- realistic "cinema" mode - great deinterlacer - excellent strech modes both linear and non-linear - quality video decoder (no red push) - user configurable (VSM, black level, noise reduction, 3D comb etc)

- no DVI input - front "glass" is quite reflective - stretch mode changes when menu is called up

For $2000-2500 this is the best money can buy. Let me rate it on the scale 0-10: picture quality - 9, video modes - 10 ("cinema" is as close to real life as it gets), deinterlacer - 10 (better then Faroudja, I can prove it), convergence - 9 (72 points!), features - 7. You don't need progressive DVD - internal deinterlacer is a champ!

Picture, Doubler, Color, Convergence, overall performance, put it against anything comparably priced and it will smoke it. Rivals 53" Elite in picture quality!

Remote needs to be back-lit. Some minor tweaks required to get optimum picture, although fewer in general are necessary versus other mfg's. Add'l minor tweaks necessary to properly center and fill screen when I used an HD signal

I've had this TV one year now. When I compared all available HD Ready TV's, it wasn't close. The Pioneer was by far the best. Best Picture, Best Doubler, Best Color, Best Convergence Setting, THE BEST. Now one year later - it's still the best. Prices have come down on some other models, but the picture quality doesn't compare. I have cable, but the signal is strong and Digital Cable looks closer to 480P than 480i. I had an OTA HD receiver for a while and HD is incredible as it should be. But most of our watching is cable and it just does not disappoint. We have a $220 Panasonic RP-56 DVD player with progressive scan and the picture is superb. Sony - too soft. Toshiba - too "digital" looking. Mits - terrible stretch modes and too "digital" looking. Too digital means too many doubled artifacts. They are there in the Pioneer also, just not nearly as noticeable.

Similar Products Used:

No similar used, but compared it against virtually all other major mfr of big screen TV's. It won hands down. Even my wife picked it sitting next to a Sony and Toshiba.

pioneer state of the art quality,72 point con.,limitless tweakability.

none after calibration.

Let me start by saying,this tv is exactly the same as the elite brand as verified by my friend,who services pioneer electronics for this region.I purchase this tv on a whim, get this a customer return it because they did not like the 72 point,he wanted a one button fix all convergence control.Anyway that,s his loss .This set paired with denon,s dvd player is amazing.Pioneer put top quality parts an stand behind their products,BY THE WAY THAT PRICE INCLUDES FULL 4YEAR WARRANTY/PERFORMANCE PLAN.I say only one more thing run don,t walk to your nearest retailer quick before it,s gone.

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TOSHIBA 50HX,HITACHI 53UWX (RETURNED).

best stretch modes in the business, unbelievable colors, 72 point convergence, excellent set up.

none

The TV is actually a 2002. I first considered the toshiba HX and a panasonic, but I was fortunate enough to see all those models in the same room hook up to the same HD source. The SD533HD5 was the clear winner as far as picture quality, the panasonic was second and the Toshiba last. I then had the saleman tweak them but it did not change the order the pioneer was by far the winner. At $3333 Canadian($1750 American) it was a steal of a deal for a new TV not a B stock. Hook up to a progressive scan DVD the picture become unbelievable. I can't wait for HDTV.I highly recommend this TV.

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nothing that comes close

picture pictue picture

none

hey guys get one and fast before pioneer stop making it this is a elite tv with out the nice cabnet i like this better anyway not boxy. i was going to get the sony 57xbr and i got the 57hx toshiba and took it back to big and my sattelite dtv pic was bad but the dvd was good watch out guys most of your watching is cable or sat tv so get a tv that has a good line doubler. the pioneer bet both of them right out of the box with no cal at all. this the best hdtv on the market dont even waist your money on the sony toshiba mitsubishi tv or you be sorry big time. this the closes i had come to getting a tube tv the picture unreal looking the colors reach out and grab you on my toshiba 4800 and pioneer 525 dvd with lights down low at night i can almost put my hand through the front screen and touch flick on the alsome bugs life dvd this my test dvd for all tv this tv has all the modes to so you can turn on and off what ever you want! svm! God bless and stay with pioneer good by sony sorr

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none

Outstanding picture quality, inputs, 72 point convergence.

learning remote could be a little better, and the manual was a bit confusing

Let me first explain how I got this unbelievable price. I have a friend who works at Best Buy and told me about an excellent looking 53in floor model tv with cosmetic damage and nothing functionally wrong with the set. I just purchased my home and was looking to purchase a RPTV but didn't have a great deal of money to spend. I went to the store and was absolutely amazed at the picture quality of the set when hooked up to a panasonic progressive scan dvd player. And the price was right. I did have my doubts though, and was not familiar with the TV at all. So I came home hit the internet and did my research. Based on the information I gathered I RAN back to the store and picked up the TV with the extended warranty. So I guess the total price I paid was $1899.00 So far So good. I couldn't be happier (by the way the damage is a quarter sized hole in the front panel) Anyway the picture in my opinion is great. RPTV's have truly come a long way. And my xbox games look spectacular on the widescreen. I also recently acquired the RCA-dct100 and can't wait to view the hdtv picture!!!

