50" Pioneer Kuro vs Panasonic TH50PZ800U

SLC3271 · 01-18-2009, 05:57 PM

I have been doing a lot of research on 50" plasmas and was pretty much set on purchasing the Panasonic TH50PZ800U until I visited Best Buy today and saw the Pioneer Kuro PDP5020FD on sale for $2199. The Kuro had been well out of my price constraints. Unfortunately, Best Buy did not have the 800U Panasonic on display so I could do a side by side comparison. I read the CNET review on the Kuro that states a problem with inaccurate primary colors. I sure could not tell. The picture quality was great.

What is the consensus out there on these 2 models? The picture quality on both apear to be great. Being that the price on the Kuro is only $200 more than what I can purchase the Panasonic for, should I go with Kuro?

Hooksta · 01-18-2009, 06:32 PM

I have the 58" 800U model and am very satisfied. Paid $2,700 for it 3 months ago at a local HH Gregg when just about everyone was selling (including Amazon) for $3,699.

I posted a Pioneer link to Best Buy deal earlier in the day. That is a hell of a buy. Not sure what I would do, but I think you would be fine with either choice.

P.S. - I pretty much leave my Panny in the THX setup....very pleased with that as a default.

newtodef · 01-18-2009, 06:58 PM

My boss just bought the 60 inch kuro and I have seen it myself at BB in there display area and can only assume the 50" looks just as good and I have read many things about the 800u being top of the line for panansonic but have never actually seen it for myself and BB is terrible at having what you want in stock. If I could afford the kuro I would have been all over it but the 46" panny was in the budget

SantaPimp27 · 01-18-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC3271

I have been doing a lot of research on 50" plasmas and was pretty much set on purchasing the Panasonic TH50PZ800U until I visited Best Buy today and saw the Pioneer Kuro PDP5020FD on sale for $2199. The Kuro had been well out of my price constraints. Unfortunately, Best Buy did not have the 800U Panasonic on display so I could do a side by side comparison. I read the CNET review on the Kuro that states a problem with inaccurate primary colors. I sure could not tell. The picture quality was great.

What is the consensus out there on these 2 models? The picture quality on both apear to be great. Being that the price on the Kuro is only $200 more than what I can purchase the Panasonic for, should I go with Kuro?

anytime another tv is compared to the kuro the kuro wins flat out in every catagory possible. it is the best tv out right now and i dont see any reason to not get it

**PFC5** · 01-18-2009, 08:26 PM

I agree that you should just get the KURO for the $200.00 price difference. It may be about 5% better, but that last 5% is the toughest to achieve so go for it IMO.

iserum · 01-18-2009, 08:48 PM

kuro is the best and at $200 more than panny makes the deal sweeter.

djbamber · 01-18-2009, 10:05 PM

I really like my Panny pz80, but I would buy the Pioneer for $200 more in a New York minute.

Codes20 · 01-19-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I agree that you should just get the KURO for the $200.00 price difference. It may be about 5% better, but that last 5% is the toughest to achieve so go for it IMO.

That 5% and the true (and only) 3:3 pulldown makes it a winner.

stealth24 · 01-20-2009, 12:05 AM

i have the 50pz800 and would buy the kuro for an extra $200 more based solely on the pulldown issue alone.

i leave my panny on 48hz and can barely notice the flicker now, but it's there, where it's not on the pio.

get the kuro.

Wally730 · 01-20-2009, 10:22 AM

well look at it this way would you be willing to get both them calibrated? if not then get the panny and calibrate it and you have a better TV then the kuro. but if you get both calibrated then obv. the kuro is better. does that make sense? i thought about getting the kuro but i decided on the pn50a650 sammy. and well i will have a better TV after i get it calibrated and i will still save around 500

Loves2Watch · 01-20-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally730

well look at it this way would you be willing to get both them calibrated? if not then get the panny and calibrate it and you have a better TV then the kuro. but if you get both calibrated then obv. the kuro is better. does that make sense? i thought about getting the kuro but i decided on the pn50a650 sammy. and well i will have a better TV after i get it calibrated and i will still save around 500

Not likely. But you will have a better Samsung which is quite good.

Razor05 · 01-20-2009, 10:47 AM

It all comes down to what a persons' priorities are. When I went shopping for a new plasma, I already knew that Pioneer and Panasonic were tops on my list. I also wanted the biggest I could afford, so I looked at the 65" Panny and the 60" Kuro. After comparing the PQ, I couldn't find that much difference. But for $2000 in price difference between the two, it was an easy decision for me.

