Update: Pioneer to end plasma panel production

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

You mean the best plasma out there currently on the market or the best all-around HDTV, period?

Both.

[J_UNTITLED]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Both.

Well, I would get one right now (as I don't have an HDTV yet) if I could afford it... .

[Brian Cash]

Not a huge pioneer fan when it comes to home audio like ther car audio though

[Zotar]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Both.

and by a margin!!!

[unreal1080p]

"Pioneer to end plasma panel output, source says"

http://www.reuters.com/article/techn...22772520080304

"Pioneer reviewing plasma business"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/.../japan_pioneer

"Pioneer "reviewing" plasma business, probably on the way out"

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/04...sma-business-/

We'll find out "officialy" on Friday March 7th at Pioneer's Press Conference

[J_UNTITLED]

I better somehow pony up and go get a Kuro before they disappear, it seems.

[catterwall]

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

I can't believe this too, if all they will do is assemble parts from other companies like Panasonic, why not buy Panasonic TVs in the first place?

there are only about 4 or 5 companies in the world that actually manufacture plasma panels. panasonic is one of those companies. so companies like Pioneer or Runco buy cheap panels from Panasonic, but the panel isn't even the most integrale part of the set. its all of the other cool little things like video processors and power supply's and whatnot. so NO do not just go out and buy a Panasonic over a Pioneer because you will see a difference. Panasonic makes a good plasma panel but the components they put into it are crap.

[unreal1080p]

Originally Posted by J_UNTITLED

I better somehow pony up and go get a Kuro before they disappear, it seems.

Logic would dictate that, even IF Pioneer exits the Plasma business all together, the R&D and technology behind "Unlimited Contrast Ratio" would'nt go wasted and would be passed/shared/sold/ to Panasonic and that we would eventually see the fabled UCR plasma's from them... one would hope...

First they taunt us with SED then these Unlimited Contrast Ratio Plasma's...

Why do they mock us o Lord?

[SnakeEyes]

What a shame. Seriously. No LCD, LCoS, or anything compares to Plasma. I am not trying to put anyone down, LCDs are the affordable solution for the masses, but the Plasma PQ is shockingly awesome.

You really haven't seen what HD is about (Blu-ray or HD programming) unless you've sat through an HD movie on a Pioneer Plasma. Compare black levels.

BTW: Specs are totally different from Panasonic or Samsung.

Again, NOTHING compares to a properly adjusted and broken-in plasma.

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by catterwall

there are only about 4 or 5 companies in the world that actually manufacture plasma panels. panasonic is one of those companies. so companies like Pioneer or Runco buy cheap panels from Panasonic, but the panel isn't even the most integrale part of the set. its all of the other cool little things like video processors and power supply's and whatnot. so NO do not just go out and buy a Panasonic over a Pioneer because you will see a difference. Panasonic makes a good plasma panel but the components they put into it are crap.

Pioneer makes their own panels. These reports are basically saying Pioneer won't produce them anymore and currently negotiating with Panasonic to get panels from them instead. So no, they are not buying cheap panels from Panasonic...not yet at least.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by catterwall

there are only about 4 or 5 companies in the world that actually manufacture plasma panels. panasonic is one of those companies. so companies like Pioneer or Runco buy cheap panels from Panasonic, but the panel isn't even the most integrale part of the set. its all of the other cool little things like video processors and power supply's and whatnot. so NO do not just go out and buy a Panasonic over a Pioneer because you will see a difference. Panasonic makes a good plasma panel but the components they put into it are crap.

This is 100% true. Many companies buy their panels, which is just glass from Panasonic. The 'guts' of the plasma is the video processing, power consumption, etc. All the article seems to be implying is that Pioneer is going to buy it's panels from Panasonic now, not its internal parts, nor refer to Panasonics R&D division. When you buy a Chevy, almost all of the parts are from other countries and companies, the same with electronics. Pioneer is not going to give up making plasmas, they are just turning back production of certain models. They will still concentrate on the higher end market like they always have.

[T-Town Oil]

just glad ive got my 60" kuro

[CassilineKnight]

I seriously don't care and I don't see why its a big deal.

The average consumer is already very impressed with a DECENT LCD TV. And in all honesty I think most LCD's look just as good as any Plasma tv I've seen.

