ELITE TV's are back

[esteban]

Sharp and Pioneer resurrect Elite with line of LED LCD TVs, pricing starts at $6,000. (http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/sharp-resurrects-elite-line-of-led-lcd-tvs-pricing-starts-at-5/)

Looks promising! But I thought Panasonic had bought the rights?

[PHC1]

I'm still enjoying the heck out of my Pio Kuro Elite! I'm amazed and blown away each and every time I watch it. :yes:

Somehow I still don't believe these new versions will match it. :no:

[joe1515]

I'm still enjoying the heck out of my Pio Kuro Elite! I'm amazed and blown away each and every time I watch it. :yes:

Somehow I still don't believe these new versions will match it. :no:

I completely agree. I love my Plasma Elite! It is 4 years old and still nothing looks better that I have seen.

Joe

[PHC1]

I completely agree. I love my Plasma Elite! It is 4 years old and still nothing looks better that I have seen.

Joe

Nope. Nothing! I have since purchased many more flat panels that were not exactly cheap simply because I couldn't find any more Elite Plasmas and I sure hope my Kuro Elite Plasma keeps going because if it ever dies, I will cry!

[prepress]

In my current space I don't think I'd have room for the larger size, even if I were in the market. I've had a Kuro Elite 111FD for almost 3 years and am pleased with it. Plus, it has excellent sound for a TV, an important feature to me. I don't want to have to fire up the whole rig just to catch a weather forecast.

[TommyC]

The 70" is 8.5k in the US, so it'll be between 9.5K and 10K in Canada. Way too much!

[jdandy]

Good luck with those price points for LCD.

[Still-One]

Sorry, but I replaced a Pioneer Elite with one of the new Panasonic's. I prefer the color and detail of the newer unit.

[MikeSp]

Sharp and Pioneer resurrect Elite with line of LED LCD TVs, pricing starts at $6,000. (http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/sharp-resurrects-elite-line-of-led-lcd-tvs-pricing-starts-at-5/)

Looks promising! But I thought Panasonic had bought the rights?

I must respectfully disagree about potential quality since Sharp's technology is involved -- I will predict that these new "Pioneer" HDTV's will compete quality-wise with Vizio (thought I read somewhere that price-wise they were going to compete with Vizio too).

IMHO, Pioneer dropped the ball when they got out of video and suspect that their new products will NEVER come close to the Kuro. From everything I have read (have never actually seen one in any area stores), the Panasonic VT30 plasma line might very well be a match for the Kuro.

I will predict that after a year, many of us will look back and confidently say that Pioneer video is a shadow of its former self.

YMMV

MikeSp

[prepress]

Sorry, but I replaced a Pioneer Elite with one of the new Panasonic's. I prefer the color and detail of the newer unit.

Do you have any concern about the reports of rising black levels? I don't know about the 2011 models, but the issue doesn't seem to have gone away. Is yours a 2011?

[Still-One]

Do you have any concern about the reports of rising black levels? I don't know about the 2011 models, but the issue doesn't seem to have gone away. Is yours a 2011?
I have had mine just under a year now. It is the TC-P65-VT25 not the current year 30. I have no issues at all with the unit.

[trponhunter]

About 4 years ago panasonic made home theater sets called the premier series- sold only through high end specialists and custom installers. I saw that set next to a pioneer kuro at a CES show at a private booth. Both sets were professionally calibrated with Sencore gear, playing the same signal, split through sencore gear. There was no doubt the panasonic was better. panasonic is now 3 generations improved since then.

The new elites are made by sharp, but are completely different panels than used by sharp. All video electronics are cooperative with pioneer. They are quite confident that the performance will be stunning. I don't know anyone who has seen them yet. Local reps will put their eyes on them tomorrow at a special event- I think in New York.

[TommyC]

About 4 years ago panasonic made home theater sets called the premier series- sold only through high end specialists and custom installers. I saw that set next to a pioneer kuro at a CES show at a private booth. Both sets were professionally calibrated with Sencore gear, playing the same signal, split through sencore gear. There was no doubt the panasonic was better. panasonic is now 3 generations improved since then.

