Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America Part number: PDP-5080HD
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black--and thus one of the best pictures--we've ever tested.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
 |  | In stock | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080 HD price range: $2,698.00 - $2,899.00
- Reviewed by: David Katzmaier
- Reviewed on: 08/21/2007
- Updated on:05/23/2008
- Released on: 07/01/2007
The good: This 50-inch plasma TV displays an exceedingly deep shade of black with excellent shadow detail; clean image with little noise; "smooth" video-processing mode removes most judder; excellent antireflective screen; sleek, minimalist styling; removable speaker; superb connectivity with four HDMI inputs and one PC input; CableCard compatible with TV Guide EPG.
The bad: Expensive; inaccurate primary color of green; no user-menu fine color temperature controls.
The bottom line: The Pioneer PDP-5080HD produces the deepest shade of black--and thus one of the best pictures--we've ever tested.
Editors' note July 18, 2008: Due to changes in the competitive marketplace, including the publication of the Pioneer PDP-5020FD review, this review has been modified to lower its rating from 8.7 to 8.3.
Black-level performance is one of the most important aspects of picture quality. When a display can produce a deep shade of black, it not only improves the realism and the punch of dark scenes, it also makes colors look richer and more saturated. So why did we like Pioneer PDP-5080HD so much? This 50-inch plasma produces the darkest shade of black we've ever seen or measured from a non-CRT TV, whether plasma, LCD, or projection. It also offers a "smooth" video-processing mode that works relatively well, one of the best antireflective screens we've tested, and numerous picture controls. We do complain about its less-than-perfect color accuracy and its incomplete color temperature controls, but those issues don't prevent it from earning our highest praise. The only real kink in the works is its high price compared to that of other similar resolution plasmas on the market. If you can stomach the extra payout, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD delivers a jaw-dropping home theater picture.
Pioneer also makes a 42-inch version, the PDP-4280HD. We won't review this model, but we see no reason to think its performance won't be on a par with its larger brother's. Pioneer also announced step-up Elite versions of its 2007 plasmas. This year the company is marketing all of its plasmas under the mini-brand Kuro.
Design
Overall, we like the sleek, no-nonsense looks of Pioneer's plasma. The company framed the PDP-5080HD's 50-inch screen in glossy black with a minimum of adornments aside from the Pioneer logo. There's a band of silver along the sides, top, and bottom of the panel, but from the front only black is visible. The set includes a matching stand, and it allows the speaker bar below the panel to be completely removed, in case you want to use an external audio system exclusively. With speaker and stand attached, the panel measures about 48.2 inches wide by 31.8 inches high by 9.3 inches deep and weighs 88 pounds. Remove the stand and speakers and the panel measures 48.2 by 28.2 by 4.5 inches and weighs 76.7 pounds.
The hefty remote control is admirably laid out, with a central cursor key ringed by different size buttons that we found easy to navigate by feel. Although the buttons aren't backlit, they do glow in the dark, but that's not much help when trying to differentiate between the grid of similarly sized keys at the top of the wand. That group includes buttons for aspect ratio selection and picture mode, along with direct access to each of the TV's inputs--a great addition. The clicker can command three other pieces of gear.
We also found Pioneer's menu system easy to use and appreciated the text explanations for the many items. You'll have to burrow pretty far down to get to some of the more esoteric items, but that's about the only downside. The set was definitely designed with picture tweakers in mind; we loved the novel Before and After modes that let us compare the effects of picture settings, as well as the fact that picture parameter sliders were minimized discreetly into the upper left of the screen while being adjusted.
Features
Like most 50-inch plasma TVs, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD has a native resolution of 1,366x768 pixels. That's not as many as competing--and usually more expensive--1080p models, but at the 50-inch screen size, the benefits of 1080p are dubious for most sources (more info). As always, all sources, be they HDTV, DVD, standard-def, or computer, are scaled to fit the native resolution.
We did like selection of picture-affecting features, although there were a couple of missing links. The sheer number of picture memory slots is worth big kudos; in addition to the standard User mode that's independent per input, there are four additional picture memories that apply to every input and can be adjusted independently--although one, called Optimum because it senses room lighting and adjusts the picture accordingly, lacks Advanced picture adjustment options.
