 Pioneer PDP-6020FD |
| Review Date: August 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: SV, Boston, MA |
The Kuro PDP-6020FD is an exceptional flat panel display. I continue to marvel at the realism when watching High Definition shows. I do not hesitate to recommend this device.
At the end of my review I will include D-Nice's review from the AVS Forum. It will provide a technical evaluation for you to judge the 6020.
The following is my Amazon purchasing experience... In a pre-purchase call to Amazon a representative confirmed that they are an authorized Pioneer dealer and that `White Glove Delivery' was included in the indicated purchase price.
The 6020 was ordered on Sunday and delivered the following Friday. For whatever reason, the order was not coded as `White Glove Delivery'. I eventually prevailed and the delivery was delivered `White Glove'. Regardless of how handy you are, `White Glove delivery' is extremely important. This type of delivery service requires the delivery team to setup and turn on the TV. When a shipment is left at your door it can be defective and you do not discover this until well after the delivery team has left. If you receive a defective TV with `White Glove Delivery', one simply refuses delivery; the delivery team will repackage the device and return it to Amazon. Without `White Glove Delivery' one is stuck with a defective TV and must endure the process of repackaging, storing and returning it.
When the team unpackaged my first set the screen was covered with spider cracks. The device was repackaged and back it went to Amazon. If there is an issue with the delivery, I encourage you to call the returns department at Amazon that handles Plasma TV's. There is a special telephone number. If you reach an overseas Amazon representative ask for the call to be transferred to this department. This department is located in the States. They are available 7 days a week but are not available round the clock. I ended up speaking with a tremendous representative who was a Supervisor. He made sure that a new order was processed, the `White Glove Delivery' was coded clearly on the order and Amazon provided a substantial discount on the order due to the difficulties that were encountered. I received the replacement TV five days later on the following Wednesday. The TV was delivered in perfect condition. The `White Glove Delivery' team setup the TV turned it on and removed the packaging. I also received two other price reductions when Amazon dropped the price of the set in the following two weeks. (Please note that the price reduction policy is no longer offered by Amazon as of September 1st, 2008. Amazon policies are subject to change. Contact Amazon prior to purchase to review the details of the potential purchase and any expectations you may have.)
The issues I had could have happened from any vendor. The difference is that Amazon had a system in place which corrected that matter in an efficient manner with a minimum of inconvenience to me. Amazon also had the best price and delivery options.
The picture quality is stunning. I highly recommend the 6020 and Amazon as a reputable dealer.
I have included D Nice's technical review from the AVS forum to provide the in depth details of the performance of this TV.
Pioneer PDP 6020FD Review
Reviewed by D Nice
Overview
Kuro (Kuro), the Japanese word for black, defines the core of Pioneer's Project KURO. Prior to last year, consumers were not privy to have a digital flat panel display that consistently reproduced the absence of color (black). In June 2007, Pioneer released into the wild a PDP display series that was capable of an unheard minimum luminance level, 0.004fL. This new pinnacle in black level not only provided rich, succulent blacks that true videophiles have been yearning ever since the demise of CRT, it also was baseline for depth defying colors that to this day leaves me awestruck. By the end of 2007, the KURO series was herald as the "best display ever". Everyone thought that it would be years before another display hit the market capable of outshining the 2007 KURO series. No one knew that we would only have to wait 6 months........enter the PDP 6020FD.
Panel Design
The PDP 6020FD continues Pioneer's minimalistic, yet elegant figure with its 57 11/16" x 34 1/2" piano black acrylic bezel. Fit and finish is top notch although the overall build quality is less than last year's PDP 6010FD. Pioneer also managed to trim panel bulk by 20% leaving us with a slim, 3.7" depth display.
Features
The PDP 6020FD is equipped with 4 HDMI 1.3a ports (three on the back, one on the left input/control panel), 1 component, 1 S Video, 3 composite, and 1 VGA input. Although this sounds like a plethora of input options, it's actually less that what its predecessor offered. However, Pioneer now allows owners to label each input (a big plus). Also new this year on the non Elite KUROs is a network interface port that allows owners to connect and stream video (limited file types), music, and pictures from their home PC/laptop. Setup and use was a breeze on my network. However, computer challenged owners may have issues using this feature....especially if they have a home network firewall.
Pioneer has also included a new remote with the PDP 6020FD. Compared to last year's remote, the new remote sports a black covering and the layout is more user friendly with the channel and volume controls reversed from last year's layout (finally).
Everything about the PDP 6020 reflects the theme "KURO".....including the new menu GUI. Gone is the "Windows XP" like menu colors that I have been accustomed to surfing on the previous Pioneer generations. They have been replaced with a more "Windows Vista" like "KURO" GUI.
Thumbing through the new menu, one will find 7 Preset A/V picture modes and immediately notice a reduction of user controls. Unfortunately Pioneer has decided to strip the end user of the capability to change the color temperature, gamma, black/contrast enhancement features, and noise reduction.