The new elites are made by sharp, but are completely different panels than used by sharp. All video electronics are cooperative with pioneer. They are quite confident that the performance will be stunning. I don't know anyone who has seen them yet. Local reps will put their eyes on them tomorrow at a special event- I think in New York.

Yes, the VX100 was fantastic. I've seen it in person several times. It looked very natural and 3D. The upcoming VX300 will be much better I'm sure.

[Masterlu]

Nope. Nothing! I have since purchased many more flat panels that were not exactly cheap simply because I couldn't find any more Elite Plasmas and I sure hope my Kuro Elite Plasma keeps going because if it ever dies, I will cry!

You didn't get a spare? ;)

[PHC1]

Sorry, but I replaced a Pioneer Elite with one of the new Panasonic's. I prefer the color and detail of the newer unit.

Jim, I have 4 of those Panasonics in various sizes around the house now. I spend most of my tv watching time in other rooms but when I turn on my Elite in the bedroom, it is a very noticeable difference. :yes:

[PHC1]

You didn't get a spare? ;)

Unfortunately not.

[enatai252]

Have you guys compared the Runco to the Kura?

I have two Runco plasmas (61&50) with the outboard controllers...I love the picture and didn't find anything to beat them.

Owned them for about 4 years now...all pixels still working...I need them to last a few more years so I can finish amortizing them down to a rational per year cost

[turntable]

I must respectfully disagree about potential quality since Sharp's technology is involved -- I will predict that these new "Pioneer" HDTV's will compete quality-wise with Vizio (thought I read somewhere that price-wise they were going to compete with Vizio too).

IMHO, Pioneer dropped the ball when they got out of video and suspect that their new products will NEVER come close to the Kuro. From everything I have read (have never actually seen one in any area stores), the Panasonic VT30 plasma line might very well be a match for the Kuro.

I will predict that after a year, many of us will look back and confidently say that Pioneer video is a shadow of its former self.

YMMV

MikeSp

One would think the panys should be better than the pioneers now. After all they bought all the patents and hired most of the pioneer techs

[prepress]

I have had mine just under a year now. It is the TC-P65-VT25 not the current year 30. I have no issues at all with the unit.

That's good, but I also believe that this is supposed to be a long-term issue. I don't know where this is at now because I haven't kept up with it much, but it bears watching. I may need to replace my 111FD someday and will want to know my options.

[esteban]

I have a Panasonic 65V10 (top 2010 model, with THX mode) and black levels DO change from time to time. I do not understand how this is possible, but I did notice, on multiple instances, that the display will behave differently on any given day. Color reproduction would stay the same, but blacks could be WAY dark, inky, deep and almost KURO-like, and then, after turning the unit off and back on, they would be lighter. This is easily noticeable on 2.35:1 BD's. The black bars do not lie. For example: yesterday was a "bad black level day" for me, made even more evident while watching "Harry Potter 7", which mostly takes place at night and/or in dark places. The black bars simply looked "dark gray". But the day before that, things looked terrific and with plenty of "pop".

My theory: a power-related issue. (Note: my TV is connected to a PS Audio Duet).

But at least I do not have the "floating" blacks that my 2007 Panasonic has. THAT is a deal-breaker for me.

I agree with Still-One, though, and believe that Panasonics have, in general, better color accuracy and fine detail than even the best KURO.

[SurferRosa]

Here is a fun story...

So my wife calls me at work one day and says, "I have something to tell you."... You know in that ominous voice that makes you think, "oh crap someone is dead." Now that the hair on the back of my neck is standing up, she proceeds to tell me MY son(not hers or ours) has taken his big Lego flat plate, ~12"x24", and thrown it in to OUR pioneer elite plasma. It has a Little crack, BUT it was still working. She obviously thought I would kill the boy, who was only 5 at the time. He says, something "scared" him, and apparently an uncontrollable force impelled him to chuck the Lego plate into the screen. So I got home from work and see this crack which, by the way, goes across the whole screen, but the set still works....for about 5 mins then it fades to black with a little pop.