Among those advanced options, there's a series of modes we left turned off for critical viewing, including an Enhancer that controls edge enhancement, DRE picture, black level, CTI, and ACL (aside from Color Transient Improvement, the manual doesn't specify what those acronyms signify). We did appreciate the three gamma choices, as well as the three color-temperature presets. Of course we'd prefer to have some way to fine-tune the color temperature in the user menu with this set, but that useful feature (found on sets from Vizio to Sony) is apparently too good for the non-Elite Pioneers. That's a shame, especially considering how much the non-Elite PDP-5080HD costs. A Pure Cinema menu allows you to choose from among four video processing modes, and we'll get into detail about their effects in the Performance section below.
Under the Power Control menu, you'll find two levels of Energy Saver that limit peak brightness to cut down on power consumption. We tested only the more potent Mode 2 (see the Juice Box below), but we did appreciate having the extra option. To help prevent "image retention" (aka burn-in) there's an "orbiter" that automatically shifts the entire onscreen image a little at a time. And if retention does occur, you can fire up the "video pattern" to wipe a white bar across the screen for an hour and turn the TV off automatically afterward.
Like many new sets, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD has a mode that's designed to respond to the bars to either side of 4:3 broadcasts and automatically adjust the image. You can set this mode to simply display gray side bars (gray beats black for preventing burn-in) or stretch the image horizontally to fill the screen. This auto mode worked surprisingly well for us, through it was a bit disconcerting to see the picture suddenly stretch during 4:3 commercials, then return after a moment to wide-screen when the HDTV program resumed--and some items, such as ESPNHD's logo-filled side bars, "fooled" the mode into not responding. We still prefer adjusting aspect ratio manually and appreciate the four modes available with high-def sources and five with standard-def.
Conveniences are relatively plentiful on the Pioneer, beginning with a feature that's increasingly rare on HDTVs at all levels: CableCard. If you really want to ditch your cable box, getting a 'Card from the cable company and installing it into the 5080HD's slot lets the TV receive digital cable and cable high-def channels directly. To help you get over the loss of the cable company's EPG, Pioneer includes the TV Guide version that grabs its program information from the cable company itself or from an over-the-air antenna. We tried it with just an antenna (we didn't test CableCard), and it successfully found our local programs without a hitch. The PDP-5080HD also includes a picture-in-picture function with a side-by-side option, a Game Mode designed for gamers who might be sensitive to any lag between fingers and onscreen action (we didn't test it), and the requisite freeze-frame mode. Like many new HDTVs, the 5080HD can also control certain compatible HDMI devices via just the HDMI interface and the TV's remote.
The PDP-5080HD packs more inputs than just about any HDTV we've reviewed to date. The back panel also offers a PC input (1,366x768 maximum resolution); a component-video input; an AV input with composite and S-Video; a pair of RF inputs for cable and/or antenna; an optical digital audio output; a subwoofer audio and analog audio output; and an RS-232 port for use by custom installers to interface with whole-house control systems. The side-panel is also well appointed, offering another AV input with component- or composite-video, a headphone jack, and a USB port that can take thumbdrives and display digital photos or play MP3 files via the TV.
Performance
Simply put, the picture quality of the Pioneer PDP-5080HD is among the best we've ever tested. That's due mainly to the set's ability to produce a very deep level of black, which impacts many other areas of performance. We would have liked more control over color temperature, and we'd certainly like to see more accurate primary colors, but overall, those complaints aren't enough to spoil an excellent performance.
As always, we began our evaluation by adjusting the TV's picture to optimum levels for our completely dark theater. We attenuated light output to about 40 footlambert (ftl), which was just a bit lower than the set's level in Movie mode (a good sign). We appreciated that the Warm color temperature preset came relatively close to the standard of 6,500K, although it appeared a bit minus-green and plus-red overall. As we mentioned above, we really missed the ability to fine-tune the grayscale, and since the set lacked this ability in the user menu, we did not perform an "after" calibration (see the Geek box below). Of course, we're sure a
After setup, we sat down to compare the Pioneer PDP-5080HD side by side against some competing HDTVs we had on hand, including the Samsung HP-T5064 and the Panasonic TH-50PHD9UK--both equal-resolution, albeit significantly less-expensive 50-inch plasmas--along with the Pioneer PRO-FHD1, a 1080p 50-inch plasma from 2006 that currently costs around the same as the 5080HD. We also threw a 52-inch Toshiba 52LX177 1080p LCD into the mix for good measure. We chose to watch 300 on HD DVD, delivered by the Toshiba HD-XA2 at 1080i resolution.
