Price Paid:  $3300.00 from Austin, TX

Summary:
It is the best project TV I ever see. Execllent picture, luxurious glossy cabinet, efficient anti-glare filter are buying points. This TV is not only good for HDTV and DVD, but also is good on traditional program. I even use it to display TV program through interior antenna. Most of my friends are astonished of the picture quality. Some of them even thought I used cable or dish. Since this TV has good picture controller, I suggest connecting your video source to TV directly and use receiver only takes care of sound. I don't think the price is the problem, since you will be proud of your choice for a relative long time. BTW, my system set is: -Denon 3808 -Sony DVP-755V DVD -Speaks are Paradigm

Strengths:
Excellent picture quality; Glossy Cabinet; Anti-glare filter

Weaknesses:
If one or two more component connectors will be great. Since I connect my video source to TV directly, the current two looks less.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Audio King

Summary:
Recently purchased the Pro520 and could not be happier with the picture quality. It was 13 years ago that I first saw a Pioneer Elite TV and have loved them ever since. Being that I never thought I could afford them however (got mine on a closeout for a great price) I focused on Mitsubishi and Hitachi. Was set to buy a Mitsubishi Platinum (have not been able to warm up to the last two generations of the Diamond) when I ran accross a deal on this Pro520 that I could not pass up. While I consider the Mits to be a good TV it could not compare to the realistic clarity, depth of color and versatility of the Pioneer. Other than the stunning picture quality, I feel the versitility of the Pioneer is what really sets them apart from the competition. By this I mean how it performs with different sources and source quality. I have yet to see a TV that does not look great with a HD image, but where many start to lag behind the Pioneer is with Standard Def sources such as DVD, satelite, off air boadcasts etc. Being that my wife and I enjoy watching movies more than broadcast TV it was DVD performance that TV's like Mits (who seems to gear their sets to look great with HD but don't look as good with DVD or standard broadcasts. My guess is that like a high end speaker geared toward maximum detail, I found the Mit's to be a little ruthlesly revealing and just a little too intense). Another thing that I consider to almost be a bonus with the Pioneer Tv's is the fact that you can coverge all screen modes seperately. The benifit of this is if you need to zoom or stretch and image often to get rid of those damn black bars) the picture remains very clean and clear. The mode I use most often to view 2:35:1 movies is Cinema Wide which almost eliminates the black bars and does not seem to make people look fat or skinny) On a friends 55" Mits, when he goes to strech mode the picure loses alot of its clarity. The only reservation I have is wondering if I should have gone to the 58" Pro 620t. I was concerned that my 10- 10.5' veiwing distance (with no room to adjust because the couch is already against the back wall) that the 58" would have been overwhelming. I also let my saleman talk me out of it as he thought my 12' x 11' room was too small. Oh well, maybe I have just gotten used to the 53" screen size already. If you are looking for a great RPTV set and view your purchase as a long term investment, you will not find a better all around set than the Pioneer Elites. Even if you are not a fan of RPTV's altogether or are not sure that $8,000 42" Plasma TV is where its at, you owe it to yourself to check out the Pioneers. Once you check out Star Wars Attack of the Clones or Pearl Harbor you'll be hooked. Should also mention that I use the Pioneer Elite 45A DVD player which I consider another outstanding conponent.

Strengths:
Versatility, Clarity, Depth and richness of color. Build Quality. Great Remote. Excellent performance with a variety of screen modes and sources (I can't stress this enough). Picture quality is great out of the box.

Weaknesses:
None, other than the fact that the picture is so good that you'll wish you had room for the Pro720HD 64" version.

Similar Products Used:
Mits 55" Platinum Plus, Hitachi, Sony (if you don't have the funds, the Mits would be my second choice but I also feel the need to sit a little further away from the Mits that a simularlly sized Pione

Price Paid:  $4800.00 from Magnolia HiFi, Belle

Summary:
I Love this TV! It replaced a worn out '89 vintage Hitachi CU4600. Bought it July of 02, and have just had ISF cal. done. Dealer recommend a 6 month break in. Worth the extra $$. the picture was stunniing from the beginning, now its stunning and thensome. The picture has a sense of depth that is unbelieveable. It is clear and sharp beyond any other similar sized set I looked at. It does the color green better than any set I've ever seen. It has lots of inputs, and set up is easy. The remote is easy to use, but feels a little unbalanced in my hand. Just upgraded from s-video input dvd to progressive dvd and same from new hi-def cable box. Was worth doing. Can hardly tell dvd from high def, but my suspicion is the (so far) 2 movie channels here in hi def are just playing dvds anyway. Got the 53 in. as it was perfect for my room and viewing distance. 58 in. would have overwhelmed the room. As a help in deciding size to buy, I measured size of demo unit and its screen and built cheap wood frames and leaned them in from of old TV to compare. Having a physical aid really helps your eye gauge this. Quality of cabinetry is excellent. Delivery service from store was excellent. They came on a Sunday! Sent 2 trucks with 4 men, and wouldn't allow me to help. Top Notch! this set is used with: Marantz DV8300 Marantz AV500 and DP872 Carver C-16 preamp Carver M4.0t amp Adcom gfa5000 amp Carver Silver ed. Amazing Speakers Paradigm C330 center spkr Definitive Tech. C1 jr. rear spkrs Definitive Tech. psr 1500 sub. Transparent Cable musicwave plus spkr cables. and progressive video.

Strengths:
Picture Quality!!!!! Cabinet Quality!!

Weaknesses:
Highly reflective protective screen, although you do get used to it. I may yet apply dark paneling to the wall behind my couch.

Similar Products Used:
Hitachi cu4600 from 1989

Price Paid:  $2800.00 from Showcase Entertainme

Summary:
Prior to getting a super deal on a model year close-out, plus some extra off for some supposed scratches to the cabinet that I have yet to find and a missing manual (thank you, Pioneer.com), I had thought these were way out of my price range. I'm really glad I held off for this final component of my HT. The picture quality and format conversion is truly the standard to which all other makers should aspire. Quite simply, there is nothing out there that comes close, except another Pioneer Elite. DVDs become an entirely new experience - at last I truly have a complete home theater that is worthy of the title.

Strengths:
Picture quality, format conversion, cabinet finish. Did I mention picture quality?

Weaknesses:
Hard to remove fingerprints from cabinet. :-) There's just not a whole lot you can say negative about these.

Similar Products Used:
My first RP and first HDTV. Thank you, Pioneer, for completely spoiling me for anything else.

Price Paid:  $2998.00 from Crazy Eddie

Summary:
The High Definition is superb. I love watching PBS broadcast in high definition. The image is so clear and so vivid. It is like being there. Watching HBO movies in HD and Dolby Digital 5.1, makes it more enjoyable to the point that's all I want to watch. The same for DVD's. My neighbor's Mitsubishi HD doesn't come even close to the image I get out of the Elite.

Strengths:
Clear and vivid image in high definition. The looks... Evetything

Weaknesses:
Still trying to figure out how to split the screen, which is not a weakness but I get confused Subtitles in Cinema Wide Mode can not be read..

Similar Products Used:
none - 1st HD ever