Pioneer PDP-4280 Review Pt 1

Pioneer PDP 4280

The first 4 pages of the Pioneer PDP4280XD review is now available. I’m still speed-burning it at the moment, but the plasma should be ripe for calibration and benchmark testing within the next 24 hours… hopefully I can complete and release the full review by the end of the week.

14 comments

  1. Very very interesting..

    Can’t wait to read the rest of the review.

  2. I also can’t wait to read it! I am seriously considering a new Pioneer and this review carries a lot of weight in my final decision.

    Keep up the good work!

  3. I’ve been waiting to see this TV for some time, looking forward to the full review!
    Could you point out any differences with the pdp-428xd, there don’t seem to be too many this time compared to the older 427/4270

  4. can’t wait to see your findings good sir. :) I am totally hyped on these plasmas.

  5. Can’t wait for the full review.

    One thing tough, why are those new Pioneers so much cheaper in the USA than here in Europe?

    Check this USA prices:

    http://www.nextag.com/pioneer-5080/search-html

    In the US you pay ~2500$ for a 5080, which is ~1250GBP. In England however you’ll pay double, 2500GBP!!!

    Other popular screens like te Samsung Q97 or Panny PX60 are around the same price here and in the US. So is Pioneer screwing us?

  6. Notice the full review’s now up – thanks! Already bought mine, but good to see that the consensus here is just about as positive as mine :-)

    Hopefully we’ll get the review settings asap :-)

  7. I went back to Comet a week ago, and found they had lots of new Samsung, Philips, Sony and Toshiba 1080p sets in.

    I saw the new Pioneer 508XD and this screen too.

    Still, the 42PFL7662D/05 blows everything out of the water.

  8. Great Review. Looking foward to the 1080p version of this. Big thumbs up Vincent. Hope you’re enjoying that TV. ;)

  9. Fantastic review, guess it’s time to open my wallet :-)

    These are truly the best reviews on the internet, I for one am extremely grateful for the time and effort you’ve put into this.

    Cheers!

  10. It would be really nice if you posted your settings, since I’ll also be viewing Blu-Ray discs with a PS3.

  11. What’s the measured black level of this panel?

  12. Wow! looks like this set really made an impression on you. I do think that if pioneer want to stay competitive, they must produce their 9th generation of plasmas 1080p capabale (in 42 Inch. as well).
    eager to see what lays ahead…
    Marvelous work vincent as usuall,
    sincerely yours
    Ido.

    p.s. a lot of the space on the site is still not used. time for some Advertisement and marketing!

  13. I agree with Ido. Whether or not there is an actual perceptible difference @ 1080p on screens under 50″ the punters out there will always be wooed by tech specs. 1080p will very quickly become the standard requirement. Pioneer and indeed all other plasma makers will have to go 1080p across the whole range and will have to do it pronto.

    Sadly, what the punters don’t seem to realise is that they’re going to be saddled with SD TV broadcasts for a fair few years yet and, however good the scaling, 1080p panels just don’t cut the mustard with SD. This is the bother with buying Tv’s at the moment. Games are HD, HD-DVD/Blu-ray are HD but the majority of viewing is still SD TV/DVD. Which is why I suspect that most people will be better off buying 1024 or 1366 rez panels like this Pioneer. Trouble is they don’t realise it…

  14. Hi
    Configuring the settings for the 4280 seems daunting for the average user. How about posting a guide to how to do this for different sources e.g. freeview, standard dvd, ps3 etc etc?? I am sure lots of people will be interested in this!!