Instead they chose to hardcode these features in what they call "the most effective combination".
Personally, I think this was a mistake on Pioneer's part. You NEVER, EVER, take away features that you offered in the previous generation. Pioneer is also rumored to has gone two steps further by deleting the RGB controls out of the Service Menu (not confirmed as of yet) and changing the sequence to access the Service Menu (confirmed). These "castrations" do not bold well for those who chose not to shell out more money for the Elite KUROs to "tweak" their panels more to their personal tastes and/or HD standards. Shame on you Pioneer.
I'm sure at this point the question that is on everyone's mind is "What does the removal of these items have on actual PQ?" Well let's find out..........
Picture Mode Overview
Optimum Mode
Out of the box, the PDP 6020FD is set to Optimum mode. Optimum mode is designed to constantly modify the contrast, brightness, color, tint, etc controls based on the room environment. This year, Pioneer added sound control to Optimum mode's "automatic" adjustments. PQ in this mode was good, but I could see edge enhancement on many scenes and test patterns. Although I could not get a completely accurate grayscale reading within this mode due to the constant adjustments, it averaged around 7400K. This will please most viewers during daytime and/or sports viewing as a "bluer" white is more pleasing and can add more "punch" to the picture. However, I do not recommend this mode for critical movie and/or night viewing. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Performance Mode
Now, one would think that Performance mode would be the mode that makes the Pioneer 6020FD shine. Well, this is not the case and it's one of the worst A/V modes available on the
6020FD.Beyond its S shaped gamma curve (hump between 60 and 80% stimuli), this mode produced an 8600K average grayscale and crushed everything in the 0 10% stimuli range with the brightness control set to 0. This mode provides improved shadow detail with a brightness setting of +4, but it still is lacking somewhat. If a 6020 owner previously owed a LCD display, this mode would probably please him as it provides an extremely punchy picture with "crisp" (aka edge enhanced) highlights to boot. Critical viewers should stay away from this mode. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Dynamic Mode
By all means, STAY AWAY from this mode!!!!!!! This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Movie Mode
This is the de facto mode on the PDP 6020FD. It sports an average grayscale of 6350 (6347 to be exact) and a 2.27 gamma. This A/V mode produces the most accurate picture I have ever seen on a non Elite Pioneer.......ever!!! All review material and PDP panel shoot out results were done using this mode. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Sports Mode
This is an absolutely horrible A/V mode. Grayscale is well over 10K with non defeatable edge enhancement and an S shaped gamma curve to boot. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Game Mode
This mode would have been a great mode if it did not have an 8K grayscale. Gamma is ok at
2.17 and it only has minor edge enhancement. This mode is universal, regardless of input selection.
Standard Mode
This is the only mode in which each individual A/V input can house discrete settings.
Unfortunately, this is the absolute worst A/V mode available on the 6020FD. It is similar to Performance mode, but crushed blacks far more. This is the first A/V mode I have ever encountered on any display that actually makes a 10% stimuli full field pattern look like a 0% stimuli pattern.
Measurements
Contrast Ratio
Again, all of the measurements were taken in Movie mode (after the 150 hour break in procedure), adjusted for the most accurate picture, and the Power Save mode was set to Off. On a 0% stimuli pattern, the 6020FD can get really dark. In fact, the pixels literally turn off after 30 seconds on this pattern. Technically speaking, this means the 6020FD is capable of an infinite On/Off contrast ratio. However, this 0fL idle luminance is not achievable beyond a 0% stimulus pattern and I will refrain from using the 0fL reading in my official numbers. Using a window pattern, I measured a peak contrast ratio of 38,900:1 (38.9fL peak white with an astonishing, pre 30 seconds 0% stimuli pattern, minimum luminance level of 0.001fL....the lowest my AEMC
813 can go). Full screen white contrast ratio measured 21,300:1 (21.3fL peak white, 0.001fL video black). ANSI came in at 14,600:1.
Grayscale
Grayscale averaged 6347 from 10 100% stimuli. Although this grayscale isn't true D65, I found it very pleasing to the eye and was hard pressed to see the slightly "redder" tone on regular content. Any RGB Service Menu tweaks on this PDP will yield an incremental improvement at best.
IRE Measurement
10 6138
20 6340
30 6356
40 6389
50 6370
60 6420
70 6347
80 6371
90 6362
100 6385
Color Points
Just like its predecessor, the PDP 6020FD's user menu does not house any controls that can be used to properly calibrate the colors. On top of that, Pioneer has again chosen to hardcode the
6020FD with a wider color gamut (Colorspace 1) which exceeds the reference HD Rec. 709 Colorspace. The actual color points are remarkably similar to the 6010FD, with oversaturated green and red primaries, greener yellow, and a redder magenta:
Viewing Angle
There was no visible drop off in contrast and color from extreme horizontal angles of 75° off axis. However, there is a slight brightness drop off from vertical angles above 60°. I must note that I had to be standing 2 feet in front of the panel to see this drop off.