Throughout the film's dark introduction, from the hill of skulls, to the boy's hunt of the black wolf, to the inspirational speech around the fire, it was quite obvious that the Pioneer produced the deepest shade of black in the room. The letterbox bars, the depths of the wolf's fur, and the shadows on the outskirts of the soldiers were inky and rich--as satisfying a representation of true "black" as we've seen on any non-CRT HDTV we've ever tested. The set's picture seemed to blend almost completely into the black walls of our theater. Our measurements backed up the evidence of our eyes; using the standard checkerboard contrast-ratio pattern, after calibration the PDP-5080HD delivered the deepest black we've ever measured (0.01ftl), and thus the highest contrast ratio (3,075:1).
Even with this deep black level, the Pioneer preserved all of the detail in the shadows, outlining the muscles of the fire-lit Spartans, for example, without losing any definition. We could have achieved an even deeper black by lowering the brightness further, but as usual, that crushed some detail in shadows. Dark scenes were also clear of discernible low-level noise caused by the display (called "dithering"; we're not talking about noise in the source, which was readily apparent on 300) from distances more than six feet from the screen, although the FHD1 looked cleaner in this regard. In short, the Pioneer PDP-5080HD does difficult dark scenes exceptionally well.
Moving on to color, the PDP-5080HD was once again helped by its deep blacks in delivering very impressive saturation. When the king approaches the assembled 300 in the field, the red of his cloak, the sunlit skin of the warriors, and the gold of the wheat looked powerful yet realistic. The delicate balance of the queen's face did have a bit too much flush, however, a result of imperfect color temperature. We also noticed the red of the cloaks appeared somewhat redder, and thus less realistic, than on the Samsung or the Pro-FHD1, due to the 5080HD's just-average primary color of red. The Pioneer's green is also quite yellowish--a common issue with plasmas--and while 300 lacks the give-away greens that illustrate this issue, we did notice a subtle yellow in other green-dominated scenes, such as the jungle during an episode of Sunrise Earth on DiscoveryHD.
In terms of video processing, the Pioneer did a fine job of deinterlacing 1080i content, passing the HQV test with in every Film Mode except Off (see the Geek box below). We recommend choosing Standard or Smooth for 1080i sources (Advanced is for 1080p/24 sources), depending on your preference. Smooth removes some of the slight full-frame choppiness or "judder" that can be seen in pans and other camera movement especially, which characterizes film-based material displayed on most HDTVs. We still saw some choppiness in HQV's very slow pan over Raymond James stadium with Smooth mode engaged, but it did smooth out faster pans quite noticeably. For example, during one of the Persian harem scenes, the camera moving over the bodies of the women and the grotesque hunchback stayed smoother than on the other displays--with the exception of the Toshiba, which, if anything, looked smoother still during motion. (Update 08-22-07) We also noticed that Smooth introduced some artifacts in certain scenes -- specifically, in a pan that follows a plane taking off during Flags of our Fathers, the tailfin became almost detached-looking and quite unnatural in Smooth mode, but was fine in Standard. We ended up liking Standard best, mainly because we're used to the film-based judder and found the smoothness a bit disconcerting. Having the option is definitely a great thing, however.
Advanced mode, for its part, was just as disappointing, as we found with the PRO-FHD1 at delivering the promised smoother picture. To test it, we switched to our Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-ray player (the Toshiba HD-XA2 isn't currently capable of 1080p/24 output) and checked out Aeon Flux and a couple of other titles. We saw more judder and choppiness in Advanced mode than either Smooth or Standard--with Smooth again living up its name the most. After Aeon narrowly misses face-planting in the razor grass, for example, the stone walls evinced more choppiness in Advanced mode as the camera rose to a more birds-eye angle than in the other two modes.
The Pioneer is also equipped with a Text Optimization option, which we left off for most of our tests in 1080i because it caused the set to fail the 1080i deinterlacing test. It did clean up tearing and jagged edges on some kinds of moving text, however, including an overlay from the HQV DVD, although the ticker from ESPNHD was unaffected. We recommend only turning it on if you notice that kind of tearing.
The Pioneer is equipped with an antireflective screen that did a very good job of attenuating glare in the room. It wasn't quite as effective as the matte, antiglare screen on the Panasonic TH-50PX77U, for example, but it was the best nonmatte solution we've seen, outperforming the antireflective screen of the Samsung, for example.
When we ran the PDP-5080HD through a battery of standard-def tests, courtesy of the HQV DVD played at 480i through the component input, it performed quite well. The set resolved every line of the DVD format (although the lines of horizontal resolution were less distinct than on the Samsung and the Toshiba), and the finest details in the stone bridge and grass scene looked as natural as we expect. The Pioneer did an excellent job of smoothing out jagged edges from diagonal lines, such as the stripes on a waving American flag. We also really appreciated the two kinds of noise reduction, each available in three strengths in addition to "off," because they went a long way in reducing--and in some cases eliminating--the moving motes of snowy video noise in the skies and sunsets from the disc. The Pioneer also effectively, if not as quickly as most other sets, implemented 2:3 pull-down detection in all of its video modes.