Superb,accurate color. Excellent black level. Tweak from dawn to dusk for the best display.

screen reflections

This Pioneer sd533hd5 has replaced my 1999 Mitsubishi analog 50703 (4:3) rptv. So i'm comparing these two. I'm using the Echostar 6000 rcvr. with the 8vsb module along with a high gain Radio Shack outside antenna. Also a progressive scan dvd player. Out of the box the Pioneer looked pretty good. All user adjustments were centered excepting the contrast which was maxed out at 30. Convergence was off a bit but after adjustment no real problem areas altho the upper right quadrant remains off a small bit but barely noticible. OTA HD signals are near perfection with great color and definition. The two Dish HD stations (hbo/sho) are also excellent but a click behind in picture quality. DVD depending on the dvd itself can come close to good hdtv. The Mitsu., being analog and not being able accept progressive input did display a great picture but not as good as the Pioneer. As for the "standard" dish signal the Mitsu. provided a better picture on most stations. OTA picture was also better with the analog signal on the Mitsu. But, if you have local OTA digital/HDTV programming along with the Dish HDTV offerings then this set steps out and thats what its designed for!If you don't have local programming you might as well stay with the 4:3 analog TV for awhile. All of the HDTV sets are primarily designed for hdtv and of course will not give top performance in other formats. Some of stations on Dish Network are so compressed they look bad but the Mitsu.was more forgiving. On the other hand the Pioneer with good source material is astounding. Some of the old vs new (analog/digital))problems are not unique to Pioneer but apply across the board to all HDTV sets. The difference is Pioneer seems to handle most of these problems (convergence/pic.adjustments galore)to allow the user to tweak for hours in about every area you can think of for the best picture. My final settings after about 75 hours total use are: Contrast (+24)/Black level (+6)/Color (-12)/Tint (-10)/Sharpness (+15):RLS:off/Color temp:Std./Pure cin:on/SVM:off/Flesh tone:on/Black enhance:on/3d y/c:std./3d nr lvl:mid. If you have the programming available this is the set to get!

Multi-point convergence, great picture.

No commercial skip, no clock

I purchased it in November of 2001. I have been thoroughly impressed with its picture quality. The multi-point convergence allows you to get the best picture possible. Movies look fantastic and sports look great on it. I researched for a great while before deciding on the Pioneer, and I think I made the right decision. If I could change anything on the product, I would add commercial skip and clock features. Once you''ve had those features, you get a little spoiled. I would recommend the monitor to anyone.

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RCA 35" Monitor

Build quality,looks,picture,inputs and 64 point convergence settings

None so far

First of all this unit was built in February of 2002. I have had it a little over a month and am still tweaking the convergence and picture settings on it. So far it has performed flawlessly and the picture gets better and better. I do not have a HD tuner but movies on DVD are first rate and Dish Network is also very good. My over the air picture depends on the channel. Some are better than others but all are watchable. Live sporting events such as The Masters have been outstanding even over T/W basic cable! For the build quality looks and 53" picture this has turned out to be a first rate RPTV. So far I am very pleased with the unit.

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JVC 35" direct view

Everything! Line doubler, cabinet, blacks and stretch modes!

None, but I''d love the gloss finish the Elites have!

I have always wanted a Pioneer set, they have always stood out from all other competition. I looked at the Elites and realized that paying 3 times as much would be crazy. But I plan on being crazy in a couple years. The rest of my gear is Pioneer Elite, excluding the speakers which are all Definitve Technology :o) Anyways, this 533 is simply amazing and I got one of the last 4 "In Box" in Ohio and Pennsylvania so I feel very fortunate indeed. The Line doubler is amazing and its built like a rock. I''d expect nothing less from Pioneer as I have had nothing ekse since I started my Home Theater adventures 10 years ago :o) The convergence has drifted a bit but its only 10 days new and I have moved it around a bit so it might be my fault. But I have checked the convergence many times a day, to the dismay of my girlfriend. In the middle of a movie or a tv program, I bring up the menu and she whines. The ability to hold blacks is very overlooked and this set does it immaculately. Its color saturation is wonderful and setting up with the Video Essentials DVD did wonders. Take the contrast to about -24, the black level to about -8, the sharpness to -26 and youre set. I highly recommend this set if you can still find it my friends!! I got this one thanks to a friend at Best Buy, he rules!!

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Toshiba 27" Toshiba 50"