Other Measurements
Dead pixels none
Screen uniformity Perfect
HDMI Overscan 0% with Dot by Dot and 2% with Full
Blacker than black Passed
Black level Excellent
Black level retention none
Video deinterlacing Excellent
Film deinterlacing Passed 3:2/ 2:2 cadence in all resolutions
Viewing angle Excellent (> 150°)
Motion resolution 950
Digital noise reduction Very good (HD content)
Sharpness Defeatable edge enhancement (Movie mode only)
Image retention Very minor before 150 hour break in. Zero after.
Posterization Minor with HD cable
1080p/24 capability Yes. No telecine judder
Performance
"My God! It's full of stars" would be the slogan I'd use to summarize the 6020FDs performance.
Flanked to the left of a TH50PZ800u and below my Elite 1150HD, the 6020FD presented a picture that neither could fully replicate. Throughout the entire comparison, the following words stayed in my mind: smoooooth, clear, sophisticated, intoxicating.
Dark Room HD DVD and BD Performance
The 6020FD's 0.001fL black level created an eerie void adjacent to the other PDPs. I've never seen this much depth and shadow detail on a digital display. Watching Blackout destroy Soccent
Airbase on the HD DVD presentation of Transformers, the black level difference between the
6020FD and the 50PZ800u was not subtle, it was dramatic. Black levels on the 6020FD made the
PZ800u's blacks (measured @ 0.008fL) look like a dark shade of gray. The top and bottom bars literally disappeared into the 6020FD's screen. In comparison, I could always make out the bars on the 50PZ800u, but their luminance was subtle and much improved over previous Panasonic generations. Colors during the movie just looked better on the 6020FD. Although the 50PZ800u was fully calibrated to D65 and had better primary color plots, the 6020FD had a certain quality the Panasonic just didn't quite have: a creamy smoothness to the image. And this feeling remained seared into my sub conscious; even though the numbers say otherwise. Getting within 1.5 feet of the 6020 and 50PZ800u, I could see an ever so slight level of noise on the 50PZ800u screen. Engaging the Video NR filter on the Panasonic removed the noise, but killed some of the high frequency detail. The 6020s picture was void of any and all noise. Kudos goes to Pioneer for their hardcoded NR filters being setup just right for HD content.
Switching to 2001 on BD, the 6020FD continued to create exceptionally dynamic images with life like clarity, super sharp, and super smooth frames. The white ships on the star filled space backdrop had much more pop compared to both the 1150HD and 50PZ800u. Black bars again disappeared into the background of the 6020FDs panel, unlike the very, very slight luminance on the 1150HD (measured @ 0.004fL). Compared to the 1150HD, the 6020 can go brighter when the scene calls for it. For instance, the space station lobby scene with the red chairs looked noticeably brighter on the 6020 compared to the 1150HD. For reference, both were calibrated to roughly 39fL peak light output.
Watching Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, the 6020 once again spanked the 1150HD in overall brightness level. Watching the Black Pearl float in the white sands of Davy Jones's
Locker, the sand was actually too bright on the 6020FD for my tastes. I actually had to engage
Power Save Mode 1 to keep the brightness at bay.
Dark Room SD DVD Performance
Feeding all three panels a 480i presentation of Sin City, the 6020FD finally showed some weakness. Although black levels and dynamic range were far superior on the 6020FD, my
1150HD produced a sharper image. Goldie's facial details were much more pronounced on my
1150. Continuing on with Finding Nemo, Aliens, Star Wars Episode III, and Lord of the Rings
Return of the King produced the same "softer" results. The 50PZ800u with the same material was either on par or slightly worse compared to the 6020FD. I'm not sure if the lack of sharpness is due to Pioneer coding different NR levels on 480i/p signals or 768p vs 1080p native screen resolution. This is something I'll have to revisit once I test a 9G Pioneer Elite.
HD Cable Performance
The 6020FD presented 1080i/720p in the same fashion as HD DVD and BD presentations except that it showed me every single thing that was wrong with the compressed HD signals that broadcasters are shoving down our throats. Although the 6020FD was capable of showing the tiniest bits of details in static 1080i images, moving scenes were riddled with macroblocking and other picture artifacts. Dot by dot mode reduced some of these artifacts. However, it failed to give me the same pristine picture my 1150HD was simultaneously showing. The 50PZ800u weathered the same issues as the 6020FD. I guess 1300 compressed lines of resolution from a
SA8300HD cable box doesn't bold well on 1080p displays.
SD Cable Performance
SD cable viewing on the 6020FD was just as disappointing as SD DVD performance. Once again the 6020 presented a softer, less tasteful picture compared to my 1150HD. Watching SD channels with either Wide or Cinema stretch modes was at times annoying due to the soft picture and took time to get use to. Artifacts could easily be seen, regardless of channel. I know many will say that SD cable will always look "poor at best" on a 1080p display. However, I think the people deserve a little better than what the 602FD can muster.
