Price Paid:  $5000.00 from Online Search!!

Summary:
I checked many Rptvs before buying this unit. I just connected to HDTV sat receiver on HD net underwater demo type material my dog thought there was a crab in the living room and started barking thats how sweet this picture is. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!

Strengths:
Beautiful picture and cabinet.

Weaknesses:
Only one vga input. Heavy around 300 pounds.

Similar Products Used:
Took me an entire lifetime of watching b&w to save up enough.

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Just returned the 620 due to problem with over scan. Couldn't read any programing names on the sat banner and scores to some sports broadcasts at the top of the screen were being cut off (no matter what screen ratio or setting, including HD). Very annoying! No fix available through Pioneer since they claim the set is within factory specs. Technician won't fix b/c changing the screen and pulling the screen down will cause long term problems with convergence in the corners and negate the warranty. Pioneer is aware of the problem yet they will not admit that the factory specs are not satisfactory to consumers. The over scan is there because Pioneer noticed that it had the sweet spot in picture quality at that setting. Had to come up with extra $ to get the new 630 which does not have this problem. Over scan is much more tolerable now and the new 630 does not cut off programing as the 620 did. Shame on Pioneer for making me pay extra $ to solve a problem that they were well aware of.

Strengths:
Great picture as long as you are not watching a sports program.

Weaknesses:
Ummmm, what's the score? How much time left in the game? Let me run to the other room and check the other tv. Poor product support through Pioneer. Was given conflicting stories on different calls. Tweeter wouldn't honor the 620 price on the 630 during the exchange.

Similar Products Used:
Mitsubishi Diamond Series

Price Paid:  $5000.00 from Sound Waves

Summary:
The Pioneer Elite PRO-620HD has the finest picture quality, bar none! I looked at many RPTV's, and found none that could compare. A friend brought over his progressive scan DVD player and it looked great. All of my other gear is Pioneer Elite except for my regular non-Elite, non- progressive scan DVD player. I'll soon be adding a DV-47Ai to my system. Mitsubishi and Toshiba were the only other brands I considered, but neither could touch the Elite's picture quality!!

Strengths:
Fantastic build and picture quality. It is a fine looking unit!!

Weaknesses:
Are you kidding...a little expensive, but you get what you pay for!!

Price Paid:  $5650.00 from Carlstom Stereo

Summary:
I spent considerable time comparing before purchasing the 620. Salesmen actually stopped coming over to me in several stores. I considered Plasma (on which the blacks have improved) but their chief advantage is saving space and not picture quality. Besides, I wanted >50" and Marantz''s monster was way too much $$$. A front projection DLP really would not fit my room very well and while DLP-RPTV have a vibrant/sharp picture their blacks are more of a dark gray. That really lessens a picture''s impact. Both are also more money than even the best CRT-RPTVs. LCD-RPTVs I thought were weak - soft, fuzzy picture. Of the CRT-RPTV the Elites are certainly the best. I briefly considered Mits'' Diamond 55" but I knew everytime I watched it I''d be kicking myself for not going with the better picture. My 620 has a crisp picture with good color. No artifacts even with lots of action and only when watching regular, crapy cable TV is there occassional and slight dot crawl. I have not done HDTV yet but DVD(Elite DV-47A)looks awesome.(Get a progressive scan DVD. I did note a slight picture improvement when I switched from an interlaced output). Like the previous review I think the Reference Theatre mode is not only over-rated but actually the weakest aspect of the TV. It''s image is grainy and gray. Do yourself a favor and play with the remote in the store. I use the STAndard mode and also prefer the warmer color of the FILM tempature. My 620 also does not have that dark picture which I remembered on Pioneer''s 510/610/710s. As far as price. The Elites are the best of the CRT-RPTVs and if you consider how much competing technologies cost (which don''t necessarily offer a better picture) the value of the Elite is more appreciated. Finally, I choose the 620 over the 520 simply because the larger screen seemed to give a more "movie-like" experience. The 720 was just too big.

Strengths:
Outstanding picture. Beautiful cabinet.

Weaknesses:
Only that its beautiful cabinet is a fingerprint magnet. On the otherhand, you''ll know when someone has touched YOUR tv.

Price Paid:  $5650.00 from Carlston Stereo

Summary:
I spent considerable time comparing before purchasing the 620. I looked at CRT-RPTVs so frequently that the salesmen in several stores even stopped approaching me. I also considered Plasma. Their blacks have improved but I wanted >50" and Marantz''s monster was way too much $$$. Besides, I actually think the picture is not as sharp as the better CRT-RPTVs; saving space is the chief advantage to going with plasma. As far as DLP: The front projectors did not fit my room dynamic very well and while the colors are great and the picture is sharp on the DLP-RPTVs, I found their blacks more of a very dark gray. It really lessened the picture''s impact. The DLPs are also more money than even the best CRT-RPTVs. Of the CRT-RPTVs, Pioneer''s Elite are certainly the best. I briefly considered Mit''s 55" Diamond series -only to save money- but I knew that everytime I watched it I would have regretted not getting what was a better TV. The colors on the 620 are vibrant and the contours sharp and well defined. Like the previous review I think the Reference Theatre mode is over-rated and actually the weakest aspect to the tv. The picture in this mode seems grainy and gray. If you view any of the Elites in a store do yourself a favor and play with the remote to see what mode it''s in. Just go with the STA setting. I also prefer a warmer color and use the Film temp. I have not done HDTV yet but DVD (on Pioneer''s DV-47A) is outstanding. Sharp picture with no artifacts even with the quickest action. Even regular, crappy cable tv is watchable on the 620. Occassional, minor dot crawl occurs but not nearly what I have seen on other RPTVs. With regular broadcasts I usually use the Natural Wide aspect. With most broadcasts the stretch effect does "fatten" image enough to make it bothersome. As far as price. It is one of the more expensive CRT-RPTVs out there but it is the best. Also, if you consider how much the competing technologies cost -with really no better picture that the Elites- you will appreciate it''s sticker price a little better. I went with the 620 over the 520 simply because that extra 5"s seemed to make a more "movie-like" image. The 720 was just too big. Also, my 620 does not have that darker than other picture that I remember on previous Elites (510,610,710).

Strengths:
Outstanding picture - sharp picture with good color. The cabinet is beautiful.

Weaknesses:
Back-lit remore would have been nice. And that beautiful cabinet is a finger-print magnet.