Long story short (too late), I was so relieved that no one we knew was dead that I really could not have cared less. Now a couple of years later and a few more plasma TVs, I am still looking for a monitor that could match that one....DAMN I could kill that boy!!!

[prepress]

I attended a HDTV panel shoot-out yesterday in Scarsdale, NY. The top 55–60" panels from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic and Elite were there (Elite is a distinct brand, though Sharp is behind it).

The consensus was that the Elite's only drawback (excluding price) is the color problem with blues, which tended to look cyan. Contrast ratio and black level were the best there. Panasonic's ANSI contrast ratio was 6620:1; the Elite's was double. I have a Kuro 111FD and no plans to part with it, but if I were in the market for a TV, the color problem was solved, and I had the money, I might go for the Elite.

[esteban]

I was able to spend more time with the 70" variant this weekend at a local Magnolia store. I switched the set to THX mode and black levels were indeed impressive. Overall motion and viewing angles were also surprisingly good for a non-plasma set, and the color balance seemed natural enough to my eyes, but the viewing conditions were not ideal, to say the least, so take all of this with a grain of salt. I'm impressed with the quality, though, but can't get around the price issue. If the set were 4K resolution ready it'd be a different story, in the sense that your purchase would be future-proof for the next few years. But for $8K I'd rather stick with my Panasonic 65V10 for a while until 4K-res sets become the new standard, black levels stay consistently low, screen sizes increase and other issues are taken care of.

[bakerman]

I attended a HDTV panel shoot-out yesterday in Scarsdale, NY. The top 55–60" panels from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic and Elite were there (Elite is a distinct brand, though Sharp is behind it)...

Were these all LCD/LED sets or were some Plasma's? What would have been your runner-up?

[Masterlu]

We sure love our Kuro's :yes:

[bakerman]

We sure love our Kuro's :yes:

+1

I sure love my 4280, I just wish it was the 60" instead of 42" :tears:

[Masterlu]

My wife went off on me a bit when the 60" showed up, but now not a peep. ;)

[bakerman]

Ivan, I guess bigger is better :D

[Masterlu]

Ivan, I guess bigger is better :D

As I get older, I even need a larger faced watch! Life can be cruel... :sigh:

[prepress]

Were these all LCD/LED sets or were some Plasma's? What would have been your runner-up?

Here's the list:

Elite PRO-60X5FD, Samsung UN60D800, Sony XBR-55HX929 (LCD)
LG 60PZ950, Panasonic TC-P65VT30, Samsung PN59D8000 (plasma)

All were calibrated by professional calibrators and were in the best modes as appropriate to each set. The LG and Samsung plasmas had the best (most accurate) color. If that were my sole criterion, the LG and Samsung plasmas would be 1–2. Black level, it'd be the Elite and Panasonic 1–2. My personal preference overall might be the Samsung because of its color; the Panasonic was too red. The technical results from the shoot-out should be available soon; those will be worth looking at. Runner up, despite the color issue, would be the Panasonic. The Elite would be my first choice if they can solve the blue issue.

[MikeSp]

Here's the list:

Elite PRO-60X5FD, Samsung UN60D800, Sony XBR-55HX929 (LCD)
LG 60PZ950, Panasonic TC-P65VT30, Samsung PN59D8000 (plasma)

All were calibrated by professional calibrators and were in the best modes as appropriate to each set. The LG and Samsung plasmas had the best (most accurate) color. If that were my sole criterion, the LG and Samsung plasmas would be 1–2. Black level, it'd be the Elite and Panasonic 1–2. My personal preference overall might be the Samsung because of its color; the Panasonic was too red. The technical results from the shoot-out should be available soon; those will be worth looking at. Runner up, despite the color issue, would be the Panasonic. The Elite would be my first choice if they can solve the blue issue.

The relatiavely poor color accuracy of the Elite in that shootout was surprising (although it did well in the rest of the tests) -- even though it was calibrated. If only Pioneer still made the Kuro plasma... For the price of the new Elites, IMHO, their color accuracy should be MUCH better -- especially when calibrated.