Daytime Performance
The 6020FD really shines in low lighting environments. However, its daytime performance isn't anything to balk at. Pioneer's AR coating kept reflections at bay and on par with my 1150HD.
The Panasonic 50PZ800u didn't bold as well. Black levels remained inky, but I know that a
Samsung LCD would have provided "bezel blacks" due to its AR coating design. Never less, I would not call the blacks on the 6020FD during the daytime (with lots of ambient light, I might add) "grey", "blue", or any other color besides black. The 6020FD's improved brightness was most valuable during daytime viewing keeping the whites of snow peaked mountains and the ice rinks on hockey games bright and glistening.
Anomalies
There were a number of "bugs" reported with last year's KURO series. Pioneer did address most of these issues, but did not fix all of them (even after I was told that they were corrected): Blotching Still present. Only visible on a completely black screen.
Pure Cinema ADV Screen Dimming Fixed
Pure Cinema ADV Screen Flicker Fixed
Buzzing Power supply buzz has been corrected. Panel buzz is negligible.
Conclusion
The 6020FDs introduction poised many challenges for Pioneer. Could Pioneer improve on a series that has won more awards than I have fingers to count? Could Pioneer drop the minimum luminance level of a PDP that to date, no other manufacturer has yet equaled or surpassed? Could Pioneer create a PDP that expresses a voluptuous color pallet that is second to none? Is it possible? Overall, I would have to say yes. The 6020FD will quench any potential owner's thirst for unparalleled picture quality like no other display I've encountered. Mouthwatering colors, mystifying black levels coupled with mind boggling contrast dynamics. Unfortunately, the 6020FD is not without flaws: soft SD PQ performance, paltry number of user picture controls....especially on a $5,500 TV, A/V picture mode performance (minus Movie and Optimum mode) that you would expect on a Vizio, Olevia, or other cheap display. However, the 6020FDs overall presentation in Movie mode is second to none. I'll end this on a
Will Smith quote from Independence Day:
"I have GOT to get me one of these!!!!"
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Very Much Good!
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| Review Date: July 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J. B. Adams, Belmont, CA United States |
Wow!
There is a noticeable picture improvement over 6010 (last year's model). Even analog channels look great (considering).
Pros:
Lighter
Thinner
4th HDMI input on the side
Optical out (audio) works with HDMI inputs
Optimum mode (adjusts to room light)
Game Mode (supposedly better burn-in avoidance, faster updates)
Cinema Mode (24 fps)
Ethernet Port for Media Display via PC network
Cons:
4th HDMI input moved to the side. Only three on the back
Cable Card Slot gone
Remote is passable, but not able to be a useful Universal Remote
Small text on the remote
Media Display options not accessible from Apple Macs
Deleting analog and digital channels found via the autosearch is painful because the channel doesn't change to the selected channel as you move down the list
HDMI control is problematic (one HDMI devices controls another - just use a universal remote instead)
Can't change settings for an input unless you are currently on that input
A big item for me is that I'd like all my input to go to the TV first and only send audio to the AV Receiver if I choose to use its 5.1/7.1 sound. Otherwise I like to use the TV's speaker. The issue is I don't want to wake everyone up with the loud sounds if I want to watch something and the family is sleeping. The 6020FD makes this a little easier as the optical output produces audio for everything except "protected" content (whatever that means). I haven't found any on my Blue Ray disks (via PS3). However I wish there were more HDMI ports on the back so I could hook all my (current and future) devices up directly.
Hopefully with the Ethernet port there will be a firmware update so I can access the display from my Apple Macs and maybe the new Amazon media store.
Pioneer has built a nice tuner. However the TV guide is now gone. Unfortunately the tuner is kind of a waste given that there is no point in buying this set unless you'll have HD content from your cable or satellite provider.
So far, I'm very happy.
Now I just have to find a universal remote to control the 6020, Comcast STB/DVR, Mitsubishi DVD player and PS3 (and next an Apple TV).
P.S. The Onkyo SR606 AV Receiver works great with this set. |
Took two tries, but very happy
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| Review Date: August 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: R. Peters, Scottsdale, AZ, USA |
I ordered the PDP-6020FD from Amazon, even though the 6th Ave. price was a few bucks cheaper because I'd read about delivery problems with them. At $4049 with free white glove delivery, it was a great price. The unit shipped instantly and arrived two days early. The two guys who dropped it off were very nice, but they skipped the part about unpacking and checking out the unit. My wife, who was there to accept, was not aware that they owed us that. So that night we unpacked it to find the glass screen badly cracked. Called Amazon right away and they were very responsive and apologetic. They credited me the $103 white glove delivery cost, even though it was free to start with, then they shipped a replacement. It arrived within a week and was in perfect condition, just in time for the Olympics.
