View Full Version : Pioneer to end TV production
Wow, this is big news if confirmed.
Pioneer To End TV Production, Spin Off DVD Development-Nikkei
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Pioneer Corp. (6773.TO) will pull the plug on its loss-ridden television business and shift its DVD player operations to a new venture with Sharp Corp. (6753.TO) in a sweeping overhaul, The Nikkei reported in its Thursday morning edition.
The company had been planning to end in-house production of plasma panels by the end of March and outfit its TVs with Panasonic Corp. (6752.TO) panels instead. Faced with worsening profit margins, however, it has decided to end TV development and production altogether.
Pioneer will idle its lone domestic TV factory in Shizuoka Prefecture sometime this year. Factories in the U.S. and Europe are already slated for closure.
Sales of Pioneer TVs will continue for the time being. The company has not yet decided what to do when inventories run out.
Meanwhile, Pioneer will spin off its DVD player operations, which are equally steeped in losses, to a new company to be set up with Sharp as early as this spring.
The company plans to eliminate several thousand of its roughly 40,000 groupwide jobs in the year ending March 2010. Pioneer is likely to post a consolidated net loss of more than Y100 billion for the year ending this March, wider than the Y78 billion loss it forecast earlier.
http://www.djnewsplus.com/ge/article/DN-CO-20090206-012275.html?mod=J1&a=T+Wire&h=Pioneer+To+End+TV+Production%2C+Spin+Off+DVD+Development-Nikkei+
shame if true they were by quite some margin the best consumer panels out there. they were also extremely expensive mind which i guess in these times is not the place to be to shift stock.
Niceguygeoff
06-02-2009, 21:21
Damn. There goes my hope for replacing my current (and lovely) Pio with a proper 1080p model when Freeview HD finally comes out.
I'm a plasma fan, but I really don't want to have to get a Panasonic as I don't like their processing. (Yes, I know that the glass in future Pio's would've been from Panny, but Pioneer's proprietary processing would remain.)
Damn. :(
LouBarlow
06-02-2009, 21:44
Damn indeed. I was looking to upgrade my Kuro soon. I guess they will just become more expensive with this news :(
By far the finest AV purchase I've ever made though.
:-( No more kuros... and crappy sharp blu ray players
I got a Kuro when they dropped the price at Xmas...
If it's going to be the last plasma they make, then I expect people to snap them up and due to the weak pound prices to creep up.
I had a Fuji VHA30 which had a Panny 6G panel inside it, but the Kuro comfotably kicks it's ass.
That black level everyone raves about is no gimmick, it improves every aspect of the picture. it has made me a HD whore though...
Sky HD didn't take long to appear once I had it.
shame if true they were by quite some margin the best consumer panels out there. they were also extremely expensive mind which i guess in these times is not the place to be to shift stock.
Never seen an Hitachi panel then I take it? :)
I'm pretty gutted by this, I always hoped one day I would have a Pioneer panel :(
Thats not good news, Have a Pioneer myself and absolutely love it
Gutted, I wish they would sell the Kuro technology and brand to Panasonic. I was planning to buy a Pioneer 50" later this year :(
spearce8
08-02-2009, 14:54
I was planning to buy a Pioneer 50" later this year :(
Why should news like this stop you :shrug:
It won't but I doubt there will be any left at the end of the year!
Nick dVl
09-02-2009, 18:58
Damn. I was one day planning to own one of these babies. Out of all the LCD and plasma tellies I looked at, the Pioneer stood easily above the rest. The others simply aren't even in the same ball game at the moment - I was completely shocked at how bad some of them are in comparison.
*prays OLED technology gets bigger and cheaper fast!*
'tis indeed a shame. I, like others, was going to indulge later in the year (when I'd saved up for it)...
LouBarlow
09-02-2009, 19:24
I'd still buy one - there will be plenty knocking about and warranties will still be covered. I'm still planning on upgrading.
Andrew70
10-02-2009, 10:11
It wouldn't make sense not to sell their technology on if they truly are quitting the TV market. Who's going to sit on an asset that will eventually become worthless when OLED finally takes off? Panasonic could come out of this very nicely if they're both pragmatic about it.