MikeSp

[TommyC]

I attended a HDTV panel shoot-out yesterday in Scarsdale, NY. The top 55–60" panels from Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic and Elite were there (Elite is a distinct brand, though Sharp is behind it).

The consensus was that the Elite's only drawback (excluding price) is the color problem with blues, which tended to look cyan. Contrast ratio and black level were the best there. Panasonic's ANSI contrast ratio was 6620:1; the Elite's was double. I have a Kuro 111FD and no plans to part with it, but if I were in the market for a TV, the color problem was solved, and I had the money, I might go for the Elite.

I was watching the live streaming of the event. It was really cool for Value Electronics to host the event.

You got to see both the Elite and Sony calibrated professionally. Is the Elite much better in terms of motion? I've seen the Sony many times but just don't like the picture. It looks strange.

[prepress]

I was watching the live streaming of the event. It was really cool for Value Electronics to host the event.

You got to see both the Elite and Sony calibrated professionally. Is the Elite much better in terms of motion? I've seen the Sony many times but just don't like the picture. It looks strange.

I confess to having a hard time paying much attention to the Sony once I saw its difficulty with backlighting. The array either doesn't cover the entire panel or isn't executed well; during some dark scenes with light/bright areas near the black bars, these bleed into the bars. The Elite didn't have that problem, nor did any of the other sets as far as I noticed. But as far as I did notice, I didn't think the Sony was terrible with the slow-pan motion test, perhaps about the same as the Elite.

The Sony's color seemed a bit bluish; and I was directly in front of it, so this isn't an off-axis thing. If I make it to another shoot-out, I plan to sit dead center, because I'm sure the Samsung LCD (top left) isn't as bad as it looked.

[prepress]

The relatiavely poor color accuracy of the Elite in that shootout was surprising (although it did well in the rest of the tests) -- even though it was calibrated. If only Pioneer still made the Kuro plasma... For the price of the new Elites, IMHO, their color accuracy should be MUCH better -- especially when calibrated.

MikeSp

Elite is aware of this thanks to the shootout, especially the work of the calibrators, and promised to take the feedback to the company for a fix, and it sounded as if that won't take long to do.

These guys are good. One of them, Kevin Miller, did an ISF calibration on my 111FD. It looks great three years later, but I imagine I should think about a tune-up.

[TommyC]

I confess to having a hard time paying much attention to the Sony once I saw its difficulty with backlighting. The array either doesn't cover the entire panel or isn't executed well; during some dark scenes with light/bright areas near the black bars, these bleed into the bars. The Elite didn't have that problem, nor did any of the other sets as far as I noticed. But as far as I did notice, I didn't think the Sony was terrible with the slow-pan motion test, perhaps about the same as the Elite.

The Sony's color seemed a bit bluish; and I was directly in front of it, so this isn't an off-axis thing. If I make it to another shoot-out, I plan to sit dead center, because I'm sure the Samsung LCD (top left) isn't as bad as it looked.

Thanks! I plan to play around with the remote next time. Maybe motion enhancement was turned on.

[prepress]

Thanks! I plan to play around with the remote next time. Maybe motion enhancement was turned on.

In film there's always some judder, as I understand it. The Sony didn't seem to be that bad to me. But this was not from in-depth analysis, just regular and somewhat casual viewing. But it didn't stick out to me that something was very wrong. If you saw an uncalibrated set, who knows what the settings were? That's a good idea to take over the remote if you can on next viewing.

As for the Elite, I was pleased to see an attempt to put decent sound into it, at least based upon power. It has 15wpc; my Kuro 111FD has 18wpc and very good sound for a flat panel. In fact, that's one of the reasons I bought the 111. Regardless of PQ, I'd struggle to buy a set that didn't have decent sound.

