. What to do? They don't have the set on diplay so can't see picture.

Get the Kuro before they're all gone. Just my opinion, you really can't go wrong with either of those sets

[sarge1976]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

After reading several reviews on many Pioneer models, I have noticed that some of the professional reviewers have documented that sometimes there are slight production variations in screens. For example a person purchasing two KRP-500M screens might notice that one is slightly better in picture quality do to a slightly deeper blacks even though the model is exactly the same. Also once a while a reviewer has mention a Pioneer Elite screen does not have as good as black levels as a non Elite screen. The reason for this is slight differences in production quality of components. Even in computers with memory and CPU chips there are quality differences with the same exact brand and model that allows one person to over clock a PC more then another. The Pioneer Elite Signature series monitors has hand picked parts and the production quality difference between Elite Signature series displays is smaller compared to other Pioneer models.

Thanks for the info. That kinda sucks that there is a chance you could possibly get a lower quality set even though they are the same model.

[sarge1976]

What mode do you guys watch animated movies in?

[xcntuatd77]

i bargained with abes of maine. Used my american express card to get the free extended warranty. instead of the mount they were giving for free, i told them to give me the table top stand instead and knock down the price by $50 altogether for $1500 out the door.