It wouldn't make sense not to sell their technology on if they truly are quitting the TV market. Who's going to sit on an asset that will eventually become worthless when OLED finally takes off? Panasonic could come out of this very nicely if they're both pragmatic about it.
I dunno...
It automatically makes Panasonic top of the tree.
Why do they have to innvoate now? Everytime they release a new screen it gets compared to a Kuro but they're aiming at a different sector.
I remember when Panny's made the best screen and the Pio was crap in comparison. Their blacks were milky greys and suffered terribly with screen burn.
Exactly the same thing happened to Fujitsu who occupied where Pioneer are now.
magneticman
10-02-2009, 17:52
Looks like i'll never get to own a Kuro after all.. :(
It's offical now...
Current models are the last they'll produce...
I had a Fujistu screen using Panny glass that was best in class..then they went tits up and now the Kuro I've just bought has gone the same route.
Oh well...won't be upgrading this for ages...
LouBarlow
12-02-2009, 14:50
Gonna buy me one soon then.
Dick Long
13-02-2009, 14:38
Panasonic could come out of this very nicely if they're both pragmatic about it.
Panasonic are also in deep do-dos at present with redundancies, factory closures and a large surplus of sets to dispose of. They've started a campaign for their Japanese workers to buy them from them!
pigpicker
15-02-2009, 20:48
I took the plunge last week and bought a krp500m
I've had my 28" CRT for 8 yrs now and started saving a couple of years ago for a large HD panel and after several recent demos and a fair bit of research I plumped for the pioneer.
I didn't realise that they were going to anounce their withdrawal from TV production when I bought it and was initially concerned about warranties/spares etc but according to info posted on other forums Pioneer will uphold all 5 yr warranties.
spearce8
15-02-2009, 21:11
I took the plunge last week and bought a krp500m
Will be taking the plunge within the next few Days myself (A) where did you order from? TLC? and was it Panel only? only perhaps looking to get Wall bracket and Speakers seperate, but not sure where, not sure if TLC is best option at all yet :thinking:
pigpicker
15-02-2009, 21:32
I went through Superfi in Nottingham and bought an Onkyo 876 amp for good measure. I chose them as they were the nearest dealer to me who came across best over the phone.
The prices were pretty reasonable and the panel came with a 5yr warranty (as I had an instore demo of a LX-6090).
After a bit of back-and-forthery pricewise they threw in 4 x HDMI cables and gave me 50% off the pioneer wall bracket too.
(Apparently you need the proper pioneer wall bracket for the KRP's as the generic ones won't work)
LouBarlow
16-02-2009, 04:12
Yeah I ordered a 5G last night. Now to sell my 4G model :D
(Apparently you need the proper pioneer wall bracket for the KRP's as the generic ones won't work)
You don't need the Pioneer one...
There's a 3rd party one that a lot of people are using. I personally did get the pioneer one as it's very slim..
Screen is 64mm thick + wall bracket which is 22mm thick = 8.6cm from wall to front of screen.
Got my KRP-500A from TLC who had a special offer weekend over xmas and the bracket from hifigear.co.uk who were by far the cheapest at the time.
Some of the avforum bought a £15.99 wall bracket which they rated well and that has an inch depth.
spearce8
16-02-2009, 11:59
Got my KRP-500A from TLC who had a special offer weekend over xmas
Do you mind if I asked what you paid.
Do you mind if I asked what you paid.
Just copied and pasted off my purchase e-mail.
1x Pioneer KRP-500A Full HD Kuro Plasma TV, includes FREE 5-year warranty £2,159.00
Just checked their website:
£2,295.00
http://www.tlcbroadcast.co.uk/full-kuro-plasma-includes-free-5year-warranty-p-373.html
LouBarlow
16-02-2009, 16:54
Errr I meant I ordered a 9G last night, not a 5G :suspect: :doh:
How is the build quality on yours Deron? I have read that it is not up to the same standard as the previous generation, in order to keep costs down?
Slightly worrying if true.
Errr I meant I ordered a 9G last night, not a 5G :suspect: :doh:
How is the build quality on yours Deron? I have read that it is not up to the same standard as the previous generation, in order to keep costs down?
Slightly worrying if true.
I dunno...
I never had the previous one...
But considering it's nearly half as thick 64mm<115mm has no internal processing in it...
In total it's a heavier bit of kit.