[prepress]

I need to correct my earlier post on the Panasonic's contrast ratio. It's 6679, not 6620; I was going from memory. Below are the on-screen ANSI measurements, courtesy of Value Electronics:

Elite PRO60X5FD (LCD) — 15,194:1 (that is ridiculous!)
Panasonic TC-P65VT30 (plasma) — 6679:1
Samsung UN60D8000 (LCD) — 3237:1
Samsung PN59D8000 (plasma) — 3016:1
Sony XBR-55HX929 (LCD) — 2179:1
LG 60PZ950 (plasma) — 682:1

[TommyC]

Thanks for the update. Makes me wonder if we have already reached a peak in contrast ratio.

[prepress]

I'll also mention that in the audience voting on Sunday the Panasonic plasma was voted best with motion, followed by the Elite. The Sony was third.

[TommyC]

Just got back from Elite 70" viewing. The mode was set to THX movie and motion enhancement to 120Hz low. Noise reduction set to off.

I watched Bluray (Iron Man 1), some HD/SD sports, and a SD concert DVD. While the contrast ratio was quite impressive, motion still looked unnatural to me. The picture looked flat, compared to my CRT rear projection TV, which had more "depth" (no pun intended). The Panasonic VX100 plasma I viewed 3 years ago seemed more "clear," natural, and had more depth; like looking through a window rather than at a moving picture.

I do have to say the Elite was the best LCD/LED TV I've seen so far (I've also seen the Sony 929, Sharp 735, etc). Much much better than the LCD/LED a few years ago. I was all ready to get the 70" Elite or 80" Sharp next year due to their sizes. But, I think I'm just not a LCD/LED person. I'll have to resort to the smaller 65" plasma.

[joe1515]

Elite is aware of this thanks to the shootout, especially the work of the calibrators, and promised to take the feedback to the company for a fix, and it sounded as if that won't take long to do.

These guys are good. One of them, Kevin Miller, did an ISF calibration on my 111FD. It looks great three years later, but I imagine I should think about a tune-up.

Kevin Miller did my Elite as well. Great guy!

Joe

[trponhunter]

[QUOTE=TommyC;226053. The Panasonic VX100 plasma I viewed 3 years ago seemed more "clear," natural, and had more depth; like looking through a window rather than at a moving picture.[/QUOTE]

I have a vx100 - have had it for 3 years. Every night that I watch it I am still amazed - it is a bully.

[TommyC]

I have a vx100 - have had it for 3 years. Every night that I watch it I am still amazed - it is a bully.

Good for you :thumbsup: It's an awesome TV.

[prepress]

Rethinking what I saw at the shoot-out, I will admit that if my 111 went down with no hope of repair, I might well buy the Samsung PN59D8000 over the Elite. The main reason for this is color accuracy. The Samsung's is reference-level; the Elite has that nasty cyan issue. If that got fixed, it would be hard not to consider the Elite, but it is still an LCD with the attendant limitations of the format, principally off-axis viewing. My room is small enough that it may not matter, though.

Some on another forum noted a slight brightness around the Elite's screen edges. I didn't, but I wasn't looking for things like that.

And let me clarify something from a previous post. The cyan problem we observed is that cyan looks blue, not the other way around (I just caught that).

[prepress]

For what it's worth, Value Electronics had their annual shoot-out May 19/20, and last year's winner, the Elite, was bested by Panasonic's latest flagship plasma as voted by both audience and professional calibrators. I didn't attend, but watched some of it online.

[bakerman]

For what it's worth, Value Electronics had their annual shoot-out May 19/20, and last year's winner, the Elite, was bested by Panasonic's latest flagship plasma. as voted by both audience and professional calibrators. I didn't attend, but watched some of it online.

To someone looking for a bigger TV, me, that's good to know. Did I read somewhere that Panny bought the technology to the Kuro line? :scratch2:

[prepress]

To someone looking for a bigger TV, me, that's good to know. Did I read somewhere that Panny bought the technology to the Kuro line? :scratch2:

I believe that's true, they bought at least some of it, though Pioneer's engineers worked with Sharp on the Elite. The particular Panasonic model here is the TC-P65VT50. In the calibrators' voting, the Elite PRO-60X5FD still had the best black level, but the Panasonic tied it for the best overall contrast ratio. The Panasonic was considered to have the best motion resolution, color accuracy, and tied with the Samsung PN64E8000 for best general video quality.

