Best Replacement for Pioneer PDP508XA 50" Plasma TV?

tonydav on 05/05/2020 - 13:09
Last edited 05/05/2020 - 13:23 by 1 other user

Around 10 years ago I splurged and spent my entire tax refund (some $5k from memory) on what was widely regarded as the best 50" plasma available. A Pioneer PDP508XA. The first (and last??) of the Kuro line. The price at least included delivery and professional tuning.

Fast forward 10 years and it's still an outstanding TV. But it's starting to play up with some of the HDMI ports not working and it's "only" 50". Huge in 2010, meh in 2020.

So I'm looking at a replacement of 65+". I don't want to get something that is inferior but TBH finding it difficult working out what TVs are actually an improvement over my old girl.

I'm not looking to rush into this. And I may have to wait for a drop in prices if what I need is too expensive.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • Hybroid on 05/05/2020 - 13:10
    +2

    Pop into a store and have a look at the Sony/LG 4K OLED range. Mind blowing compared to a 1365x768 plasma.

    • tonydav on 05/05/2020 - 13:15

      I have seen them. You're right they are amazing but sooo expensive, and apparently not likely to drop in price.

      Whilst 10 years ago I was happy to spend $5k on a TV I don't think I'm likely to do that again.

      • Hybroid on 05/05/2020 - 13:17
        +1

        Some of the LG 55" ones are at a reasonable price point now. With their new 2020 range coming up soon, they may drop further.

        If you're in no rush at all, there's going to be a big push at the end of the year with new spec TVs coming out with HDMI 2.1 and 120Hz support for the next-gen consoles like PS5. If you're keeping it for 10 years, might be worth a gander then and current models will be even more reduced.

  • brendanm on 05/05/2020 - 13:16
    +6

    You will need to get OLED, otherwise you will be disappointed.

    • fluffymurderball on 05/05/2020 - 13:59

      That's subjective and dependent on so many things. I did not like the LG B9 I bought. Way too glary in my living space. Was able to return it and picked up the 2019 Samsung Q75R instead. Suits my use case much better.

      • brendanm on 05/05/2020 - 14:36
        +2

        If he is used to plasma, he will want an oled. Don't even know what you mean by "glary"?

  • garetz on 05/05/2020 - 13:16
    +1

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/535452

    its right on the front page.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 05/05/2020 - 13:20

    OLED but hold off until next year.

    • MontyMacaw on 06/05/2020 - 10:49
      +1

      Everything is better “next year”

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 06/05/2020 - 18:01

        There has been relatively few advancements in the past 2 years. Next year will see HDMI 2.1 on most flagships. That's a big deal.

  • Gnostikos on 05/05/2020 - 13:49
    +2

    You know 65" Plasmas are dirt cheap on Gumtree?

    I picked up one myself at the start of this year for $200 (talked the guy down from $300), as I wanted a backup Plasma for my main, which is coming up to 10 years old now (still working a treat though).

    Like everyone has said, OLEDs are the only definitive upgrade from a top-of-the-range Plasma, but they're just too bloody pricey at the moment, especially since Panasonic has pulled out of the Australian market entirely.

    The last and best Plasmas on the market were Panasonic's GT60 series and the Samsung F8500 from 2013/2014. I would find one of those second-hand; they still have plenty of life left in them and are modern enough to be have excellent connectivity options, minus the "smart TV" bullsh*t, but that's easily tacked on with any sub-$100 media player like a Roku, Xiaomi TV, Himedia Q5/Q10 or KDLINKS.

    • tonydav on 05/05/2020 - 14:38

      Interesting idea. I think they made a 65" Kuro or whatever they were called when Panasonic bought out Pioneer.

      • Gnostikos on 05/05/2020 - 14:50
        +2

        The Panasonic GT60, VT60 and ZT60 are basically the successors to the Kuro line from Pioneer and use much of the same technology. They and the Samsung F8500 are the best Plasmas ever made, with the close runners-up being the ultra high-end Kuro PDP-LX609A and PDP-LX508A, which very few people in Australia ever had and which cost over $10,000 AUD when new.