The unit itself is gorgeous, as many others have said. The Olympic opening extravaganza in 1080p on that giant screen was jaw-dropping. I have it hooked up through a new Pioneer VSX-1018 receiver that upconverts my Cox Cable box's 1080i signal. So far no issues. Ditto with the Playstation 3 that's also connected through the 1018. I'm not a big gamer, but MetalGear Solid 4 looks amazing on this TV.
A big thumbs up for the PDP-6020, and kudos to Amazon for taking good care of me on the delivery. |
Fantastic Plasma!
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| Review Date: July 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Yellowbird, |
| I am so pleased with this Pioneer plasma! The picture is fantastic right out of the box. It is absolutely the best TV I have ever owned. The deep blacks cannot be duplicated with any other brand of plasma on the market right now. I did a lot of research and looked at many different displays before settling on this Pioneer. I am completely confident that I made the perfect choice. I couldn't be more satisfied! You can't go wrong with this TV!! |
Pioneer KURO worth every penny of it!
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| Review Date: July 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Ebullet, NJ, USA |
The Pioneer is truely a HDTV to rave about, I am upgrading from a 61 inch DLP to this 60 inch Pioneer. My Samsung DLP is very nice, but it is still day and night with the quality and shapeness of the Pioneer. There are no complaints! The out of the box settings is excellent to enjoy what ever you want to watch. (The burn in really help for balancing the color and brightness)
Blu-ray, HD-DVD, HD Cable, are like a whole new sight and sound again with the detail and black level on this Pioneer.
Amazon service is outstanding, the shipper white clove service was prompt and friendly.
The Pioneer KURO PDP-6020FD is worth every penny that I've spent! |
60inches of pure digital entertainment bliss
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| Review Date: August 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: T. Asgari, Seattle, WA |
| I can't express how much I love this TV. The deep blacks makes the picture pop with a rich dimension. Watching movies on Blu-Ray on this set is now one of my favorite pass times. I just purrrr with happiness when I sit and watch movies and sports on this. You won't regret your purchase if you cost is not an option. |
Terrific
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| Review Date: August 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: SEG, Marietta, GA USA |
| It is now close to a month since I got it. This is the best tv I have ever owned. The levels of black are amazing. I am very happy with it. |
Excellent picture quality and great delivery service
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| Review Date: August 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: C. K. Selfe, Orlando |
| The new Kuro PDP 6020FD has excellent picture quality. I noted the PDP 6010FD for sale at Sam's Club for $3958, listed as a one-time buy. I figured this was the closeout of the old stock coming with the release of the PDP 6020FD. Amazon had a great price on the new model, and with delivery it was a better deal to get the new model. Delivery went faster than expected, and it was up and working within an hour. I have it burned in and just had its calibration done. Everyone is shocked by the picture quality. It is excellent. |
Awesome
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| Review Date: September 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: G. Cutler, |
| This is the best Plasma out there by far (and I reviewed them all for the last 2 years before buying one). I read reviews that spoke of the inability to make detailed picture adjustments but have found this to be a false statement. It has plenty of picture options for any format you would want to watch from movies to sports. Keep in mind that you will need to purchase HD reception to really get a quality picture. Once you do this you will never regret the money you spent. I hooked it up to an HD DVR and it is better than going to an IMAX theatre! The Home Media Gallery is feature that influenced my choice and I am totally satisfied that I paid for this. I have my entire home wired with CAT5 and the network is ran by 2 Home Servers. With this TV hooked up to the network I can play music like it's cool along with photo slide shows and movies. HMG makes this plasma not only a TV but a full entertainment center. Final thoughts...The setup was a breeze and the TV was ready 15 minutes after it was delivered. This plasma has more options for viewing and sound than the reviews on any website reveal. BUY IT!!! |
Flawless Delivery
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| Review Date: December 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Derek C. Lou, Houston, TX |
I was apprehensive ordering this TV through Amazon, especially given the reviews on trouble with shipping and white glove delivery. I had NO concerns about this TV, having seen it in a showroom locally and given its reviews.
Thankfully, I had a flawless experience, thanks to excellent service from Amazon and the shipping company, CEVA.
If you are buying this TV through Amazon, there are 2 important things you need to know. First, ordering through Amazon with delivery requires that you click directly on the "add to my shopping cart" link, and NOT through the "## new and used..." link. Seems stupid, but it guarantees that you order through Amazon and not from another company listed.
Second, if you are ordering this TV (or any other TV>50"), the service number at Amazon for big screens is 1-866-423-5355. Write it down, because it is a hard number to find with the regular Amazon service line. I talked with them before and during the delivery service, and they kept me well informed and were courteous and communicative. They also contacted me via email just in case.
Delivery was flawless and the unit was brand spanking new with no problems, and I felt confident that had there been problems with the TV, it would have been taken care of without an issue.
