The death of plasma TVs? Pioneer is out of the game
By The Prodigal Fool, published on 12 February 2009
Bloomberg is reporting today that Pioneer is pulling out of the TV business. This is sad news for anyone who cares about picture quality. They were one of the very best.
The company’s U.S. and U.K. plants are shutting down in the next few months and Pioneer is drawing product development for TVs to a close.
Instead, Pioneer plans to focus on car audio, including in-car Blu-ray players and networked electronics, while its home electronics business focus on audio, DJ equipment and cable TV boxes, with a focus on using its expertise in improving sound.
If, like The Guide, you care passionationely about the picture quality of your TV, this is sad news. To our eyes, plasma still offers the best possible picture quality. Yes, LCD is catching up and, one day, OLED screens will over an impressive alternative but, right now, for pure picture quality, you still can’t do better than a plasma.
And, if you’re after a plasma, you can’t do better than a Pioneer.
We bought a couple of Pionneer PDP 436s about three years ago and they’re still up there with the best on the market today in terms of picture quality.
Picture quality aside, the other thing we love about our Pioneer plasma screens is the modular approach the company takes. Unlike many other manufacturers, the speakers and the receiver box are separate components. This means that when you hang the gorgeous looking, piano black screen on your wall that’s all you hang – no unsightly built-in speakers. It also means that you only have to worry about getting one cable to it. Much more elegant.
Yes, TV manufacturers would like to have us believe that LCD screens are as good if not better than plasma but the truth is, they’re not yet. The blacks are not as black, the colours are not as real. No, the only way in which LCDs are currently better is that they’re easier and cheaper to manufacture. Which is why they appeal so much to the TV makers.
With Pioneer giving up on plasma TVs (they apparently were struggling to make a profit from them) it’s hard to see the technology surviving. Pioneer were the best gig in town and we can’t see anyone else picking up their mantle.
So, Pioneer, The Guide bids you a fond and sad farewell from the TV business. You’ll be missed.
The death of plasma TVs? Pioneer is out of the game
Bloomberg is reporting today that Pioneer is pulling out of the TV business. This is sad news for anyone who cares about picture quality. They were one of the very best. The company’s U.S. and U.K. plants are shutting down in the next few months and Pioneer is drawing product development for TVs to a close. Instead, [...]
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