hmcs's Full Review: Pioneer Elite PRO-510HD 53 in. TV
This is the smallest of Pioneer's new Elite series HDTV line. I purchased this set solely on the basis of reviews that I read on various newsgroups (It seems the 510HD, 610HD, and 710HD models from Pioneer are the overwhelming concensus choice among home theatre enthusiasts as the best out there). I had visited several local dealers to view the picture quality of this set for both DVD's and cable (Not HDTV), and was not overly impressed. However, as is most often case, most of the dealers who
carry televisions these days do themselves a diservice by failing to properly setup their displays. What is worse is that most salesman I spoke with did not have a sufficient knowledge of the product. For instance, the salesman at the high end store that I purchased this set
from was not aware that Pioneer had installed a much higher quality line doubler in the 510 and 610 sets, then was available in the original 700 model. That is really too bad.
Anyway, prior to viewing this set at home, the most stunning and realistic picture that I have ever seen on a big screen tv was on the Runco 5800 which was introduced over two years ago. I watched a portion of the 5th element and was literally blown away by the realism of the picture. This actually looked better then 35MM viewed at the theatre. I am not going to say the Pioneer is better, but it does appear to equal the Runco, (which costs approximately $6,000 more). Prior to purchasing this set I had a Sony 32 inch XBR (ISF Calibrated). I was very reluctant to upgrade to a big screen, because of how satisified I already was with the Sony. Now that I have viewed this set with over 100 DVD's, I can say without qualification that the Pioneer 510 increases my overall enjoyment of each and every film that I view by an incalculable factor. I see detail and depth that I
could never experience before with a small set. In addition, you get to see the facial expressions much better and this enables you to see many of the subtleties of an actor
or actresses performance, contributing to a much greater appreciation of the film.
I was initially reluctant to purchase a widescreen television because I was wary of how well the set would
display 4 X 3 material from VHS tapes and regular cable.
This has not proven to be a problem. Regular television looks okay with the gray letterbox (takes a little getting used to though). For VHS I used the Cinemawide mode
and this works very well. It cuts off the bottom and top of the picture slightly, but this mode preserves the original shapes of objects and people. Some other important information. According to other individuals on the various
newsgroups who have purchased this set, purchasing a progressive scan DVD player, or a DVDO iscan plus will not, I repeat, will not improve the picture. This is not a bad thing though. The reason is that the quality of the line doubler installed in the 510 is so good, you don't need one.
This is a really important point to consider when comparing price. The next question to consider is the one of ISF calibration. This is one area I recommend you approach with great caution. Just because an individual is ISF certified and possesses the correct calibration equipment, does not necessarily guarantee a positive result on this set. I found out the hard way. The technician I utilized came from the dealer, had the credentials and equipment, and still botched the job beyond belief. After two separate visits from the same technician, I ended up with a horrible looking green tinted picture. I needed to have a Pioneer Service technician come out and restore the factory color settings.
Now I am not saying you should not get this set calibrated. You just need to be careful about examining the credentials of the person who does your set. Indeed, if you check the newsgroups, there are a good number of people reporting positive calibration results with this set. I myself am still wary.
Anyway, my recommendation, if you are considering a big screen tv for a small apartment, or room, buy this set. It is a much better choice then the previous benchmark for small apartments - The Toshiba TW40.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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