As for the TV itself, remember how much better it was when you got a blu-ray? Multiply that by ten. |
so happy, you have no idea
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| Review Date: August 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Z. Abedin, St Louis, MO |
| This tv has been great. We've owned it for a few months now, and the picture still amazes me every time i sit down to watch it. The price on amazon is great, and their delivery was also fantastic. Pioneer is the leader in plasma tv's, and you can see that in this tv. |
Incredible High Definition Picture
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| Review Date: October 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: David W. Pancerz, Dallas, Texas |
I bought this set from Amazon over two months ago and have waited until now to add my review. The initial delay was due to DirecTVs 4 week waiting list to hook up their HR22 high definition DVR to this amazing Pioneer Kuro set.
Since I was forced to watch standard def images on the 6020FD for almost a month, you can guess the difference a high definition picture made. I can not add to the superlatives mentioned in the other reviews with regard to the Pioneer Kuro. The colors are vivid and the images literally jump off the screen. I didn't understand all the talk about the color "black" and how it's different from plasma to plasma but I do now. Want to really be blown away by this new tv? Punch up one of the kids channels available in high def like Disney or The Cartoon Network. The color saturation on these animated shows is not to be believed. Even my kids are impressed by the set.
Here are a few caveats for the White Glove Delivery as I too, had a few issues. First, working with Amazon was a joy with regard to this order. The problem I had was with CEVA when they called to schedule delivery. I asked them to verify the White Glove Service and they did NOT show that in their files. A quick call to Amazon fixed everything, no problem. I would recommend checking to see if White Glove Delivery has been selected.
Secondly, the two guys who delivered my set were excellent unlike some other reviews I've read here. I've found in life if you treat people nicely with respect, often times you'll receive better service. The old adage of attracting more flies with honey as opposed to vinegar. They brought the set in, removed it from the box, placed it on the table where I wanted it, and powered it up (even though I had read the online Pioneer manual weeks ago). All I did was offer them a few sodas for their trouble.
One final thing to remember is that the speakers are packed below the set. I hooked my 6020FD to some speakers that I installed in the wall and almost let the delivery guys take the box away as they were leaving. Am so glad I didn't as they would have been throwing away the Pioneer speaker enclosure for the set. Don't make this same mistake!!!
I'm now in the market for another plasma that will be placed in our game room. Shall be ordering from Amazon again without a doubt.
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Try Try again
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| Review Date: January 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Patterson, Iowa |
After months of reading reviews I finally decided to go for the Pioneer. I ordered mine from Amazon (through 6thAve). Enough has been said about the white glove delivery service. It is hit or miss. If you dont order through Amazon you will not get it. In other words be prepared to have it delivered to your front door and that is all. I received my TV about 2 weeks after ordering it. I asked the delivery guy to wait while I unpacked it, just to check and make sure it wasnt broken. He offered to take the packing material with him when he left. I declined (as I keep all my boxes for my AV stuff). VERY IMPORTANT! Do not let them take the box and packing material. I set my TV up taking great care to make sure everything was aligned and hooked up properly. Momment of truth and when I switched it on....nothing but a loud buzz and no picture. I of course went back to the manual and found nothing indicating anything was wrong. Called 6th Ave and they told me to contact a local pioneer repair shop. Called the pioneer repair shop and they told me to get a new TV (after explaining the situation). Had to call 6th Ave back and they were gracious enough to send me a new TV. They dropped the new TV off about 10 days later and picked the 1st one up at the same time (thus the reason for my recommendation for keeping your packing material/box).
Now about the TV...Do yourself a favor and get this TV. Even after the aforementioned issues I would still highly recommend this TV. The picture quality is second to none. The HD channels are flawless and DVD's look phenominal. Even SD channels are good. I am planning to switch from cable to DirecTV in the next month or so and am guessing the image quality will look even better. The on screen menus are pretty easy to use and hooking up your other AV equipment is relatively simple. You will not be disappointed (even after waiting a month and dealing with some frustrating phone calls)! |
AMAZING black levels define this TV
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| Review Date: February 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: E. Durant, Syracuse, NY |
First off, I have to give Amazon (and CEVA, the shipper) kudos for their white glove delivery service. They gently carried the tv up my icy driveway, brought it in, un-packed it, made sure it worked, and offered to take the packaging away (I declined). And they arrived in the first hour of the 3 hour window, which is always a bonus. Definitely place your order through amazon, not one of their associated merchants. It was worth the extra $50-$100 (at the time I made the purchase).
First off, I want to mention that plasma technology has come a long way recently in reducing the weight, and profile of the panels. This 60 inch display only weighs about 10 lbs more (without speaker or stand) than my Samsung FT-P5084 50 inch display, despite being 20% larger. I was able to life the TV from the stand, to a wall mount with my wife's help! Didn't even have to call a male friend! The display also has handles on the lower back side, to save your hands from sharp edges. The holes for the bolts on the back of the display are 34 inches apart, which is wider than my old wall mount (and most of the universal wall mounts out there). So, even if a universal mount claims to be capable of holding a high enough weight/panel size for this display, make sure the wall bracket is at least 36 inches wide, or it will not be able to accommodate this display!