We also checked out the venerable pan from the beginning of Star Trek: Insurrection and, as usual, it provided a great comparison between video-processing modes. The Smooth mode again made motion seem significantly smoother, as if the moving camera was "on rails" compared to Standard mode and the other TVs in the room (the exception was the 120Hz Toshiba LCD, which looked smoothest and steadiest of all). The Advanced mode wasn't designed for 480i, and it proved it by introducing more judder and artifacts than the others. All three again successfully implemented 2:3 pull-down.
With PC sources, the PDP-5080HD delivered the goods, although naturally its 1,366x768 resolution wasn't as impressive as that of a 1080p panel. We achieved the best results when we connected our test PC via an HDMI input from the PC's DVI output, and set the resolution to 1,360x768; the Pioneer resolved every line according to DisplayMat and text looked crisp, although it was a tad softer than we've seen on some other displays. Using analog VGA yielded worse results. Yes, the panel resolved every line, but the lines on the horizontal resolution pattern flickered in the highest register, and we saw some flicker in backgrounds as well. Maybe a judicious tweaker could cure this issue, but nonetheless, we recommend going in digitally if possible.
| TEST | RESULT | SCORE |
| Before color temp (20/80) | 6,518/6,218K | Good |
| After color temp | N/A | |
| Before grayscale variation | +/- 191K | Good |
| After grayscale variation | N/A | |
| Color of red (x/y) | 0.659/0.329 | Average |
| Color of green | 0.268/0.641 | Poor |
| Color of blue | 0.148/0.059 | Good |
| Overscan | 3 percent | Average |
| Black-level retention | All patterns stable | Good |
| Defeatable edge enhancement | Yes | Good |
| 480i 2:3 pull-down, 24 fps | Pass | Good |
| 1080i video resolution | Pass | Good |
| 1080i film resolution | Pass | Good |
| Pioneer PDP-5080HD | Picture settings | ||
| Default | Calibrated | Power Save | |
| Picture on (watts) | 330.6 | 228.56 | 253.72 |
| Picture on (watts/sq. inch) | 0.31 | 0.21 | 0.24 |
| Standby (watts) | 22.95 | 22.95 | 22.95 |
| Cost per year | $114.34 | $83.35 | $90.99 |
 | |||
| Score (considering size) | Good | ||
| Score (overall) | Poor | ||
User reviews
-
-
Stellar Picture
by ACLeftGuard76 on June 26, 2007
Pros: Best contrast ever, 4 HDMI inputs all v.1.3
Cons: No X.V Color support, and no 120hz side scanning
Summary: Let me first start by saying, WOW! What a GORGEOUS picture. As picture quality goes, there truely is no better anywhere. Best contrast on any plasma or LCD (no brainer ...
Summary: Let me first start by saying, WOW! What a GORGEOUS picture. As picture quality goes, there truely is no better anywhere. Best contrast on any plasma or LCD (no brainer there) that has been seen to date. And of course, Pioneer always brags about the amount of gradation in color in their picture, well it is absolutely apparent in this set. Pioneer offers a new Optimum video setting on these TVs which is an ever changing adjustment in the picture so that every image is a beautiful as the next. Very similar to the way the Advanced Iris settings work in the Sony SXRD projection systems. My ONLY concerns are as follows: There is no X.V. Color support. As major BluRay advocates like Sony and Mitsubishi have demonstrated, X.V. Color Gamut technology is going to be the future of BluRay and for Pioneer not to include that capability in any of their new sets or their new BluRay Disc Players is more than disappointing to myself. And in a time where almost all major TV manufacturers are introducing the 120hz side scanning for smoother motion, Pioneer has introduced the 60hz side scanning...? Well, before they had 72hz (also called 3:3 pulldown, which they still have). I havent yet seen anything with this feature, but Sony and Panasonic sure are high on it. All in all, Pioneer, even with their disappointments this year, continue to lead the pack as far as quality of picture go. If you are looking for a picture that is head and shoulders above the rest, welcome to Pioneer.
40 out of 41 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Pioneer Cust. Service is just AWFUL so stay away
by knagdev on September 20, 2007
Pros: Sorry, nothing good to say because Customer Service is so bad
Cons: The pixels are "misfiring" and they can't seem to fix it and refuse to replace it - even under warranty
Summary: TV is still under warranty, the pixels are misfiring a pink or orange color when they are supposed to be blue. The repair service has been to my house 3 ...