Among the audience, the Elite was given best black level and contrast ratio, the Panasonic best color accuracy and general video quality, with the Samsung winning best motion resolution.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

-----=> LED TV vs. Plasma TV: New Winner Crowned at 2012 Value Electronics HDTV Shootout: BigPictureBigSound (http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/LED-TV-vs-Plasma-TV-2012-Value-Electronics-HDTV-Shootout.shtml)

[prepress]

So another shoot-out in the fall with OLED is coming, according to the Big Picture/Big Sound article. Perhaps I can make that one. I don't expect to be in the market, but you never know.

[MyPal]

Can't say I'm a fan of Samsung as I can't say they are allegedly built to last around 3000hrs. Can say the 12 month warranty has discretionary reservations which are questionable in the event of a statutory claim. Read it. Can't say anymore, sorry. :(

Late last year, I bought the current model Sony Bravia 65" HX925 (in USA it's the HX929) with a cheque. :O. In today's world, I've kind of forgotten what cheques look like, but on occasion it's nice to settle a transaction with a cheque. :yes:

So leading on from the path of TV justice, there are no regrets, no issues with the new choice. The standard 3 year manufacturer's warranty has been extended to 5 years at my option too. Something extra that was available with the 65" in this part of the world.

Truth be known, the standard warranty length is a good litmus as to what you are buying into nowadays. By subscribing to the smart TV phenomenon, they want you to keep upgrading... Some manufacturer's are more cunning than others with their engineering practices in order to help nudge the consumer along into the next generation.... Hardly environmentally green is it...

So my only gripe with the Sony as with any other TV is the power lead! If you change the power lead on the Sony to an audiophile quality PC, trim the power saver setting to low, after a calibration, the LCD panel will disappear & you will get 100% uniform black without question! :thumbsup: (A better PC will boost any TV).

BTW, I have also performed user mode calibrations with both the Sony 55" HX925 & the Samsung Series 8 (D8000 MY2011) side-by-side. Let's just say outside of your local bulk electrical store, most would prefer the Sony in their lounge room. As for the 65", it is only available exclusively through a Sony outlet in Australia. The Sony 65" has a better panel too & you $pay$ for it.. It is true the North American version HX929 was say, a little Latino, but it was sorted & it does tango with the best...

[1KW]

I'm looking forward to the apple tv. All my flat panels tv's are Sony.

[tsv_1]

Thought I would quickly share my Elite story with you fine gentlemen...

So, the media receiver for my 7 yr old Pioneer Elite Plasma (family room TV) bit the dust a few weeks ago. I looked into repairing it myself (I was hoping it was just a bad power supply, but appears to have been something more sinister). I also looked into having it repaired or replaced but those options were not cost-effective relative to just buying a new plasma set (sadly). So off to the recycling center went the old Elite (like bringing a beloved pet to the vet that one last time). Then it was time to look around at new Plasmas - I won't buy an LCD due to off-axis viewing.

Now, having seen OLED displays and knowing what's coming (or hopefully coming), I decided to minimize my short-term investment and look in the <$1K range for a new plasma. I ended up with this basic LG from my local Sam's Club (didn't want 3D and already have Apple TV so didn't need a smart TV either). This LG has been well reviewed, looks awesome with HD content, and at 60" is appreciably larger than my old 50" Elite. Only minor issue is highly reflective glass screen - but pulling the shades behind the viewing area takes 3 seconds.

Bottom line... I just can't see spending appreciable cashola on a new set when step-function new display technology is close at hand (re: OLED).


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gvi5Fw-9L._SS360_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/LG-60PA6500-60-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B006VFS4J2/ref=dp_ob_image_ce)

[prepress]

My biggest gripe with most of the new crop of TVs is the poor sound systems they have, a consequence of the push to thinner sets. The Elite has a decent one (15wpc, I think), and that would be important for someone like me who isn't set up to have a separate sound system for the TV and doesn't have the desire to connect the TV to my main system. One of the factors in my getting a PRO-111FD was the sound quality (which is even better now that I swapped out the stock power cord for a WW Stratus). Excellent sound for a flat panel, and enough to meet my needs.

