There’s nothing much to say here other than what I’ve stated in the headline, folks. Pioneer has announced that they are officially getting out of the plasma HDTV business. Despite the quality of their plasma HDTVs, the TV division hasn’t been doing so well. Another factor is Panasonic’s recent announcement that their new plasma factory would not be ready to roll until 2010.
The Nikkei reports that Pioneer’s DVD division will be joining forces with Sharp in some new joint venture.
via HD Guru
Doesn’t shock me. Pioneer’s name in the biz hasn’t been associated with high quality for awhile, they aren’t in Wal-Mart, and they don’t advertise much.
Hasn’t been associated with high quality? What are you smoking? Have you not heard of the Pioneer Elite Series? They have made some of the highest quality plasma sets ever produced by human hands… And fuck walmart anyway. What self-respecting audio/videophile worth his salt buys his equipment at WalMart?
Well, I’m not going to criticize any comments made or pretend that I’m a Pioneer fanboy, but I WAS!!! Until my 2, yes TWO year old 5071HD Pioneer 50″ plasma $2,600 television stopped working. Two years of providing a great quality picture and sound GONE. All that I know is that if I bought a new car, I wouldn’t have expected it to DIE in two years. Quality? Pioneer? NOT! GOOD RIDDANCE Pioneer! Leave! I, for one will not miss you! My $900, 3-year old Insignia 42″ LCD (exactly…who?) that’s still going strong won’t miss you either!
> Pioneer’s name in the biz hasn’t been associated with high quality for awhile, they aren’t in Wal-Mart
funny, i find those two qualities mutually exclusive of each other.
What are you smoking? Pioneer has had the highest quality plasma displays available to consumers for years. Have you ever seen a Kuro?
@liz: nice point
Sigh. My first and still my favorite display was an Elite 800HD. I was looking at displays in Osaka a few weeks ago and (fair enough with different source material) I still though they were the best in the shop.
RIP.
Bummer. I love my Pioneer plasma. At least the Panny’s a decent alternative.
Walmart & Pioneer do not belong in the same sentence, BTW. I’m betting you consider BOSE to be hi-fi.