Summary: TV is still under warranty, the pixels are misfiring a pink or orange color when they are supposed to be blue. The repair service has been to my house 3 times an is unable to fix it - even though they replaced the video board. Now they want to take it to their shop for a couple weeks to replace some of the internal components, but they are guessing. Meanwhile, Pioneer Customer Service flatly refuses to replace the unit - they apparently don't do that. Panasonic has tv's with comparable picture quality and lower prices, and they would have given me a new tv by now and taken the old one to fix on their own time. I wish I had bought Panasonic rather than Pioneer. I read all the reviews - this is typically a great tv so I realize I probably got a lemon, but they should replace it. Save yourself the grief and go with Panasonic.
38 out of 52 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Simply the best TV you can buy today
by astrobuf on August 31, 2007
Pros: Picture quality is unmatched
Cons: Price is a bit extreme
Summary: I've been following the PDP & LCD wars for some years. I work in the business in R&D and know what I'm looking at. Quite simply, ...
Summary: I've been following the PDP & LCD wars for some years. I work in the business in R&D and know what I'm looking at. Quite simply, this is the best TV you can by right now. There soon will be a new Pioneer 1080p model that might eclipse this one (at a hefty price premium I expect), but for now it's the king of the hill.
I've had occasion to do very close comparisons between the new 120HZ LCD's, the Pioneer 5080HD and the new Panasonic FHD models. The Pioneer is by far the best of the lot.
The often mentioned black level is unique in the industry and I am confident that Pioneer will maintain that edge due to their superior technology. Perhaps even more impressive is this sets ability to avoid all manner of dynamic false countours and sustain very high resolution for fast screen action. Using the NHK method of evaluating resolution loss, this set scores the highest of all flat panel TV's on the market today, sustaining ~ 900-1000 lines fo resolution for typical fast action. Even the best 1080p LCD's (120Hz)by comparison display less than half the resolution for moderate motion speeds. Figures reported are typically in the 400-500 line range!
Also a feature is Pioneer's luminous efficiency. This set spec's out at 2.2lm/W, an industry best for HD sets. This is in part what allows the set to achieve the very high contrast ratio and low power consumption.
Fianlly, I really like the anti-reflective screen technology that Pioneer is using here. The Panasonic sets resort to a matte screen which badly distorts the image quality. When compared side-by-side to the Panasonic 1080p set family, the Pioneer 5080HD set looks better hands down. For the time being, the Panasonic sets lack the luminous efficiency to achieve the contrast ratio needed to best Pioneer. The Panasonic screen looks more like an LCD's due to the lousy AR treatment. Panasonic may get it better next gen, but for now Pioneer is best.26 out of 26 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Sealed the Deal
by TimHawk0 on August 22, 2007
Pros: Amazing blacks; awesome shadow detail
Cons: Not 1080P, but at this size it doesn't really matter
Summary: This is the one! It came down to the 5080 and the Panasonic 50PZ700U, and although the Panasonic is 1080P, I can honestly say that the 5080 offers the most ...
Summary: This is the one! It came down to the 5080 and the Panasonic 50PZ700U, and although the Panasonic is 1080P, I can honestly say that the 5080 offers the most stunning picture I have yet to see from a plasma. I also like that the bottom speaker attaches from the bottom of this set. For those who are still on the fence about this particular unit..don't be...it's picture is excellent.
11 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Forget the numbers, forget the reviews & the editors this and the awards just look at that picture!
by thegreenmenace on August 28, 2007
Pros: Black is darker than anythign I have ever seen on a screen!
Cons: expensive, dusty, 720p just makes me feel funny
Summary: I went to Best Buy to purchase the new Sony DLP 60a2020 but out of the corner of my eye I saw this beast, the picture quality on this 720p ...
Summary: I went to Best Buy to purchase the new Sony DLP 60a2020 but out of the corner of my eye I saw this beast, the picture quality on this 720p set is better than any other 1080p set under $3000, you don't need numbers, and editors, and awards to tell you that, just look at the picture, in HD, 720/1080 and SD it just looks better. Period.
I have had it now for 3 weeks and no complaints yet, I have Comcast cable and my XBOX360 running on it all the time and the picture is amazing! I attribute my Madden ranking to this TV.
