HQV Benchmark DVD Test
The PRO-950HD did quite well in the HQV Benchmark Test as it excelled in many of the picture and motion tests. The only detraction was the panel’s ability to display consistent images with 3:2 detection and various other film cadences. While jaggies weren’t prevalent, they were noticed slightly in most of the non-3:2 cadences.Is this an issue? I’m a little baffled by the results of the HQV tests on this panel. When watching TV and DVDs I didn’t see any issue with motion or image reproduction. Up close, the panel displayed images with a better clarity than any LCD I’ve tested. The 950HD really was the closest thing to a direct view television that I’ve reviewed.
But, I need to be fair and point out that I saw visible moiré pattern in the 3:2 cadence test. The other film cadences were either perfect or had slight issues in displaying the edge of the coffee cup. All other tests received perfect scores and the panel had no issue displaying crawling or scrolling text.
Key Specifications
1024 x 768 ResolutionASIC Video Processing and Scaling
Advanced PureCinema with 3:3 Pulldown
ATSC and Dual NTSC Tuners
Built-In CableCard™ Slot
ISFccc Calibration Ready
New Independant Gamma Control (R/G/B)
TV Guide On Screen Interactive Guide (Ver. 9)
Side Mask Detection
Microsoft PlaysForSure™ Protected Content
Inputs
4 - Independent HDMI 1.3 (With PC Support, 2 w/analog audio)
2 - Component
3 - Composite
1 - S-Video
1 - Antenna A & B
1 - USB (Mass Storage Class)
1 - PC
1 - LAN (10/100 Base-T Ethernet)
Dimensions
Carton Dimensions 46-1/4 x 33-1/16 x 14-1/4 inches (WxHxD)
Carton Weight 86.4 lbs.
Panel (w/integrated bottom speaker) 40-15/16 x 26-3/4 x 4-1/2 inches (WxHxD)
Panel Weight (w/integrated bottom speaker) 66.9 lbs.
The Bottom Line
On the days leading up to returning the PRO-950HD to the manufacturer I felt like a little kid counting down the clock until the first day of school. I was sad.It's quite sad that a grown man would be pouting about a television but this was a beautiful product. The picture was superb. Even when powered off, the panel looked elegant.
Pioneer is known for making high-end plasma displays. As a result, you'll pay a bit more for the Pioneer name but the end result will be that much better. Given a choice of buying this plasma for $2000+ or another brand for hundreds less I would opt for the higher priced Pioneer. Why? Because you can't put a price when seeking a high grade, high quality product.
I did an informal side-by-side test with the PRO-950HD and my Samsung DLP, which is about three years old and has a few miles on it. The Pioneer was dramatically better in picture quality. And, keep in mind that my Samsung has a wonderful picture but the images displayed on the Pioneer were that much better.
The bottom line is that you can own a good TV or a great TV like the PRO-950HD. While I don't think the PRO-950HD is for everyone solely because of the price tag, I think that this is a must-own for someone emphasizing quality and style.