Vinceg99 · 01-20-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wally730

well look at it this way would you be willing to get both them calibrated? if not then get the panny and calibrate it and you have a better TV then the kuro. but if you get both calibrated then obv. the kuro is better. does that make sense? i thought about getting the kuro but i decided on the pn50a650 sammy. and well i will have a better TV after i get it calibrated and i will still save around 500

No offense but just because you get a TV calibrated doesnt mean that it will make it a "better" TV. The Kuro will STILL be better than your calibrated Sammy 650, just like it will still be better once I get my Panny 80U calibrated (or do it myself). When something is better its just better. Thats kind of like taking a red ferrari and a blue fiero painting the fiero red and saying its better than the ferrari

01-18-2009, 05:57 PM	#1
SLC3271 What is HD? Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1	50" Pioneer Kuro vs Panasonic TH50PZ800U I have been doing a lot of research on 50" plasmas and was pretty much set on purchasing the Panasonic TH50PZ800U until I visited Best Buy today and saw the Pioneer Kuro PDP5020FD on sale for $2199. The Kuro had been well out of my price constraints. Unfortunately, Best Buy did not have the 800U Panasonic on display so I could do a side by side comparison. I read the CNET review on the Kuro that states a problem with inaccurate primary colors. I sure could not tell. The picture quality was great. What is the consensus out there on these 2 models? The picture quality on both apear to be great. Being that the price on the Kuro is only $200 more than what I can purchase the Panasonic for, should I go with Kuro?

01-18-2009, 08:26 PM	#5
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,387	I agree that you should just get the KURO for the $200.00 price difference. It may be about 5% better, but that last 5% is the toughest to achieve so go for it IMO. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

01-18-2009, 08:48 PM	#6
iserum High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,955	kuro is the best and at $200 more than panny makes the deal sweeter. __________________ Panasonic 50PX80U/Pioneer BDP-51FD /Toshiba HD A1/Tivo HD SAMSUNG LNT-4661F/ Pioneer BDP-51FD/Dell XPS, Nvidia 9500 GT SONY BRAVIA 40V2500/40 GB PS3, WII, Intel Core 2 Duo with Nvidia 6800 Yamaha RXV1700 Def. Tech. Mythos III, V & Gems, Super Cube III Harmony Remote One Power Conditioner: Belkin PF40

01-20-2009, 12:05 AM	#9
stealth24 A couch and an HDTV to go please. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 12	i have the 50pz800 and would buy the kuro for an extra $200 more based solely on the pulldown issue alone. i leave my panny on 48hz and can barely notice the flicker now, but it's there, where it's not on the pio. get the kuro. __________________ Panasonic TH50-PZ800U (ISF calibrated) Pioneer Elite SC-05 Klipsch C-1 Center Klipsch S-1 Surrounds Klipsch F-3 Mains Klipsch Sub-12 Harmony 1100

01-20-2009, 10:47 AM	#12
Razor05 HD = 65 beautiful inches Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 3,296	It all comes down to what a persons' priorities are. When I went shopping for a new plasma, I already knew that Pioneer and Panasonic were tops on my list. I also wanted the biggest I could afford, so I looked at the 65" Panny and the 60" Kuro. After comparing the PQ, I couldn't find that much difference. But for $2000 in price difference between the two, it was an easy decision for me. __________________ Panasonic TH-65PZ850U Sony KDL37XBR6 Panasonic TH-37PX50U Cambridge Audio Azur 640R & 740C Paradigm Studio 60's, 20's, CC-590 & Seismic 12 Panasonic DMP-BD35 Toshiba HD-XA2 & A35 Motorola VIP1200 Monster HTFS1000, PB2100 AA 1154a MW2 LE Xbox 360 & Halo3 LE + HD-DVD GT: Razor59 Sony PS3 slim GT:Razor_59 Sony PSP

01-18-2009, 06:32 PM	#2
Hooksta High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 132	I have the 58" 800U model and am very satisfied. Paid $2,700 for it 3 months ago at a local HH Gregg when just about everyone was selling (including Amazon) for $3,699. I posted a Pioneer link to Best Buy deal earlier in the day. That is a hell of a buy. Not sure what I would do, but I think you would be fine with either choice. P.S. - I pretty much leave my Panny in the THX setup....very pleased with that as a default.

01-18-2009, 06:58 PM	#3
newtodef High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 278	My boss just bought the 60 inch kuro and I have seen it myself at BB in there display area and can only assume the 50" looks just as good and I have read many things about the 800u being top of the line for panansonic but have never actually seen it for myself and BB is terrible at having what you want in stock. If I could afford the kuro I would have been all over it but the 46" panny was in the budget

01-18-2009, 10:05 PM	#7
djbamber older than dirt Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: payson az Posts: 319	I really like my Panny pz80, but I would buy the Pioneer for $200 more in a New York minute.

01-20-2009, 10:22 AM	#10
Wally730 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 62	well look at it this way would you be willing to get both them calibrated? if not then get the panny and calibrate it and you have a better TV then the kuro. but if you get both calibrated then obv. the kuro is better. does that make sense? i thought about getting the kuro but i decided on the pn50a650 sammy. and well i will have a better TV after i get it calibrated and i will still save around 500

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