The only reason I gave it a 9 is because it is expensive and the speakers should come separately as an optional add-on so I don't have to pay for them, who buys a 3000 TV and uses the TV speakers?7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Spectacular picture and style
by uberlink on August 19, 2007
Pros: Crystal clear, judder free image. Deep blacks and rich colors.
Cons: Somewhat more expensive than comparable Panasonics. Not 1080p.
Summary: I researched TVs for quite a few months before purchasing this Pioneer. After deciding that Plasma would be the best bet for my needs, I looked at quite a few. ...
Summary: I researched TVs for quite a few months before purchasing this Pioneer. After deciding that Plasma would be the best bet for my needs, I looked at quite a few. The Pioneer 5070hd kept coming out on top. Then they released the 5080hd. I don't know how much difference there really is, but I think the black levels are something of an improvement.
Now that I have it home, I just can't believe how beautiful it is. I love the elegant piano-black frame. The picture is absolutely exquisite, particularly with a 1080 signal (although it deals surprisingly well with standard def signals). So far, I love everything about this set. Just amazing!
I purchased mine from www.access2.digital.com for about $2500, including shipping to my door. They are an authorized Pioneer dealer, so it came with the warranty, etc. They also persuaded me to purchase a three-year extended warranty for an extra $400 or so. Probably worth it, given how much I'm spending!
All in all, just a fantastic TV. Go look at your local store and compare it to all the other TVs on the wall. You'll be able to see its smoother image and superior detail in dark scenes.
Frankly, I think this thing is a perfect 10. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 is because it's not 1080p (not that I can see any difference...it looked better than the 1080p Panasonic it was next to at the store), and because it's a hair more expensive than the competition.
But worth absolutely every penny!7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
You will not be disappointed
by MrFurly on November 16, 2007
Pros: Unbelievable picture quality, lots of controls, easy to setup and use.
Cons: It is a little slow in adjusting screen size with the Auto setting. Not impressed with the 4:3 ratio or the zoom setting (but who cares you aren't going to be using that format anyway).
Summary: I researched TVs extensively for probably way too long. It finally came down to the Sony XBR4 LCD (40") and the Pinoeer Plasma (42"). What finally put me over the ...
Summary: I researched TVs extensively for probably way too long. It finally came down to the Sony XBR4 LCD (40") and the Pinoeer Plasma (42"). What finally put me over the top was the superior handling of Standard Definition programming by the Pioneer. With only about 25 HD channels available right now most of my TV viewing is still coming in SD. For most SD channels I couldn't see a discernable difference between the plasma and my old CRT. Except when the SD was broadcast in wide screen then it looked better on the plasma. I found the XBR was grainy and a little washed out when showing SD. The Pioneer also had much richer colours and deeper blacks than the XBR.
The quality of the HD will not disappoint you. I find my self watching the most ridiculous shows just because they are in HD! The National Geographic channel is a must!! And PBS has great shows for the kids in the morning! The set up was really simple and all the HDMI inputs greatly reduce the amount of cable clutter. I honestly don't think I could be any happier with this purchase.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Vivid colors & rapid refressh rate
by Gman* on August 23, 2007
Pros: color clarity & differentiation, gret sound system, rapid refresh rate yields great performance in fast action movies & games
Cons: More cumbersom to move than an LCD, user menu could be better
Summary: Very pleased with both the picture quality & sound fidelity. I have a dedicated video room and placed the Pioneer side-by-side with a 46" Samsung LN-T4665F LCD (also a very ...
Summary: Very pleased with both the picture quality & sound fidelity. I have a dedicated video room and placed the Pioneer side-by-side with a 46" Samsung LN-T4665F LCD (also a very good flat screen tv). After manually setting both systems for optimal performance given the room's lighting conditions, I simultaneously played the movie 300 using a pair of Oppo DV-970HD DVD players. I must say that both flat screens performed extremely well and the differences took several long minutes before they they (shyly) reveled themselves. In the end the Pioneer displayed notably better performance in color depth, modestly superior tracking/refreshing and appreciably superior sound quality (I assessed sound on the flat screen system speakers only). Had I not viewed them side-by-side, I probably couldn't have rated one superior to the other; both the Pioneer & the Samsung are very high quality performers. My goal was to determine which system to put on center stage in the video room, and the 50" Pioneer plasma seemed to surpass the 46" Samsung LCD in overall performance. Dollar for dollar I'm not sure which has the better value, given the higher price tag for the PDP-5080HD, but strictly within the performance dimension I would recommend the Pioneer.