The stand is cheap, and relatively crappy for the price of the display. This doesn't bother me, obviously, because I've mounted it on my wall, but it's an obvious bit of cost-cutting that's a little disappointing. Also, if the speaker bar is not attached, the display is supported by two skinny little bars, that are rather unsightly. If you are going to use the stand, make sure the speaker is attached, even if you aren't planning on using the TV's audio. Because I haven't attached the speaker, I can't comment on audio quality. All the reviews I have read said that for a TV, it's pretty fantastic. But I've got at least $3 grand into my surround sound system, so I didn't even bother taking the speaker out of the box.
The TV itself has a high-quality, black gloss finish around the glass that looks like it belongs on a TV this expensive. The remote is ok, not great, but not bad. Lots of small, same-size buttons. The black, brushed-aluminum-type finish is nice, though. I use a Harmony One universal remote anyway, so I'm not worried about the TV remote. The TV's menu system is fairly logically laid out, although some settings that you might think you'd find in the picture sub-menu are actually in other sub-menus. It took me a little while to find my way around, and play with all the various settings, but there is nothing too confusing about the setup. The menu screen sets the current video feed into a little box on the right side of the screen, with a border around the whole screen, and the menu items on the left side. Selecting the picture-related sub-menus brings the video to full-screen and overlays the sub-menu on top of it. It's a little different than other displays I've used in the past, but it works.
The menu you'll spend the most time in is the picture menu, under setup on the main menu. There are a bunch of color/picture modes available, but the only three are actually watchable for any period of time: Standard, Optimum and Movie. Standard and Optimum have similar default settings, the main difference being you can tweak the settings in Standard mode, but not Optimum. Both have reasonably accurate color settings, and high contract ratios that really make an image "pop" off the screen. Standard lets you adjust contract, brightness, tint, color and sharpness manually, while optimum makes adjustments for you based on lighting conditions. For showing off what the display can do, Optimum seems to be the best setting. The whites are bright, the blacks deep (more on this later), and the colors are quite vibrant. The only problem is that, in a darker, more ideal setting, Optimum and Standard modes are a bit fatiguing on the eyes after a while. It's just too much contrast for your eyes to handle comfortably. The definition, accuracy and video processing are top rate, meaning good video feeds look fantastic. Poorer feeds, however, can look a little less than spectacular, however, in these high contract, high detail modes, because they accurately reproduce the images, flaws and all. Even with the sharpness turned all the way down in Standard mode, this is still the case. Letters can appear pixelated, not smooth, and standard def TV feeds just don't look good. So, my TV is currently in Movie mode, which I feel (and there are several professional reviews to back this opinion up) is the best overall viewing mode for the TV. The colors are more muted, but closer to accurate, the contrast is excellent, but not fatiguing, and the mode smooths out the lousier feeds, while still showing the details of the good feeds in nearly all of their glory. A word about the color: at first, everything looked a little greenish, compared to my Samsung, which was calibrated to be as close to accurate as possible, but any adjustment in the tint toward red made the picture appear pinkish. I was unable to make any adjustments that seemed to get to a color that was 100% accurate, and that seems to be the only downside to this TV, versus the Elite models. However, after watching the display for a week, my eyes/brain have adjusted, and I no longer see the greenish tint, and the colors appear completely accurate to me. I'm not saying this is the best solution, but it works better for me than spending the extra $1,500 to $2,000 on the Elite model. A professional calibration would probably help as well. Regardless, I'm quite happy with the color at this stage, and I'm picky when it comes to my displays.
And now the most important part, the black levels. I think this is the best way to describe it: you can't tell the difference between when the display is turned off, and when there is a completely black screen being fed into the display. It makes anything else I've ever seen look gray in comparison. If you are new to TV/video-mania, you should know that there is no substitute for deep black levels. All images displayed on a screen are simply different color and intensity lights arranged in shapes that we perceive as whole images. Those lights stand out in contrast to the relative absence of light (ie, black) displayed elsewhere on the screen. If your screen's absence of light is just a medium gray, the screen has to output more color and more light to equal the contrast produced by a screen such as the kuro. And there are limits to the technology (and to human sight) that don't necessarily allow that to happen. So having the deepest, darkest basis to contrast with is extremely important if you truly want the best image possible. And, in normal viewing, this display, and the other kuro displays, simply have the best black levels available in a flat panel today. Samsung and Sony have LED-backlit LCDs that score better on contract ratio and black level tests, but in normal viewing situations, they simply can't match the Kuro line.
I don't think the question is whether you want to buy this display or not. It's entirely a matter of the cost/benefit analysis. If you are nuts about your home theater, and the thought of spending 4 grand on a TV doesn't scare you, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, Panasonic and Samsung make some excellent 58 inch plasma displays, for significantly less money. As long as you never saw the black levels on this Pioneer, you wouldn't even know what you were missing, and would probably be perfectly happy. But, with the exception of the Kuro Elite models, the PDP-6020FD and the PDP-5020FD are probably the best displays money can buy today. I don't regret my purchase one bit. |
Just awesome!!!!