31.4kg (screen) + 4.5kg (media box)> 34.5kg
So not sure exactly how badly they've shirked on the build...or what they've left out.
I'm coming from a 4 and a half year old 480p bullet proof Fuji. The Pioneer looks and feels like a quality piece of kit in comparison though.
It looks lush on the wall.
pigpicker
16-02-2009, 19:39
You don't need the Pioneer one...
There's a 3rd party one that a lot of people are using. I personally did get the pioneer one as it's very slim..
Screen is 64mm thick + wall bracket which is 22mm thick = 8.6cm from wall to front of screen.
Got my KRP-500A from TLC who had a special offer weekend over xmas and the bracket from hifigear.co.uk who were by far the cheapest at the time.
Some of the avforum bought a £15.99 wall bracket which they rated well and that has an inch depth.
In that case then ... they've done me like a kipper!! :eek::eek:
spearce8
24-02-2009, 10:26
As the KRP-500A is Panel only, anyone know if TLC (or whoever) are known to do deals/discounts on Speakers/Wall mounts.
LouBarlow
24-02-2009, 11:29
I bought mine from LeadingEdge and they gave me a free pedestal. Could choose either the pedestal or the speakers on my LX5090 + 5 year warranty. Thought it was a good deal.
As the KRP-500A is Panel only, anyone know if TLC (or whoever) are known to do deals/discounts on Speakers/Wall mounts.
I used to have speakers for stereo use, but didn't like the look of the pioneer ones...
Only one's I like are some lush looking piano black B+W ones, but I'm not paying that amount.
Tv is connected to energy saving plug and when it comes out of standby it fires up my amp, which I've paired to my sky remote for everyone to control the volume.
Only gets complicated when the other preipheral's are required as my daft missus refuses to use Harmony remote...:shrug:
But she can do normal tv...
Kids help her out with the rest though.
LouBarlow
04-03-2009, 14:34
Well my LX5090 arrived this morning and frankly, the image is just stunning. Such a shame that Pio won't be making any more panels :(
I thought my 8G was the bee's but the 9th blows it away on every level.
Well pleased.
spearce8
04-03-2009, 16:20
I've finally ordered the 500A, they are selling like Hot Cakes on TLC since the news.
Just need a Player now, don't really want to use my PS3, any recommendations anyone :) or is the PS3 as good as a dedicated stand alone?
I've finally ordered the 500A, they are selling like Hot Cakes on TLC since the news.
Just need a Player now, don't really want to use my PS3, any recommendations anyone :) or is the PS3 as good as a dedicated stand alone?
Not got Bluray myself, but I do know that the Pioneer will pick up the Deep Color if the player supports it.
Also Pioneer announced some Bluray players recently which will configure the video if they sense a Kuro...
http://i.gizmodo.com/5125634/pioneer-drops-below-300-with-bd+live-blu+ray-player-crazy-vid-tweaks-on-step+up-models
LouBarlow
05-03-2009, 10:18
PS3 supports deep colour doesn't it?
Either way, BD in dot by dot mode looks stunning using my PS3
PS3 supports deep colour doesn't it?
Yeah think so...
But do any Blu-Ray discs?
LouBarlow
05-03-2009, 10:44
Yeah think so...
But do any Blu-Ray discs?
Good point - no idea.
I get 24bit colour come up on screen when watching BD, but I have no idea what it means (not cracked open the manual yet :p )
spearce8
06-03-2009, 20:32
A couple of quick Questions :)
In general, how far up a wall do you Forumies have your Plasma's, don' want to strain my eyes.
And with the 500A, when the bracket is fitted to the wall (PDK-WM02) how much higher would the Plasma be once fitted, I assume it doesn't run Parallel.
TA
backtothefuture
07-03-2009, 05:16
I've finally ordered the 500A, they are selling like Hot Cakes on TLC since the news.
Just need a Player now, don't really want to use my PS3, any recommendations anyone :) or is the PS3 as good as a dedicated stand alone?
was wondering this myself so bought WhatHifi ... from what I can gather, there are cheaper and slightly better players out there but the PS3 can more than hold its own...
If you already own a PS3 and use it to watch blu-rays no point in getting a dedicated blu-ray player (since not worth the extra expense vs extra quality over your existing PS3)
If you don't own a PS3 and want to watch movies go for either a Panasonic BD 55 or Sony S550... both highly recommended but the former won the awards etc I think..