7 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Had it for a couple months now, here's my hands on review
by slechtewolf on January 5, 2008
Pros: Superb black levels, stunning, jaw dropping picture in HD
Cons: Piano gloss plastic finish, Pioneer's lousy support
Summary: After a couple months use, everything about this plasma spells quality, except for the piano gloss plastic bezel and Pioneer's customer service, two factors you should weigh before buying. ...
Summary: After a couple months use, everything about this plasma spells quality, except for the piano gloss plastic bezel and Pioneer's customer service, two factors you should weigh before buying.
Pioneer and other manufacturers are using a piano gloss plastic finish for their products.
Canon is one notable using this finish for their latest line of scanners. The Kuro has it too, and why? Because it looks nice. But the downside of this plastic finish is that it picks up hundreds of fine scratches. A few specks of dust, even when cleaned with a microfiber cloth, can result in scratches.
Viewed from a distance, you don't know they're there, but take a close look and it's a different story.
Why is this a negative point?
I upgrade TV's every year or two, and sometimes up to every 4 years, and there's nothing that defrays the upgrade cost like being able to resell your TV and apply the proceeds to the new one you've got your eyes on. Personally, I'd like to be able to say my Kuro is cosmetically in mint condition, because that's a strong point when selling a used TV. Imagine the difference to a potential buyer if you say, this TV is cosmetically mint, or this TV is cosmetically nice, but up close, there are fine scratches on that piano gloss.
My Kuro arrived and the box was perfect. I was surprised to see it looking absolutely factory fresh, especially since my Panasonic 60u (now in my bedroom)arrived with the box dinged and dented and looking like it had made a rough trip and then some.
Upon opening the Kuro box, and carefully setting it up, I saw these fine scratches in the piano gloss, and of course, Pioneer's warranty doesn't cover anything cosmetic, even if it occured in packing on their end, which a Pioneer rep told me it had. Apparently, some piano gloss scratching isn't uncommon when they pack this TV.
Is it a big deal, or worth complaining to Pioneer about? That depends on you. If you plan to resell later and want it to stay nice, it does, or you can look at it from the hey, for $3000, I should get a little more quality control, point of view. Both are valid.
The other negative is that Pioneer's support is wretched. When I thought my TV might have an issue, and phoned them, it took 45 minutes and I was told that I'd have to arrange my own in home service call and Pioneer would pay for it.
I then called back and was told that rep was mistaken, and they set up a service call, even though the tech didn't show up. Instead he did the support over the phone, and told me to call back if I needed to.5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Very DIM Images
by beaverboy56 on November 14, 2007
Pros: great black levels
Cons: dim image achieves black level
Summary: Sure the image quality is great, if you live in a cave. The image is really dim, I bought a set brought it home plugged it in, played a dvd, ...
Summary: Sure the image quality is great, if you live in a cave. The image is really dim, I bought a set brought it home plugged it in, played a dvd, blu-ray, hd-dvd, hd cable, and sd cable. 2 days later packed it up and took it right back. The image it produces is very very dim, which may be how it achieves its "great black levels" if you turn the brightness up which would be a simple solution, the ENTIRE picture recieves a grayish tint and all that glory of wonderful black is completely lost. I even pulled the sales assiociate at the store on the side and had him try the same thing with the set in the store to see if I was wrong we tried everything but only recieved a dim faded image...I can't even imagine how dim the image will become as the set gets half way toward its half life. Steer away, buy a panasonic plasma, or get an XBR lcd from Sony.
5 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
- Part number: PDP-5080HD
- Description: Prepare to experience a world so wonderful, so different, so new - your stream of consciousness and your senses will need to adapt in ways never imagined. It's a world where blacks are so black they disappear into an infinite abyss. It's a world where colors are so pure they gush with their own emotions. It's a world where your ears see, your eyes hear and only your heart can interpret the details. Ultimately it's a world so intense, so rich, so real it will change not only the way you look at life but open your heart to emotions you never even knew you had. Tapping into the most potent of emotions requires an uncompromising attention to detail. That's why Pioneer line was designed to awaken your senses in the most extraordinary, beautiful ways. Introducing the new 50-inch flat panel television that will change the way you view home entertainment.
