Pioneer Pro 111FD findings?

[ReggaetonSalsero]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The DigiWAV company that makes the HD quality DTV-5000HD is located in Canada. Here is the specs on the ATSC/QAM tuner with HDMI output.
http://www.digiwavetechnologies.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page &PAGE_id=450

Canada is on the exact same TV system and voltage as the United States. This unit will work in the United States. Samsung use to make a HD quality DTB-H260F that was both a ATSC and QAM tuner with HDMI but that went out of production.

I did some more searching and there is now another brand to choose from that uses HDMI 1.3b with a ATSC and QAM tuner that is true HD quality. They just came out with the new model on December 3rd 2009 according to the press release . There old models were only DVI.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/12/prweb3293254.htm

The following is the spec sheet for the new model:
http://www.epvision.com/Documents/PHD_STB_compareN.pdf

So here are your choices for true HD tuners:

1. DigiWav DTV-5000HD (around $75.99 on EBAY and perhaps other Canada dealers): Uses HDMI (version unknown). Supports ATSC and cable clear QAM. No cable NTSC tuner.
http://www.digiwavetechnologies.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page &PAGE_id=450

2. ePVision PHD-205LE ($139.95) Uses HDMI 1.3b, Supports ATSC and clear QAM. No cable NTSC tuner. http://www.epvision.com/HDTVSTB/phd205LEmain.htm

3. ePVision PHD-205 ($149.95) This third option is only if your cable company still offers analog NTSC channels. If you have a cable company like Verizon FIOS then they are 100% QAM. This box does not have HDMI but DVI. The Pioneer KRP-500M has a DVI input with HDCP support. The only advantage of this model is that it has 3 tuner modes. It supports ATSC and clear QAM, plus analog NTSC cable. http://www.epvision.com/HDTVSTB/phd205main.htm


In answer to your Pioneer and Samsung TV questions

The orbiter 2 feature can be used with any other picture modes on the Pioneer. It is only the Orbiter 1 that does not work with the dot by dot mode. You can use pure mode and Dot by Dot and the Pioneer plasma will be protected against burn in when orbiter 2 is turned on. There are several menu settings on the Pioneer. The orbiter 2 can be used 100% of the time no matter what the other setting are set too.


If your goal is to have the best possible picture then the Pioneer plasma would be the best choice. The KRP-500M allows one to plug in optional side speakers. 50 inches is the minimum size screen that many experts recommended for 1080P. The KRP-500M is not perfect. It only has 2 HDMI inputs as a cost saving measure. If you plan on routing everything to a A/V receiver then you most likely will only be using one HDMI input anyway. The 46 inch Samsung UNB8500 does not have as good as picture as the Pioneer but it does have the built in tuners and speakers. Of course the Samsung internal speakers do not sound that good compared Pioneer side speakers. Pioneer makes the best sounding speakers of any flat panel according to several reviews. If you are going to use a stereo system or surround system, then speakers built in a flat panel are not important. Pioneer has good build quality also. Both the Pioneer plasma and Samsung UNB8500 are both good displays. You will need to decide which one will be better for you. The Pioneer is 2.5 inches thick and that new Samsung model is 1.6 inches thick.

Man ur freakin' amazing man...i tried looking up for better boxes and couldn't find what u did. I am leaning towards the the pioneer now that u were kind enough to find those 2 new boxes for me...thanks. If i get the pioneer i will skip out on the Canada box and get one of the last too. I wish that last one was not dvi and was hdmi since it has all 3 tuners. My over the air cable connection still shows some analog channels although i don't really need it so that alone my push me towards the 2nd box with the hdmi 1.3b....which reminds me...i went to monoprice.com to replace my cat. 2 1.3a hdmis with the b's but i couldn't find them there.....u know where they have them? To my understanding, the b's are better because it allows u to watch tv through ur connected receiver WITHOUT having to add an extra optical or coaxial cable for sound like i have to do now.

I was also thinking, if i get the pioneer and the boxes.....i wonder if my denon 4308 remote will control all that. I know ur going to recommend a harmony remote BUT i've had the 1000 twice, the 890 most recently as well and they somehow all gave me issues and it took forever to change everything. It didn't control as good as this denons remote. There are so many bad reviews on this denons remote yet for me, it controls EVERYTHING with no problem. It works better than those 3 harmonies i had. I'm wondering if i will open up a can of worms with another tv and cable tuner box to have to control with it.

Ok so since i'm leaning more towards the krp500m, i'm thinkg about buying it from value electronics. They want 2000 delivered with the stand included. I forgot to ask them if that includes d nices calibration pre purchased. So ur saying i can leave it on orbiter 2 forever and still have it calibrated on a different setting? Exactly what does that orbiter 2 do anyway? Will it affect the picture quality if i leave it on there? I've never had a plasma...always buying the newer xbrs everytime they've come out....i've had most of them and the samsungs. I'm just hoping if i do go this route that those new tuner boxes dont end up down converting my picture as there is going to be a lot of connections bet. the my 4308 denon, the tv, the tuner box, a vcr/dvd combo, ps3, wii, etc.

Ok what about what i read earlier about having to break this in? Something about having to use some kind of 150 hour breakin method plus disk? I've never had to any of this wit my lcd's so i am asking for some clarification on this one.

I did find the pioneer cheaper than 2000 that value electronics wants but no stand plus if d nice pre calibrates it, then hey it would be worth it....i was thinking of waiting b4 xmas to hopefully see if they drop the price. What do u think?