[slowGEEZR]

I really like my 60" Pioneer Kuro. I also like my 46" Samsung 6 series LCD. The Pioneer is the better set, it has better sound and a more film like picture. It also doesn't suffer from the pixillation that the LCD does, something I notice on every LCD set I've seen.

[bakerman]

I don't mind having paid top dollar for my Kuro. I still find the picture absolutely stunning to this day. I just wish I had bought a larger set! I can't believe how the prices for sets have fallen. I can get a nice Panny 60" plasma for less that what I bought my 42" for a few years ago.

I also have a Sony XBR LCD and while it's a nice set it doesn't come close to the Kuro. I have a problem with the lack of motion control on LCD's, but at the same time I'm prone to seeing yellow streaking on my Plasma. Sucks to be me...

[prepress]

Can't say I'm a fan of Samsung as I can't say they are allegedly built to last around 3000hrs. Can say the 12 month warranty has discretionary reservations which are questionable in the event of a statutory claim. Read it. Can't say anymore, sorry. :(

Late last year, I bought the current model Sony Bravia 65" HX925 (in USA it's the HX929) with a cheque. :O. In today's world, I've kind of forgotten what cheques look like, but on occasion it's nice to settle a transaction with a cheque. :yes:

So leading on from the path of TV justice, there are no regrets, no issues with the new choice. The standard 3 year manufacturer's warranty has been extended to 5 years at my option too. Something extra that was available with the 65" in this part of the world.

Truth be known, the standard warranty length is a good litmus as to what you are buying into nowadays. By subscribing to the smart TV phenomenon, they want you to keep upgrading... Some manufacturer's are more cunning than others with their engineering practices in order to help nudge the consumer along into the next generation.... Hardly environmentally green is it...

So my only gripe with the Sony as with any other TV is the power lead! If you change the power lead on the Sony to an audiophile quality PC, trim the power saver setting to low, after a calibration, the LCD panel will disappear & you will get 100% uniform black without question! :thumbsup: (A better PC will boost any TV).

BTW, I have also performed user mode calibrations with both the Sony 55" HX925 & the Samsung Series 8 (D8000 MY2011) side-by-side. Let's just say outside of your local bulk electrical store, most would prefer the Sony in their lounge room. As for the 65", it is only available exclusively through a Sony outlet in Australia. The Sony 65" has a better panel too & you $pay$ for it.. It is true the North American version HX929 was say, a little Latino, but it was sorted & it does tango with the best...

I replaced the cord on my 111 with a Wireworld Stratus, and can agree with the improvement a good PC brings. Definitely better sound, and I think the picture is a tad sharper now (it took longer for that to manifest). I've also switched back to HDMI going out from the cable box (from component) with a better cable than before (Pangea HD-26L) and I think that may have dropped some improvement into the mix also. Good TVs should have good cables; these need not be expensive, either. The Elite (or any other quality set) will benefit, I think.

[LordoftheRingsEE]

I don't mind having paid top dollar for my Kuro. I still find the picture absolutely stunning to this day. I just wish I had bought a larger set! I can't believe how the prices for sets have fallen. I can get a nice Panny 60" plasma for less that what I bought my 42" for a few years ago.

I also have a Sony XBR LCD and while it's a nice set it doesn't come close to the Kuro. I have a problem with the lack of motion control on LCD's, but at the same time I'm prone to seeing yellow streaking on my Plasma. Sucks to be me...

-----Street price is much much less, and they have the 65" version too in that exceptionally good value model.

=> Panasonic TC-P55ST50 Plasma 3D HDTV | Home Theater (http://www.hometheater.com/content/panasonic-tc-p55st50-plasma-3d-hdtv)

http://www.hometheater.com/images/712pana.promo_.jpg?1339699618

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And Sharp has just released a 90" LED LCD HDTV set.

=> http://www.hometheater.com/content/sharp-90-inch-led-hits-stores