Excellent picture in DVD mode

A bit blurry with regular cable (guess the same with other HDTVs too)

Fantastic DVD playback from Toshiba 6200 DVD player from 9 feet away. I turned off the sound and use my regular speaker instead.
Regular cable viewing is worse than my original wide screen non-HDTV TV though. I need to get sat. for HDTV later this year.

Image quality - unquestionably!

VERY reflective screen - MUST be in a darkish room.

I am STUNNED! Two years ago I really LOATHED RPTVs for their mediocre image quality - huge scanning lines and really terrible colour fidelity and murky picture. It's the reason I spent $4000 on my Princeton direct view widescreen - which I still love.

However, RPTV technology has matured considerably since then, to the point where this Pioneer really caught my eye in Best Buy the other week. I mean REALLY caught my eye - superlative image quality in terms of resolution, colour saturation and accuracy, and sheer IMPACT at 53".

Formerly, there was a huge trade-off in picture quality at this screen size, but no more with the Pioneer. To say I am pleased is a total understatement - and I regard myself as a very critical viewer.

I first worked through the 72 point (yes 72 point!) convergence routine - tedious but essential - and then ran the Video Essentials calibration DVD to set all the video (and audio) parameters. Coupled with a true progressive scan DVD player, decent component and S-video cables (mine are Monster Video 3), the Pioneer SD-532 produces an image I hitherto thought to be unattainable. Period.

I have just returned from our local cinema, having seen Mummy 2 - and I can honestly say that the Pioneer produces an image which betters the cinema experience - a FIRST!

The only DOWNSIDE is that one has to use S-Video mode to view non-anamorphic DVDs at an aspect ratio that is acceptable. This sacrifices the benefits of progressive scanning since the built-in line doubler of the Pioneer is then relied upon entirely. However, if you use a good S-Video cable, the image degradation is minimised. I personally find the S-Video mode of a very acceptable standard with Monster Video 3 cable.

In conclusion, if you value quality AND want the unarguable impact of a big, wide screen monitor - buy the Pioneer. You will not be disappointed!

I have absolutely no relationship with the manufacturer and would be happy to demo my system to anyone thinking of buying the Pioneer.

Happy to receive emails also.

Regards,

Anthony

Similar Products Used:

Princeton 32" Direct view CRT 16:9 monitor.

Excellent picture with digital cable and DVD, detailed convergence control, viewing modes, cabinet style

Remote (not actually illuminated so hard to use in darkened room), screen surface reflects too much light during daytime viewing

We did a lot of internet research before we decided to sink our money in the Pioneer. We initially thought we would get a Mitsu but read too many negative things about their comparable HDTV. When we went to Best Buy to look at the various HDTVs the Pioneer really stood apart in picture quality and we have not been disappointed since we had it delivered 6 weeks ago!

We also liked the Toshiba 56 inch but the sales rep explained the merits of the 72 point convergence setup of the Pioneer (I think Toshiba had 9 points) and he was right in that you can really dial in the picture quality on the Pioneer.

The various viewing modes are very useful (e.g. we use 4:3 for watching news or sitcoms and "natural wide or "cinema" for movies or action shows). The Pioneer automatically converts regular broadcasts so that most do not look stretched on the wide screen. If we don't like the look we simply change the aspect with the remote.

A few notes for those who are looking for their first or a new HDTV.

* We have digital cable and there is a noticable clarity on the digital channels vs. regular broadcast. We are lookng forward to having both digital and HD cable available in a our area in a few months. We would highly recommend having your cable company analyze your signal strength directly at the input to the TV. I do this at least once a year and they always have to make adjustments and the picture is noticably improved. We were not happy with the regular cable broadcast picture when we first hooked up the TV and the cable company indicated our signal was actually too strong (yes too strong is as bad as a weak signal). After their adjustment our picture improved at least 50%. Many of the other reviewers have indicated that their regular cable channles were not good so we suggest having your signal checked!

* If you have digital/HD cable where you have to change channels through the cable decoder you cannot use the split screen feature unless you bypass the decoder and run the TV on a diferent input. We can't use split screen with digital/HD channels but can on regular cable channels. (If someone knows how to work this differently please send us a note!)

* We also discovered that we needed to move our sub about 8 inches further away from the TV to avoid some picture and sound noise.

* We use a Pioneer 434 progressive scan DVD player ($249 at BB) and we can say from experience that this combo provides the best picture we have ever seen and really makes watching movies a whole new experience!

Good luck with your HDTV search!

Similar Products Used:

This is our first HDTV

Color, Contrast, Beautiful Picture! Shallow mounting depth.

Saturation can get out of hand with component inputs. Not sure if this is dvdplayer related or set related. Doing more to investigate.

I have had this set for about a week so I thought I would write up a few first impressions.

The set itself looks incredible and has a wonderful wife acceptance factor. I supprised my wife by purchasing the set and all new NHT speakers to go around. She had no complaints! She loved the look of the tv and the speakers.

I have been slipping in and out of the home theater shop for about 2 months trying to decide on what set i wanted. I looked at the mitsu and the toshiba, even the sony sets. The pioneer,hands down,blows them away. This is a tweakers tv.

I dont find much use for the viewing modes. The 5 modes are a little much since some of them tend to cut the picture off at the sides. I only use "natural wide", and "full". The other modes do not look correct to me. When you go into cinema wide or zoom you can see some slight artifacts. Im sure this is because im not using a progressive scan dvdplayer and i dont have my direct tv hooked up yet. Still it is an annoyance. This could also be a fault of the line doubler.

The picture is incredible. the color seperation is beautiful and almost makes me want to cry. I have never seen a picture this good when using a dvd player. The component input is as you know the best for viewing your dvd or sat signal through. It is extremely sharp and vivid. With a little adjusting of the convergance the set will blow your mind.