Plus LCD's just keep getting better and better when it comes to PQ right?

But thats just me...

Its funny how hyped up this Bluray/HD DVD war was yet at the same time LCD vs Plasma has been in full swing for plenty of years as well. Do you guys think that Plasma will eventually dissappear altogether?

[emm7th]

Originally Posted by SnakeEyes

NOTHING compares to a properly adjusted and broken-in plasma.

How about OLED in the future???

Never use absolutes...

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by CassilineKnight

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]I seriously don't care and I don't see why its a big deal.

The average consumer is already very impressed with a DECENT LCD TV. And in all honesty I think most LCD's look just as good as any Plasma tv I've seen.

I love when someone posting on blu-ray.com talks about the average consumer. You should care and it is a big deal. The average consumer is not watching HD anything, much less blu-ray. They are perfectly fine with SD CRT's and DVD's. With that kind of logic, every technological breakthrough would never take hold. PDA's, plasma displays, high end audio and even our beloved blu-ray discs. It's pretty obvious the average consumer doesn't know anything.

This happened with CD's thanks to the mp3 generation. It's a "who cares" mentality. What's the big deal? Well it is a big deal when superior technologies are abandoned because the public is too ignorant to care. Take a listen to CD's from the early to mid 90's to the average modern CD now. The dropoff in quality and fidelity is staggering. Most people don't know since, well they grew up in the generation of poorly mixed recordings and mp3's. What do they know? To them, it sounds good, and why wouldn't it. They have no frame of reference to compare it to. Just sync their ipods and they are good to go. Thankfully, some people are catching on with FLAC and Apple Lossless, but most are fine with mp3.

I don't like the average consumer, they always bring things down to the lowest common denominator. If you are on blu-ray.com, then you clearly are not the average consumer since they are fine with DVD, a few years ago they still had VHS. I know people who still have VHS players.

Imagine if all blu-ray releases going forward abandoned lossless audio. The average consumer, if they were to buy a blu-ray disc would not know or care about lossless audio. They probably don't have a processor or receiver that would be able to decode Dolby True HD or DTS MA, but hey, who cares right? Certainly not the average consumer.

Every technological breakthrough does not have the average consumer in mind. It has the enthusiast in mind. Joe sixpack gets on board after he sees it at Walmart.

Another technology leader is forced to exit and/or restructure their business model. Sad, sad, sad.

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by emm7th

How about OLED in the future???

Never use absolutes...

He's not talking about the future. He means currently, and he's right. Wake me up when you can walk into a store and purchase a 60" OLED.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by CassilineKnight

I seriously don't care and I don't see why its a big deal.

The average consumer is already very impressed with a DECENT LCD TV. And in all honesty I think most LCD's look just as good as any Plasma tv I've seen.

With all due respect, you've clearly not seen any decent plasma TV. No way is decent LCD even comparable to decent plasma. And I'm talking as a current LCD owner who's looking to upgrade to a plasma sooner rather than later.

Methinks you need your eyes checked. ;-)

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by unreal1080p

UPDATE: Apparently, this "might" ONLY apply to their 42" panels (fine by me if that's the case)... we'll have to wait for something "official" from Pioneer to know for sure I guess...

That would make some sense. 42" 1080p is a bit silly at normal viewing distances.

I doubt Pioneer will drop their own panels completely. If they do, then that is a sign they see OLED is going to masacre plasma.

Gary

[chasarms]

Pioneer plasmas are the best that I have ever seen. I have a friend with a 720p Kuro and it looks amazing. I love my 1080p Panasonic, but I seriously considered buying 720 in that Pioneer because of the overall PQ. If Panasonic had not have been giving away a free BD player with the display at the time, I probably would have bought the 720 Pioneer. Of course, the 1080 Pioneer is the bomb, but it is pricey.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by richteer

With all due respect, you've clearly not seen any decent plasma TV. No way is decent LCD even comparable to decent plasma. And I'm talking as a current LCD owner who's looking to upgrade to a plasma sooner rather than later.

People don't seem to care enough about black levels and gamut. They see and compare torch settings and make wierd conclusions.

My goodness, properly setup the Pioneer's are utterly stunning. I've never been happier with a display.

Gary