        The majority of the Kuro line-up is pre-2009 and quite ancient, even compared to the advancements Plasmas made in the years after Pioneer's exit from the Plasma TV market.

    • casho on 08/05/2020 - 13:49

      I picked up the last Panasonic VT60 plasma for sale in Victoria years ago at JB at huge discount. Still going strong!

  • Leeeroy on 05/05/2020 - 14:22
    +1

    My Pioneer Plasma Kuro PDP-LX508a is still going strong as our main living room tv, it still looks great!

    I bought a second LCD TV which I never liked. I replaced this with an LG OLED (OLED55B8) and it's a great looking TV, even better looking screen than the Pioneer but you'd expect that with over a decade in between them (OLED's have 4k HDR ect).

    So in short upgrade to a good OLED and you should be impressed.

    OLED would be the best replacement right now, unless of course you want to wait for MicroLED but this could take years.

    • tonydav on 05/05/2020 - 14:37

      They're a great TV. The only other TV's I seen that have impressed as much have been OLEDs, so may have to wait until I can afford one of these.

  • Leeeroy on 05/05/2020 - 15:11

    You can get an LG B series 55 inch OLED for well under 2k on sale. This is your best bet.
    Going from 1365 x 768 50inch to 55inch 4k OLED will be quite an upgrade.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/511242

  • pformag on 05/05/2020 - 17:09

    I went from A Panasonic VT20 to Samsung Q75R. Very happy.

  • goody on 06/05/2020 - 10:52

    Last year I bought a 49" Hisense to replace an Aldi 40" which died 2 months after the warranty and for the money it's pretty, pretty good (around $400 from memory).
    The 3 year warranty was a selling point after my Aldi experience.
    I rely on Wirecutter advice for a lot of things and they put me onto TCL which they recommend and wasn't even on my radar at the time - probably would have bought this instead of the Hisense if I'd seen it beforehand.
    https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-tv/

  • OzHunterNSW on 06/05/2020 - 12:24

    Televisions certainly have advanced since then.
    I recently purchased the LG C9 65" and got it at a bargain through this very site.

    Go LG OLED C9 or newer.

    You will be amazed by its immersive clarity… far far superior to your old plasma.

    Plus you will save heaps in running costs.

    • Bill48 on 06/05/2020 - 18:44

      But it's +$2000.

  • tonydav on 06/05/2020 - 15:01

    Seem to be very few OLEDs at JB at the moment. Suspect new years line coming out.

    They did have a Hisense 65" OLED. Any good?

  • Bill48 on 06/05/2020 - 18:40

    Love my 10 year old Samsung 50" plasma. Not a thing wrong with it but wish it had audio return channel.

  • ern123 on 07/05/2020 - 21:01
    +1

    I bought the same TV about 10 years ago with the delivery and calibration included also. Funny only have one HDMI input working also so plugged in a chromecast to make it smarter! Moved it into the other room and bought an LG B755 to upgrade. The Kuro is still working fine,The LG is clearer and super smart however at times still prefer the pioneer, Had a burn in issue with the OLED (LG replaced the panel, for free well outside warranty) and the OLED seems “darker” during some scenes. It is a great picture and dont like LCDs. I know people will disagree but I was expecting a huge improvement in picture quality, unsure if this happened.I would wait in til the LG65cx hopefully come down in price like the C9s did.

    • tonydav on 12/05/2020 - 14:08

      TBH I'm more than happy with the picture. I've looked at OLED and they look awesome with the demos in the store, but on movies etc I haven't found them much better.

      Just after something a bit bigger and don't want to go backwards for the size.

      I've run mine via a Denon amp for a few years. Hence only need the one HDMI port. Strange that the same has happened to you with yours.

  • camelfarmer1 on 12/05/2020 - 17:26

    Consider the panasonic gz1000. If I was looking for 65 inch and not 55 inch I'd have it for $3000 before haggling.

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