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| Review Date: March 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Khan, Riverside, CA |
| I bought this TV wanting the best I could afford. I didn't buy this at Amazon but another online vendor. Anyways I'm comparing this TV to my Sony SXRD (DLP) TV. It looks so much better maybe due to the fact that I could see the "screen door effect" on my older TV. I love the fact the speakers are optional since I already have my theater setup. The appearance of the TV is excellent, very beautiful to look at first hand. Once setup at the house, it looks so good. I'm sad to see Pioneer discontinue making TVs cause I'm shocked or blown away at how good this TV performs on HD content. Just an overall fantastic TV, I hope it lasts me for the next decade or at least until OLEDs are practical and affordable. |
Great HDTV's But shipping is a rip off
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| Review Date: May 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: OLD JR, Central Florida |
I just bought 2 of these babies and love them ! Mine were shipped by J & R Music via a carrier called Absolute Freight Carriers (or something like that) I paid for expedited threshold delivery. Beware ! Items shipped by dealers (even though they are listed with Amazon.com) are not covered with Amazon shipping rates (ex "free shipping") The day my order was placed an email followed stating further notification would follow when shipment was in route. It did and the dispatcher called me to arrange delivery appointment on thursday between 12 noon and 4 pm, he also wanted to be sure that i understood that this was a threshold delivery (placed inside the door only) and 2 men would make the delivery. I took off work anticipating the delivery only to be called at 10 minutes till 4 to be told that the driver was tied up south of me and would be very arriving very late or could we possibly postphone delivery until the next morning. I agreed so I was told to expect truck around 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. The van arrived here at 9:00 with only the driver. He was very polite and set out to wrestle these beauties into my house. Now mind you, the shipping wt. on each was over 150 lbs. He was atleast 60 yrs old and I have a herniated disc in my back. Thank gosh my 25 yr old son was here to help lift these packages out of the van onto the dolly. Oh, the driver assured me he could handle this but I kringed when I saw that he was going to slide these babies back and drop them about 30" off the truck onto the dolly! I stopped him and made him wait until my son could get outside to assist him. Maybe nothing would have happened to the plasma tvs, but when I've paid over $8,500.00 plus for 2 of these units (freight included) I darn sure was not pleased to see that they were going to be handled like that. I told the driver that his dispatcher informed me that 2 men would be making the delivery. His reply was "ha, they send me out like this everyday without any help." I feel ripped off for having to pay over $800.00 for this kind of freight service.
"A day late and a man short." |
Super Image, beat expectations. Great customer care from Amazon.
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| Review Date: October 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Vapor Trail, Boston MA |
What can I say that hasn't been said? This TV beat my picky expectations by far! If your one to notice over hyped colors, bad shadow detail, poor blacks, washed out colors, hyped motion "anti-blurring" sets, you'll love this TV.
This is my first HD TV but I have been looking to buy for 6 years. My wife bought me a Blu-ray player ( Oppo BDP-83 recommend ) so I made the leap...so glad I did.
I am very picky about picture quality. I shoot large format photographs, I tend to notice digital artifacts, bad skin tone, bad contrast, pixilation etc. This TV has no artificial look to it. It seems to spit out what it gets with out adding anything. Off air 1080i broadcasts are stunning. Blu-Ray is outstanding. It may not be the best TV for converting from SD, but even converting from the lowest of resolution it still show no artificial digital artifacts. Meaning, no hyped colors, no rainbow effects, off color shadows etc.
The color depth is also stunning. May be a bit strong on reds and greens but seems to be pleasing to the eye. As advertised the black levels and detail are where it's all at. Making colors rich, deep, accurate and shadow detail solid. Blacks are inky black. For Plasma is does have a decent anti reflective coating. Reminds me of anti reflective coating on video lenses. Day time viewing is not a problem at all. TV speaker is better than the average TV speaker. I use 5.1 surround system for Blu-ray and HD TV but, for average TV viewing it's decent.
LCD and LED sets are using fast motion reproduction ie...120hz, 240hz to help stop motion blur. To me this makes 24fps film look like video. 24fps is supposed to show motion blur at certain speeds, and trying to make everything look sharp makes the picture look unnatural. This set show no signs of this artificial "fix". Blu-ray, broadcast 1080i shows (sports) look amazing. Smooth, fluid...the way they were meant to be seen. My first viewing of NFL HD was like anything I had ever seen.
I'm glad I waited for a TV like this. It's one of those things you know you'll want to keep for as long as possible because it performs so well.
Amazon was great at communicating shipping info. Personal e-mail to connect with me about who was shipping, contact info etc. TV was set up and turned on to make sure all w
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