Currently using my PS3 with my Pioneer PDP 505 .. (bought the latter in 2006) ... can't fault the picture!
spearce8
21-03-2009, 19:12
Finally got round to setting it up today, thing is I do believe I'm a Power Cable short, one for the TV, and one for the Media Box, is that correct?
Who would I seek out if that's the case, Pioneer direct, or TLC.
There's some hidden compartment in the box that everyone seems to miss that has the power cables.
Near the bottom of the box...Can't remember exactly where.
GaryBritton
24-03-2009, 18:04
Pretty often they are hidden away in the packaging but there are cases of the cables not being in the box. Ring Steve at TLC and he will sort you out with the right cables. If you can't wait they are simply kettle leads that you would use for a PC/Printer/etc with Ferrite Cores which you attach.
spearce8
24-03-2009, 21:24
Everything sorted now :)
Just need the Pioneer BDP-LX71 Player and I'm all set.
Still trying though to figure out settings etc, apparently it's pretty much good to go straight out the box, I've changed a few basic settings as suggested from the AV Forums, there must be a 400+ pages to look through for suggested settings/tips :|
As for running in, this set doesn't require that, does it?
anephric
24-03-2009, 21:59
Are Kuros pre-run in?
As for running in, this set doesn't require that, does it?
They say to go easy for the first 200 or so hours...
I just whacked mine into pure mode and added +1 on the brightness.
It was too black and I couldn't see certain details.
Was good to go after that....
Does get better as you go along...but that may just be me getting used to it.
Last Kuro's will roll off production line in May...
Not long left now!
http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/03/24/pioneer-gives-up-no-more-kuro-plasma-tvs-from-may/
spearce8
25-03-2009, 07:47
They say to go easy for the first 200 or so hours...
I just whacked mine into pure mode and added +1 on the brightness.
I used the AVForums suggestions:
Pure Mode
Contrast 32
Brightness +1
Colour 0
Tint 0
Sharpness -15
PRO ADJUST
PURE CINEMA
Fim Mode OFF (SKY) or Advanced (BLUE RAY HD) OFF (SD DVD)
TXT Opt OFF
Intellegent Mode OFF
PICTURE DETAIL
DRE OFF (more accurate) or Low if you want
more fake contrast
BLACL LEVEL OFF
ACL OFF
Enhancer Mode 2
Gamma 2
COLOUR DETAIL
Colour Temp Manual (PUSH FOR ENTER FOR 3 SECONDS)
Red High -3
Green High 0
Blue High -2
Red Low -1
Green Low 0
Blue Low -1
CTI OFF
Colour Management
Red +1
Yellow -1
Green 0
Cyan -1
Blue 0
Magenta -2
Colour Space 2
Noise Reduction All Off
Options Menu
scroll to second page
Drive mode
Select 2 for Sky HD (SD) or 1 for DVD and Blue Ray.
____________________________
Should I have really waited the 200+ Hours before doing this :shrug: this sort of thing always confused me.
spearce8
25-03-2009, 08:37
Sodding brilliant, just found a stuck Red Pixel :mad: I've got one on the other set I have to (Panny 42PZ)
Why does this happen to me :cry: is this common, I need Re-assuring here, and where would I stand regards swapping this.
I only switch it on for the first time yesterday, could more appear?
Is this something I could of caused with the settings, or is this just something that happens, excuse all the Questions, but God I'm ****** off.
EDIT
Look what I found
http://www.avforums.com/forums/plasma-televisions/887464-pioneer-krp-m-owners-thread-part-1-a-6.html
Post 82, you'll notice a few posts up I complained of no Power Cable.
Another Edit
Ok, this is strange, the Pixel disappears and then sometimes re-appears if I change channels, what's that mean? is the Pixel dying, this is against Sky's main menu, the Blue Background.
LouBarlow
25-03-2009, 11:18
I think I would jump under a train if my 5090 had a dodgy pixel - I feel your pain :(
If it's flashing red, you might be lucky, as it might become unstuck over time.
spearce8
25-03-2009, 14:34
If it's flashing red, you might be lucky, as it might become unstuck over time.
