Hi guys

I need some help, i'm thinking of buying the Pioneer 42" or the new Hitachi 42".
not sure what to get as i was orginally thinking of getting the PDP434HDG or the 42PD5000TA.

There has been quite a bit of talk on both units recently, with a few of us having just taken delivery of the 435/505. I have not seen a 7800 anywhere in Melbourne, but fattchoi's relative bought one a couple of weeks ago. I can tell you that 435 is an excellent unit in terms of picture quality. Will leave the comparison to someone who has seen both sets side by side.

As Way said, my relative has the Hitachi 7800. I have seen and probably mucked about with the Hitachi to death now. I have only had a glimpsed of the Pioneer 435 at Harvey Norman for few minutes. I can tell you this. The PQ are really quite similar. I would not say the PQ of one or the other would sway me one way or the other. Because I have played with the Hitachi quite a bit now, I will give you points that I believe you should consider besides PQ.

1. Hitachi has both HDMI and DVI ports. Questions that you need to ask yourself now is, are you likely to need both or would just a HDMI do as in the Pioneer. Right now, my relative used the DVI with the LG HDSTB and it works wonderfully without a single hitch. He has plan to get a good HDMI dvd player so that HDMI port will come in handy. If you are definitely going to do like what my relative is doing, then Hitachi score a point here.

2. Remote controlled swivel stand. The Hitachi has this 'gimmick'. I still believe it is a gimmick to those who plan to place their plasma in a dark or proper theatre room where it won't be bright with sun rays. But in rooms where the sun ray may hit a bit of the screen, being able to control the swivel from where you sit is a very handy tool. So question now is, where are you placing the plasma. Would a swivel stand even be necessary. If not, then either Hitachi or Pioneer will do.

3. USB photo card reader. Don't know if Pioneer has one but judging from Way's post, I think not. If not, then this is another point to consider. If you need a photo reader, then Hitachi score another point, else either will do.

4. Warranty. Hitachi only has 1 year warranty while the Pioneer has 5 years. For this, Pioneer certainly score a point.

5. Installation. Are you the type who prefer to muck about yourself than rely on someone to come into your home and do the installation? If you prefer an 'expert' to install for you, the Pioneer wins a point here. Else either will do.

6. Pioneer has a multimedia box. Is that important to you? If so, Pioneer score a point, else either will do. Personally I don't want a multimedia box because I have space constraint.

The above are some of the issues that I am considering too as I am deciding between the Pioneer and the Hitachi. I have not made up my mind yet as I need to find out how much it will cost me to get 5 years warranty on the Hitachi. If the overall price comes out to be quite similar, then I am with Hitachi simply because for me, it scored more points. Moreover, I am also waiting for a full report from Way and Phoenix1 who both owns the 505 and 435 respectively.

Hope my above analysis helps. In addition, you will probably need a 'good' STB. If you go with the Hitachi, then LG box is the go. If you go with Pioneer, then best to ask those Pioneer owners to give you a rundown on which STB they have least problem with.

Cheers.

EDIT: Just realised that you originally considered between Hitachi 5000 and Pioneer 434. One thing I can say for sure, the PQ of the 7800 is better than the Hitachi 5000. So since you were considering the 5000, I assume you must find its PQ acceptable. If so, then all the more acceptable is the 7800.

Thanks for that detail message fattchoi!

I will have to take all of those points into consideration before chosing the right one. If ur thinking of getting one of them, then JBHIFI have both of them in stock, i spoke to a guy their last night and got a pretty good price if ur interested.

For the PDP435HD i could get it for about $7000.
For the 43PD7800TA it was going for about $6500.

How much of an issues is it not have the DVI and HDMI?
Can you hook up the HD STB and DVD player into the HDMI box and would the quality be just as good.

Cheers

you only need the inputs if you are going to use them. although it's worth considering the future/upgrades.

if you don't have STB or DVD player offering DVI/HDMI outputs, then you won't use the inputs on the plasmas, so there's strictly no point having them. but again, in the near future, virtually all STB/DVD will have them.

having 2 separate digital video inputs can be a boon if you have 2 sources that offer digital video outputs. then you don't have to buy a separate 'switching box' or unplug/plug things in all the time.

personally, i wouldn't let the inputs be a deal-breaker, except that you probably want at least one digital video input. from my experience (pio 434 + thomson STB + denon DVD), digital video signals don't offer a huge (if any) improvement in PQ when you are comparing a good quality 'component' connection (ie: 'source' that has good quality component output and using high quality component cables). i am happy with my STB via component and DVD via HDMI. no complaints at all in terms of PQ, so amp happy to have only the one (HDMI) digital video input.

my 5 cents.

Ren: Thanks for the price info. If I can get the Hitachi with a 5 year warranty at around that Pioneer price, then it is the Hitachi for me.

shiny car: As usual, good reply. I couldn't have said it better. I personally want expandability as you never ever know. And if it is not going to cost more and all things being equal, then the more expandability, the better. In my own personal case, I will certainly connect the LG STB via the DVI port and a good HDMI player via the HDMI port. As an example, I have an old Loewe tv with 2 scart input. At the time, I only have a VCR. So great, I still have one input. Then I acquire a dvd player. Great, just nice. Then comes Foxtel and oh.....no more input and so have to put it through via my VCR player. with messy cabling, etc. It would be nice to be able to just plug it directly into the tv. From that lesson, I now want a tv with as many inputs as I can get, all else being equal.

