Nero

For all intents and purposes there is enough eveidence to suggest the PDP-507HX and the PDP-427HX will be Pioneer's successors to their current 50" and 42 " plasma models. These units are due out in mid June and are slated for Japan but I think they will be the same ones coming here at the same time since retailers are expecting the new models around mid june as well. 5800.00 Canadian / 5300 US / 600, 000 YEN

Check out the gory details and full specifications here:

http://www.pioneer.co.jp/press/release164.html

Nimbus

Dang, and I was all ready to go and buy a 4360 . Can anyone else confirm these sets are actually due in Aug?

redford

Yeah... me too. I'm ready to buy the 5060. I'm not sure if i should wait. Waiting is killing me...

Augustes

Oh, if they come out in Aug that's perfect timing for a college graduation present to myself. I really wonder if the black levels have been improved at all over the 5060. I watch my friend's 5060 on a regular basis and last night while watching serenity I found myself yearning for deeper blacks. But even if the blacks remain the same I suppose they are atleast liveable.

Another question. Can non-elite models be calibrated just as easily by an isf calibrater as the elite models minus the better processing? Or are there other trade-offs in calibration between the elite and non-elite sets?

Nero

Number of pixels: 1365 (H) x 768 (V)



"New P.U.R.E. Black Panel" offering vastly improved brightness and color reproducibility thanks to the use of new phosphors and a review of panel materials

The industry-leading level of luminance efficiency - an improvement of 20 % over that of previous models - allows brightness to increase especially in the mid range. Images can be reproduced naturally with greater contrast.
The industry-leading level of color reproducibility - a wider color range of 106 % compared with the NTSC standard on the 50-inch model - enables more vivid images to be reproduced with a sense of reality and depth, irrespectively of viewing angels.
Owing to the Crystal Emissive Layer which realizes high luminance efficiency and highly-stabilized discharge operation, "blacker blacks" and details of dark areas often found in movie scenes are well reproduced."


It has increased from 1280x768 to 1365x768 pixels!
I have a feeling that "P.U.R.E Black Panel" means something... probably improved blacks from the PDP5060! I wouldn't be surprised if they improved it.
Mid range brightness performance has improved.
and more!!....


That thing attached underneath the TV appears to be speakers. I hope that's removable??????

Nimbus

Well, I was planning to buy at the end of May, so it would be pretty foolish not to wait until June, huh? I'm just afraid of whether Pioneer will cut back on quality to hit a price point a little bit...I bet they won't though. Worst case, maybe I can get a good deal on a 4360.

redford

Do the new units use media boxes, or is it all built in? The idea of having the media box was really what was making me lean towards these sets... I like the idea of plugging all of my junk into the box and then having just the one cord goto the TV.

Augustes

Looks like the only thing Pioneer didn't approve on is pricing, still way overpriced at over $5K for a non 1080p set.

Nero

Pretty nice.

These panels are based on those in the current NEC 50XR5/42XR4 (with obvious improvements apparently).

I would assume there is no media box as there isn't on the current NEC's.

1080p24 input through HDMI. Looks like someone is listening.

Nimbus

What's the point of accepting 108O P on a 720 set?