General
- Product type Plasma TV
- Diagonal Size 50 in - Widescreen
- Dimensions & Weight Details Panel without stand - 48 in x 4.5 in x 31.3 in x 76.7 lbs, Panel with stand - 48 in x 11.8 in x 33.4 in x 81.6 lbs
Display
- Technology Plasma (PDP)
- Resolution 1365 x 768
- Display Format 720p
- Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Widescreen Modes Full, Wide, Zoom, Cinema, Conventional 4:3
- Color Temperature Control Yes (High/Mid/Low)
- Progressive Scan Progressive scanning (line doubling)
- Comb Filter 3D
- V-Chip Control Yes
- Picture Adjustment Optimum/Dynamic/Standard/Movie/Game/User
TV Tuner
- Tuner Qty 1x analog, 1x digital
- Digital TV Tuner QAM, ATSC, 8-VSB
- Analog TV Tuner NTSC
- Multi-channel Preview Split screen, Picture-in-picture (PIP)
- Stereo Reception System MTS
- Channel Coverage VHF:2-13, UHF:14-69, Cable:2-135
- Secondary Audio Program (SAP) Yes
- dbx Noise Reduction Yes
Video Features
- Video Interface HDMI, S-Video, Component, Composite
- HDTV Ready Yes
- Input Video Formats 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
- Supported Computer Resolutions 1360 x 768, 640 x 480 (VGA), 1024 x 768 (XGA), 800 x 600 (SVGA), 1280 x 1024 (SXGA)
- Freeze Memo Yes
- Electronic Program Guide TV Guide On Screen
- Parental Channel Lock Yes
- Closed Caption Capability Yes
Audio System
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - Detachable - 17 Watt
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Surround Mode Yes
- Sound Effects SRS Focus, SRS TruBass
- Audio Controls Bass, Treble, Balance, Sound mode
- Output Power / Total 34 Watt
- Additional Features Detachable speakers
- Driver Details Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Woofer driver, Right/left channel speaker : 1 x Tweeter driver - 25 mm
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ) - Side, 1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Side, 1 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Side, 1 x Composite video/audio input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Side, 4 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, 1 x S-Video input ( 4 pin mini-DIN ) - Rear, 1 x Subwoofer output ( RCA phono ) - Rear, 2 x Composite video input ( RCA phono ) - Rear, 1 x Audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, 1 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear, 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ) - Rear, 1 x Digital audio output (optical) ( TOSLINK ) - Rear, 2 x Speakers output ( Click-fit x 2 ) - Rear, 4 x HDMI input ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Rear, 1 x VGA input ( 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) - Rear, 1 x Remote control - Rear
- Slot Provided 1 x CableCARD
- PC Interface VGA (HD-15)
Remote Control
- Remote Control Universal remote control - Infrared
- Supported Devices TV and VCR, DVD, Satellite or Cable
- Features Multi-brand compatibility
Stands & Mounts
- Stand Included Yes
- Stand Design Tabletop
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Power AC 120 V
- Power Consumption Operational 371 Watt
Miscellaneous
- HDCP Compatible Yes
- Included Accessories Clamp, Tie clip, Cleaning cloth
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Parts and labor - 1 year
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Operational power consumption 330.6 Watt
- CNET Labs: Calibrated power consumption 228.56 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power Save Mode power consumption 253.72 Watt
- CNET Labs: Power consumption Stand by / Sleep 22.95 Watt
- CNET Labs: Estimated Annual Energy Cost 89.35 US Dollars
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
Specs: Plasma TV, 50 in, 1365 x 768, 16:9
-
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
Specs: Plasma TV, 42 in, 1024 x 768, 16:9
Accessories
- dreamGEAR Dreamline video / audio cable - HDMI - 6 ft (33543214)17.47
- XtremeMac XtremeHD video / audio cable - HDMI - 6.6 ft (32416821)19.95
- ViewSonic ViewMate Cable Collection - video / audio cable - 6.6 ft (31482671)32.00
- ViewSonic ViewMate Cable Collection - video / audio cable - 10 ft (31482685)34.00
- VIZIO VMAX1000 - video / audio cable - HDMI - 6 ft (33397373)29.99
- ADCOM GFR-700 (31966032)1266.10 - 1999.00
- Adcom GFR-700HD (32082704)1836.39 - 2899.99
- Denon AVR-1707 (31987322)
- Denon AVR-1910 (black) (33650441)548.95 - 549.99
- Denon AVR-2308CI (32553613)899.00
- URC Universal Remote Professional Line MX-810 (32912039)260.00 - 399.95
- URC Universal Remote Control MX-900 (32552106)399.99 - 449.95
- URC Professional Line MX-850 - universal remote control (32092938)409.99
- URC Professional Line MX-450 - universal remote control (33639921)249.95
- URC Home Theater Master MX-3000 - universal remote control (31337842)1099.99
Manufacturer info
- Pioneer North America
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Pioneer North America products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/
- Address:
2265 E. 220th St.
Long Beach, CA 90810 - Phone: 310/952-2111
