Pioneer PDP5030HD Plasma TV Review
Model: Pioneer PDP-5030HD Plasma TVDescription:Description: 50" Widescreen Diagonal Plasma Display/TV
Color: Silver Metallic
Most Similar Competition: Panasonic TH-50PHD5UY, Phillips 50FD9958
Included Accessories: Twin side speakers, Media Receiver (PDP-R03U), Table Top Stand
Reviewer: Robert Wiley
Review Date: March 2003
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INTRODUCTION
Ultimately plasma TVs are visual displays. All other factors such as audio function are secondary in consideration. When tested for video and computer resolution quality, input choice is a key factor in measuring performance. Different input signals do appear very different on the same TV/display. Forget the native pixel resolution, the built in 3:2 pull down converter, the contrast ratio, or brightness level. Comparing TVs of any kind and size, side by side with the same input signal playing the same pure material at the same time is the way to truly understand how the signal information is received, converted, and shown to the naked eye.
Input sources for this review: High definition signal (mostly 1080i, but some 720p) from high definition antenna through a Samsung SIRT165 HDTV decoder. DVD 480p progressive and 480 interlaced through Pioneer DV 37 Elite DVD player. 250 interlaced through Toshiba VCR. Regular analog cable. Various computer resolutions from IBM PC.
Pioneer has several interesting offerings in the plasma display market. They were an early and strong player in the market and manufacture their own PDP plasma display panel (element) for their plasma offerings as well as acting as an OEM source for some other big manufacturer names. They currently offer three 50� plasma displays: The Pioneer PRO 1000HD Elite, the PDP-503CMX, and the PDP-5030HD. The PRO 1000HD and the 503CMX are respectively the same plasma with all of the same internal �guts�, the same inputs, resolutions, panel etc. The only difference is their bezel (frame) and market focus (retail as opposed to broadcast/commercial). The PDP-5030HD is actually quite a different offering than the other two. It is a second-generation plasma TV and follows the PDP 505HD. However, because of significant differences in processing it could be considered a first generation model. The differences are covered below under �Other Considerations.�
PICTURE � 82
The Pioneer PDP 5030HD is a quirky plasma display because of the fact that there is an outboard media receiver (PDP-R03U) to convert signals. The media receiver must be utilized at all times with the plasma TV as the plasma display itself does not contain internal processing video boards. The unit also has only inputs for the media receiver in the form of a DVI receptor. This is a salient point in reviewing the plasma picture on the 5030HD because some of the picture quality is being produced by the superb Pioneer deep pixel structure plasma display element, while other elements of the picture are a result of the video decoding and processing from the media receiver (actually manufactured by Sharp).
What this translates to is a plasma panel that has a superb high definition picture just as its cousins the Pioneer PRO1000HD and 503CMX do. Bright, brilliant color separation, good contrast (though not as good as the other cousins), deep black levels, excellent detail characterize the picture quality with HDTV.
With DVD signals the resolution is understandably less clear and colorful, but still impressive. 480 lines progressively scanned still yields an excellent picture with realistic flesh tones and still deep black levels, while 480 interlaced lines from DVD produce some graininess and noticeably lighter blacks levels during dark scenes. Clarity is not the best of plasma panels reviewed with DVD and falls below NEC panels in this regard. Scaling with DVD also suffered somewhat as I had a hard time getting comfortable with one of the 3 aspect modes that apply to DVD. Zoom mode was grainy and exaggerated, Wide mode left the 16:9 image stretched and large banding top and bottom, Cinema proved to be the preferred setting but the banding was still too large for my tastes when displaying 16:9 material.
Moving down the resolution line to cable, satellite, and VCR the unit does not impress. It becomes grainy to the point of distraction. Black levels are not deep enough to produce good contrast anymore. The main problem is a lack of definition. The media receiver is up converting between 250 and 500 lines of horizontal resolution to the units 768 native horizontal resolution. Pioneer could not have tested low-end video signals with this media receiver on this Plasma TV and thought that it looked satisfactory. The media receiver does an extremely poor job with the conversion. From 12 feet viewing distance the picture quality is barely acceptable.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS � 89
Lots to speak of here. The media receiver is roughly the size of a DVD player and has a full host of inputs including dual component video inputs, three S-video inputs, and two antenna inputs (located in the back of the receiver). As mentioned above video output to the plasma panel is via the supplied DVI cable connection. The media receiver also contains dual tuners to allow for cool split screen or PIP capability.
The 5030HD comes with side attachable speakers, which connect to built in 12 watt amplifiers inside the plasma. I must say that I was impressed by the audio output both fidelity and volume wise from 14 feet. Modes for listening are: movie, game, user, standard, dynamic. I preferred the standard or movie mode, but I was surprised by the sound differences and enjoyed toying with it.
The remote control is extremely complete if not a bit confusing. For example the aspect ratio button was not easy to find though it is one of the most important buttons on any plasma remote. It is named on the remote as Screen � Mode. The aspect ratio options are Wide (16x9), Zoom, Cinema (adjusts 4:3 to wide screen), and 4:3 which uses gray side bars while showing 4:3 picture content. The picture scaling from 4:3 is poor as the media receiver visibly stretched images. This is an apparent problem if you want to watch a lot of TV programming in full widescreen. There was not a comfortable balance between enlarging the image and broadening the content. Again, Pioneer seems most concerned with HD and DVD content with its calibration and focus of this plasma offering. Competent scaling of a 4:3 image is algorithmically difficult and the effort is just not there with this plasma TV. Lastly, the remote control has a handy back light button for those dark home theater rooms.
Computer images connect via VGA ports into the media receiver and display without triumph or downfall. I found the SVGA resolution input to be the most agreeable.
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
VALUE - 84
Hmm an interesting value proposition. � everything in the box, just plug and play. The pricing for this 50� good looking silver plasma display seems reasonable at around $8999 in retail establishments or $7500 on the Internet. These prices are made somewhat more palatable due to the inclusion of the stand, receiver, and speakers. However, the receiver is a poor performer in my view, and if you have a home theater receiver and speakers and are going to wall mount the unit� where is the value in the ad ons? For my money there are better values in the market � like the cousin PDP-503CMX, the Panasonic TH-50PHD5UY (or PHD4P), or the Hitachi CMP5000WXU.
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