Cheers.

Which STB do u think i should get with either the 435HD or the 7800TA?

As i have an old Sony DVD player that has optical and component output.
Would this be a problem if i get the 435HD which has only the HDMI input?

fattchoi,
i wouldn't be too worried about multiple digital inputs as in the next year or so the next receivers and amps will start to include hdmi and dvi switching so that would always be able to be used to handle two or more inputs.
there are also switch boxes available now.
the pio price looks good for me as i would get a wall mount included and installation as per the std pio deal in addition to the extra warranty.
my 2.35 cents!
dan.

Ren: For the 7800, I certainly recommend the LG. For the Pioneer, I am sure some of the Pioneer owners can advise better. As for your Sony dvd, I believe there would be no problem connecting via component the the Pioneer and the Hitachi both have a couple of component inputs.

Danadelaide: Thanks for your advice. I am not choosing the Hitachi solely for its inputs. Moreover, since I am no technology buff, I prefer simplicity rather than switching this and that. All very confusing for me. What's more, being so budget-tight, chances of me getting those amps, receivers, etc will be very slim. The powered swivel stand does play a role in my decision too as my Loewe tv where my plasma is going to be at does get hit by rays of sunshine at the edges. So would be great to be able to just turn the screen away from the rays accurately from where I sit. In addition, I have seen the progress of the Hitachi from new to more than 2 weeks old and I must say the picture does get better and better and it has not disappoint. As it is now, the PQ is fantastic. Certainly more than my expectation. It handled all those tough to produce scenes from movies like Fifth Elements, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings with flying colors. Well, better than my current Loewe tv. And all my relative has done as far as fine tuning is he turned down the contrast, brightness and colors. He did not touch those other color and tint management stuff. I must say the Pioneer PQ probably won't disappoint me either because I also actually liked the 434 very much. And surely 435 can only be better. But, the package as a whole, I think the Hitachi certainly offers more for me.

Cheers.

I will try and find the hitachi in adelaide as it sounds like it is a winner re picture quality, I myself don't like the idea of an interlaced plasma (alis being a type of interlacing) when most experts seem to think progressive is superior.
I have seen some flicker on older alis displays but have not seen the latest ones.

re the bright room if you haven't looked at the pio it may be worth a look as they have done away with the front glass and it has a mylar synthetic screen instead and to me was by far the least reflective plasma I have ever seen!
Dan.

Dan: Thanks for the reminder about the mylar synthetic screen which is less reflective. Good point that I should consder too. Forgot about that. But I must say, if the sun ray does not hit the screen of the Hitachi, the picture is very clear. Of course, comes night time, the PQ looks a million. I wonder under what condition Way and Phoenix has their Pioneer installed. If it is a sunny room, would then be good to get comment on how effective that screen is.

Cheers.

Dude before making a choice please have a look at the NEC XR3 or MX3 you will not be dissapointed

Dan: With the mylar synthetic screen which is less reflective. But would that be easier to scratch than the glass.

I'm planning to have my plasma (either 435HD or 7800TA) in a bright room.
Maybe even having the windows straight behind me. Which means that the the reflection of the sun might be a problem.

Does anyone have either plasma is the same situation?

I have my plasma in a bright room, however the floor to ceiling window is actually behind the plasma. Hence I do not know what the reflection will be like under your condition. Also, I know you can get the 435 for under $7k at JB.

Which JB store is it?

How much under $7K can u get it for?

I would assume ANY JB would do it for under $7k. I live in the city so I go to the Elizabeth St one (umm, I am assuming you are in Melb).

Remember guys the NEC's for around the $5700 mark

But you have to pay for speakers and wall mount/stand. Plus the Pioneer has 5 year warranty and free delivery and installation. All those things are worth money to me, but maybe not to others.

Way: I might have to pop in JB in the city and have a look. So what price did u end up paying for ur one?

How does the NEC compare to the 435HD and the 7800TA?

I have a 505, not the 435. Decided to go for the bigger one and don't regret it for a second. I sent you a private message btw, did you get it?

$5700 inc stand and if push really hard with speakers for around the $6000 to $6100

thanks WAY

I got the hitachi 7800 and a five year warranty for $6700...cheers....Gary

gary, that is a very good price ($6700 including 5 year warranty) that you got it for. Where did you get it from? Are you in Melbourne or Sydney? At that price, then the Hitachi is certainly for me.

If your eyes is anything like mine, then you will be most pleased with its PQ. Mind you, it will take your screen to perform better after a couple of weeks use. Once the screen is settled in, the PQ is fantastic. You best turn down the contrast, brightness and color as appropriate. My relative has his contrast at 15, brightness at 3 and color at -15. Other than that, he has not adjusted anything else. You can easily muck about with its other control as you can always reset them back to factory setting whenever you like.

What STB are you planning to use it with, if any? If you haven't decided yet, then LG so far has worked fine with connection via DVI ports. You will find the picture looks very 3D like with the DVI ports.

Anyway, good luck with your plasma. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I do though it is my relative's plasma...

Cheers.