I have noticed a slight problem with my setup (tv/dvd/cabeling). On some darker scenes where there is alot of browns, reds, purples and blacks the color does tend to halo around peoples faces and bleed into other parts of the picture. This is most notible on gladiator when maximus is speaking with the old ceaser. I have spent hours looking at the convergance, with others looking on as well and it looks perfect. I have also set the tv with several home theater setup discs. Nothing fixes it besides going svideo, where it is minimal. I am going to borrow a friends pioneer dvd player with progressive scan to see if this is part of the problem. Im not going to deduct from my rating for this because I do believe that it id related to the dvdplayer and not the tv.

This TV is in a small room of an apartment. We were lucky that they built an area into the wall for insetting a entertainment center or tv. With about 8 or 9 feet between us and the tv, it is simply amazing. Every dvd we watch is like watching it for the first time!

If i had the money i would have gone for the elite model, but this set has made me a happy man. I think the better line doublers in the elite make the picture more attractive. Then again you also have to have a stopping point for your pocket book. This tv ofered the best ballance in price / picture / looks out of all the other options. My wife raves about it more than I do...

IF you want a set that you can tweak to no end, has room to grow and will last forever I think you cant go wrong with this set.

Stunning picture quality with DVDs. Surprisingly good sound.

Pretty poor picture quality with cable.

Ditto what most other people said about shopping around and comparing other tvs in the size/price range. The pioneer blew every other model out of the water. Period.

Even after reading the reviews and hearing complaints about cable looking muddled, I wasn't prepared for the extent of it. After tweaking a lot of stuff I now have most channels looking decent but it still doesn't come close to the quality of watching DVDs. And I even have a Samsung player - not a $400 progressive scan player.

Setup is a long and laborous process but well worth the effort. I'd rather have infinite possibilities than a choice of 3 settings. Good job pioneer.

As for the sound, I was quite surprised to find that, even at a pretty high volume, there is clear audio and no buzz or signal saturation that I have heard in other tvs. Not a big point though if you have or are planning on getting a surround system.

Overall my wife and I very much enjoy this television and feel it was very worth the money. Plus, they are coming down in price pretty quickly. You can get some bargains if you look around.

Similar Products Used:

none

Best picture of any sub $4000 HDTV. 72 point convergence. Line doubler works great.

Delivered without manual. May have a misaligned lens.

WOW! I almost thought they accidently delivered a 61" model when they wheeled this sucker in. It's BIG and It's beautiful! I sit 16' away and this screen size is perfect. My standard cable reception is more clear than I expected and my non-progressive (Onkyo DV-C600) DVD picture is awesome! My neighbor has the 61" Elite model with a HDTV receiver and satelite hookup, but I think my picture's better. He lent me a setup DVD and I noticed a crescent of light when the screen was black. It looks like ambient light hitting the screen but the room was totally dark. The screen protector is highly reflective and appears to "bow" in the corners. I also noticed some blue "stretching" on type to the left of the crescent. In the 72 point convergence screen, the right side is perfect and the left has perfect register, but there's a blue glow that appears to the left . Even with this problem, the picture looks incredible with the most realistic fleshtones and natural looking vegetation I've ever seen. I'd rate this TV a 5 if it didn't have the above mentioned problems. Hopefully, I can get them fixed under warranty. Oh, not related to quality, but it figures that the week after I bought this TV a salesman informed me that it was being discontinued and Pioneer was introducing new models later this month (July '01).

Similar Products Used:

Spent months comparing Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Sony, Hitachi models to the Pioneer.

Picture, picture, and more picture. 72 point convergence and whells for easy mobility.

What weaknesses?

The picture on this set is gorgeous, and the cabinet itself looks just as pleasing. When I hooked my progressive DVD player up and popped in Toy Story for the first time, I was completely amazed with the picture! I seen things that never caught my attention when before. I can honestly say that this is the most impressive DT I have ever seen. I will never go to the movie theaters again, because this set just looks so much more fluid and alive compared to the big screen. This HDTV set has me completely spoiled!!!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I bought this set at Best Buy for $1,929.60!!! Best Buy is clearing out all their current modules in order to replace them with the newer one. Hurry if you want an excellent deal.

Pioneer SD-532-HD5 - $1,929.60
Delivery into my home - $29.99
4YR Extended warranty - $299.99
For a grand total of $2,259.58

Picture, picture, and picture- did I say picture?????

Cannot zoom screen with component input- not really a weakness, but anything less than a DVD source looks bad- this TV is so good it really shows the flaws of a bad source.

WOW! I have never seen a better DTV picture anywhere. Of course, I am feeding it with a Pioneer Elite DV-37 DVD player with a true 3/2 pulldown progressive scanner. These two make a killer combo! I would put this up against most anybody's DTV- mistsu, sharp, you name it.

So- in closing- go get this TV! Then do yourself a favor and feed it with a true progressive DVD player. Oh- yeah- don't forget the cables- use good ones! Like CinemaQuest. Oh yeah- be prepared to skip a few fill-ups and a meal or two to pay for it- and thats just for the cables!

Picture quality and resolution.

Cost.

I returned my Toshiba to get this TV. Side by side comparisons to many TV models including Sony, Toshiba, RCA, GE, Mitsubishi proved this TV to be the best. Some TVs had a brighter picture but nothing came close to the resolution, especially with basic cable. The detail is astounding.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba 58'' HDTV

Picture.. From day one.

None

I was going to but the sony 36" Wega flat screen TV. I never even thought about buying a rear projection TV but after seeing the Pioneer picture I was sold. The store also had other brands but the pioneer had the best picture. I had the set a little over a year and it is still great. I checked my convergence and only had to adjust a few lines. Not only am I so happy with this TV but my family as well.