Took the plunge on a new Kuro Elite 151FD

[nugent]

Been watching for a deal on this set for a couple of months now. I had a auto search set up on eBay for one just out of curiosity. I got a e-mail this morning for a 151FD listed for $4k and $350 shipping. I e-mailed the seller and asked them to call me. Received a call within' 5 minutes. They are an authorized Pioneer Elite dealer so I got the full 2 year warranty plus an extra year via my Visa card. Set is in a factory sealed box.

I checked Live.com search and they had the 8% cash back going today after it had gone away for a while. So I was able to use that discount and get another $200 cash back. I received my cash back instantly and it is already back in my PayPal account. So my bottom dollar price is $4,150 delivered.
Actually I will get $43.50 worth of GC's from Amazon as well.

They were going to ship today but I am leaving for Europe in the morning and will not be back till Memorial Day. So they are having it set to be delivered on the 27th after I get home.

Will be interesting to see what I can get for my Sony 60" SXRD via Craigs List.

Very excited to be getting my dream set at a price I can live with!

[saprano]

congratulations, prepare to be blown away

[Blu-Benny]

congrats, be sure to post some pix when u've got it up and running!!!

[Scooby Blu]

Cool ! You will be more that pleased !

[nugent]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

congrats, be sure to post some pix when u've got it up and running!!!

I will have to do that! My set up is a bit unusual in that I use the hearth on my fireplace as the stand. My fireplace is directly in the middle of a wall in my living room and the perfect spot for a display.

With the speakers attached it will just about be exactly as wide as the brick that make up the inside chimney. My SXRD "hump" slides nicely into the fireplace opening now. This set will just fit right into the same position except it will be flush against the brick.

With no pesky wife around to dictate where "stuff" can go a guy can have a lot of fun setting up their gear!

[ArieS]

Congrats man but isn't the warranty voided if you buy online?

[wafi]

Congrats on your 60" toy mate!!!!

[nugent]

Originally Posted by ArieS

Congrats man but isn't the warranty voided if you buy online?

That is correct about the warranty but I am getting a sales receipt from the actual retail store which is a authorized Elite dealer. Verified via the Pioneer dealer search.

[lokir1]

Originally Posted by ArieS

Congrats man but isn't the warranty voided if you buy online?

this is only true if you buy online from an unauthorized retailer this goes for ALL electronics so be careful to make sure when u make purchases that the seller is an authorized seller from the manufacturer

[repete66211]

You buy a Pionner 60" Elite today and fly to Europe tomorrow? Are you the guy from that Dos Equis commercial?

[nugent]

Originally Posted by repete66211

You buy a Pionner 60" Elite today and fly to Europe tomorrow? Are you the guy from that Dos Equis commercial?

No wife, no kids, good job= Cool toys and lots of leisure travel!

Seriously, I am very blessed and feel very fortunate in this tough climate.

Going to several cities in Italy, the French Riviera, and a few days in Spain mixed in for good measure. At least coming home will be much more bearable!

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by nugent

No wife, no kids, good job= Cool toys and lots of leisure travel!

Ahhhhh, those were the days..

[Uniquely]

Did you ask the seller what his policy is if the tv arrives with stuck/dead pixels?

[nugent]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

Did you ask the seller what his policy is if the tv arrives with stuck/dead pixels?

No. In the unlikely event of having that problem I have no concerns about them taking care of the situation. They have a brick and mortar store and are a fully authorized Elite dealer. Buying locally wasn't an option since there are no dealers that carry the Elites in my state. They are within driving distance should it come to that. I am assuming it would be handled under the in home warranty should it be an issue however.

As I noted earlier for what I paid and from the dealer I purchased from, it fit my risk level nicely.

[Steelmaker]

Great! You'll have to let me know how it compares to your SXRD! That will give me a much better idea of what kind of step up I can expect when I upgrade.

I'm still going to hold out and see how good the V-10's are because, at least on paper, there ARE some aspects of this tv that should outperform the elites such as...

600hz sub-field drive
Digital Cinema Color
40,000:1 contrast ratio
96hz for 24p playback (as opposed to 72hz on the elite)
less power consumption

If this tv manages to match or come close to the elite in black levels, I think the other improvements (not to mention lower price) just might lead me to choose it over Pioneer. Unless of course someone can find me a 151fd for under 4,000.00.

[jc480]

You will develop many new friends who will want to come visit at the Superbowl/College Bowls/Stanley Cup/NBA Finals/World Series/etc : )

[nugent]

UPDATE!

Finally some good news to report!! Finally took delivery of my 151 in pristine condition today! Yee Haw!

Wound up taking longer to get it because the initial freight company was yanking the dealer around on paying for the one they busted. It wasn't that the dealer didn't want to get it out to me but was holding off on using the initial freight company if they weren't going to pay fully for the set. They finally got that worked out and the freight company was supposed to pick the new one up to deliver to me last week. They wound up no-showing!

The dealer wound up using a different freight line and they got it here in two days. Got it unpacked and everything is working fine. I only ran the channel scan to get a quick look at the picture. Looked great!

Right now I am doing the break in slides from over on AVS. I did this with my little 42" Panny plasma for the bedroom I got a few weeks ago. I applied
D-Nice's settings on that one when done and I couldn't be more pleased.

I figure I have waited this long I may as well do the 150 burn in so I can apply the D-Nice settings to the 151.

There were some bumps along the way but the dealer was absolutely top shelf to work with. I would not hesitate to use them again!

Next up, after the break in of course, ENJOY

[Rob J in WNY]

Wow, after all those problems and waiting, you've finally got it! Congrats!

Indeed, please start a home theater gallery or at least attach a pic so we can see that 60" beauty in action once you've got the break-in all done.

[nugent]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

Wow, after all those problems and waiting, you've finally got it! Congrats!

Indeed, please start a home theater gallery or at least attach a pic so we can see that 60" beauty in action once you've got the break-in all done.

Well it was worth the wait and the trouble. I feel like I got a great price. I also have a receipt from a fully authorized Elite dealer with no indication of any shipping going on. With my extra year provide by my CC I have a full three years of warranty should I need it.

I mentioned earlier there isn't a dealer in my state. Actually there isn't one within' 3 hours of me. So it was my only real option.

Will definitely get a gallery going whenever I get everything situated. I some how managed to get it the house and installed the stand and speakers by myself. I need to get some help to get it placed on it's final resting spot however. Soon as I get that done I will get some pics up.