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stars
"I chose this tv over the Pioneer Kuro because..." on by greggar73
Pros: Accuracy of picture and color; adjustable zoom; warranty is valid even for purchases from non-authorized dealers; all-glass panel with metal trim reminds me of McIntosh brand
Cons: Blacks are deeper on the Pioneer Kuros
Summary: Pro's:
1) I've seen both the Pioneer Kuro and this TV near each other at Bestbuy and the picture quality and color accuracy looked better on this tv over the Pioneer.
2) The warranty is valid whether I purchased the tv from an authorized dealer or not. So I didn't have to get a square trade warranty because of concerns that I got a lemon. Pioneer does not offer a warranty for products bought from unauthorized dealers.
3) I really like the glass screen with metal frame. It matches McIntosh brand audio products and looks high quality.
4) I upgraded from a Panasonic 600u and what I like about the 800u is that the there is adjustable zoom so when I watch a movie that is in wide screen, I can zoom to get rid of the bars on the top and bottom of the screen exactly. Nice!
5) THX mode - those particular people at THX really hit a home run with the color accuracy... I just leave it on this mode and see what the movie makers wanted me to see!
Cons:
Black levels are better on the Pioneer Kuros.
Bonus:
Check out www.live.com which gives a $250 rebate when you do a search for a product and then click-through to ebay to make the purchase... I was able to get the 800u for $2000 (including shipping after the rebate) from a powerseller with 100% feedback and thousands of previous sales. Since Panasonic honors the warranty I'm safe even if he's not an authorized dealer.Updated
I forgot to mention that I rated this tv a 9, and the Pioneer Kuro a 8, and reserved the 10 for a tv that has the black levels of the Pioneer and with the color and picture accuracy of the 800u, which apparantly does not exist yet in the state-of-the-art of flat panel tvs.
- 10 replies to this review
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anyone notice the ghost imaging on this set? It's caused by the distance between the glass covering the entire front side of the TV and the actual screen. The distance apart is about an inch.
I'm talking about the PZ800U panasonic. -
This "warranty not valid" nonsense is just that. Nonsense. It is a time-honored ruse used by dealers to convince customers not to buy the product from the "schlock down the street." (And the dealer doesn't have to compete on price.)
Under Federal law, Pioneer MUST honor the warranty if it can be proved that the set was bought new, and the set purchased was intended for the market in which it was purchased. This issue has been litigated and adjudicated. The only case where a warranty is not valid is in the case of true "gray market" items, like general-export models imported into the US and resold by unscrupulous sellers.
While I advocate dealing with authorized dealers wherever possible (after all, they have a large investment in being so), this "you won't have a warranty," is a ruse. -
Thank you for the review!
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Upon reading the many in-depth reviews of several brands, I find myself leaning toward either the Panasonic 800 or the 850.
Other than 'internet' access, what is the significant difference between the 850 and the 800? I looked at both TV's over the weekend (at Best Buy) I honestly couldn't tell the difference.
Also, the salesman at Best Buy tried to convince me to get a three-year warranty coverage ($500) that includes all sort of services and preventive maintenance that I don't particularly care for - I don't even know whether I need them for that matter; but, he was adamant about me getting the service because it includes "calibration" of the TV. The guy told me that calibration was necessary for proper operation of the TV. Since plasmas consume an abundance of energy, calibration would provide efficient-energy operation. I have yet to see 'calibration' mentioned in any of the postings here. Can anyone comment on this for me? What's the deal here with this calibration business? -
"black levels of the Pioneer and with the color and picture accuracy of the 800u"
Did you check out the KURO Elite series? Ignoring the price of course... =P -
You may like the adjustable zoom feature but when you zoom in to eliminate the bars at the top and bottom of the screen, you are losing part of the picture that the director wanted you to see.
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I was waffling over this model and the Pioneer KURO (as well as the comparable Samsung), but it seems your review has helped make my decision for me! You have done an excellent job at pointing out all the reasons why one should chose this Panasonic over other TV in the 50" category. Thanks!
I have a dumb question--how do I qualify for the $250 rebate? I clicked on the link provided and put in a search for this TV but nothing came up indicating a rebate. Any help you can give this clueless woman would be most appreciated! -
Thank you for the "Bonus" tip about live.com. It saved me an extra $250. A++++++++++++
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greggar73 - thanks so much for the review and the pricing tip.. i don't know if i'll be able to find it for $2000, but it's worth the effort at that price.<br><br>I have a specific question that i'm hoping you can help me out with. I need to know the measurement from the back of the TV to the front of the stand... in all the stores, the TV is on the wall so I can't do it myself.<br><br>Any way you could help me out with this? It's apparently a sticking point with my mother, who is the one the TV is for. (She doesn't want the stand hanging over the edge of the cabinet). Again i'm looking for the number of inches from the very back of the set to the front edge of the stand. <br><br>If you can help, really appreciate it!
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greggar73 - thanks so much for the review and the tip..<br><br>I have a specific question that i'm hoping you can help me out with. I need to know the measurement from the back of the TV to the front of the stand... in all the stores, the TV is on the wall so I can't do it myself.<br><br>Any way you could help me out with this? It's apparently a sticking point with my mother, who is the one the TV is for. (She doesn't want the stand hanging over the edge of the cabinet). Again i'm looking for the number of inches from the very back of the set to the front edge of the stand. <br><br>If you can help, really appreciate it!
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