It's not "Flashing" so to speak, it's just if I leave it on Sky's Planner (Blue Background) for 10/15 Sec, sometimes just a couple of seconds, it appears to disappear from Red and blend back into the Blue, on anything else and it would appear to be "Stuck" until I switch back to the Planner.
What does this all mean though, anyone experience this, I'm gonna leave it on the Planner for a while, see what happens.
What does this all mean though, anyone experience this, I'm gonna leave it on the Planner for a while, see what happens.
If you go and sit in your normal seating position can you actually see it?
You have a 5 year warranty so it's not the end of the world.
I personally haven't looked to see if I have any, but can't see any from where I sit.
There's over 2 million pixels on it, so I'm pretty sure the chances of you seeing it without being 3 inches from the screen are low.
But it's up to you...you've paid your money.
LouBarlow
25-03-2009, 17:47
Personally, I would send it back under the distance seller regulations, or whatever they are called. If it's going to annoy you, then you won't get any pleasure from a set that has cost you 2K.
spearce8
25-03-2009, 18:44
Personally, I would send it back under the distance seller regulations, or whatever they are called. If it's going to annoy you, then you won't get any pleasure from a set that has cost you 2K.
It does annoy me, but that's me, thing is, just how common are stuck/dead pixels, I just don't see the point in swapping it if the likelihood is it could easily happen again, I'm guessing this is common, as a set I purchased last month also as a stuck pixel :(
LouBarlow
25-03-2009, 19:22
It's very uncommon in plasmas, and even less common in Pio's. You have been well unlucky. Honestly, exchange it.
pigpicker
25-03-2009, 21:42
It's very uncommon in plasmas, and even less common in Pio's. You have been well unlucky. Honestly, exchange it.
I bought a KRP 500M at the start of March and 2 weeks ago a green 'stuck' pixel appeared on the lower right side of the screen.
As mentioned above the green pixel is there for a while and then it might disappear but it's there more often than it's not.
I called the dealer today (who I bought it from) and he recommended speaking directly to Pioneer (0870 6001589) so I called them and got straight through to some bloke.
He told me that one stuck pixel is 'within pioneer's spec' and that he would struggle to get the set replaced for one (two or even three!) stuck pixel(s).
Then he told me that even if it was replaced I could get another one with one or more stuck pixels.
As you can imagine I was pretty ****** off and told him that I felt as though I was being fobbed off which was well out of order after spending £2k+ on a primo tv!
He basically said that his hands were tied.
So what do you think? I personally think he was trying to pull a fast one and fob me off. Do you think I should persue it further or is one stuck pixel to be expected out of 2 million??
would drive me bloody mad if I had a dead pixel
about to order Pioneer Kuro LCD off the internet - just so I have the option of returning within 7 days if it has just this problem (which isn't deemed to be a problem if you're the manufacturer)
Nick dVl
26-03-2009, 10:02
A £2k+ TV with a bad pixel? I'd sent it back to get a replacement or demand my money refunded.
Still wish I could afford a Pioneer plasma right now before they disappear for good. :cry:
spearce8
26-03-2009, 10:17
Well I'm still in two minds here whether or not to ask TLC to swap (when they do get stock in, along with BDP-LX71) was watching a bit of the Cricket this morning, and it was fine, no stuck pixel, then it appeared just like that, then went away again, just like that :doh:
Yesterday however it appeared to be stuck on every channel except Sky's blue planner background (dissapeared after 15/20 Secs) I'm trying to convince myself that it's slowly trying to fix itself :doh:
I know to some this may seem petty, it's not as if I'll be watching from 6 inches away, but this really does bug me, I know what's gonna happen, I'll be going upto the TV every so often just to check, I'm sure I'm not alone here.
Niceguygeoff
26-03-2009, 17:18
Pioneer are apparently right ******** when it comes to dead pixels.
spearce8
30-03-2009, 18:27
Regards the Digital tuner on the Media box, what exectly do I connect to this?
Can Sky HD be connected to it? thing is that's two wires isn't it.
Regards the Digital tuner on the Media box, what exectly do I connect to this?
Can Sky HD be connected to it? thing is that's two wires isn't it.
One is for freeview...
And the other is for fta satellite.
You can plug one of your sky cables into it, but will only receive fta satellite channels.
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