Pioneer 4330 Floor Model - Advice?

[JoelH]

It looks like I have the opportunity to purchase a Pioneer PDP-4330HD closeout floor model for around $2k. I estimate this unit has about 2000+ hours of use in the store. It has a nice picture and appears to be working fine. It would come with the normal Pioneer warranty.

A few questions:

1. Generally, does this seem like a really good deal, or just so-so?
2. Are the newer Pioneer 43" HD units signifiicantly improved in PQ, or just in connectivity?
3. Will this model take add-in cards for HDMI, CableCard etc.?
4. Should I be very concerned about the usage already on the panel?

I've been holding out for a 50" model, but this might serve very welll for a year or two as the 50" devices continue to improve their price/performance.

Thanks for any and all opinions.

Joel

[JForge]

Originally posted by JoelH

1. Generally, does this seem like a really good deal, or just so-so?
2. Are the newer Pioneer 43" HD units significantly improved in PQ, or just in connectivity?
3. Will this model take add-in cards for HDMI, CableCard etc.?
4. Should I be very concerned about the usage already on the panel?

I've been holding out for a 50" model, but this might serve very well for a year or two as the 50" devices continue to improve their price/performance.
Joel
. . . right.

1) $2K = good if there's not excessive hours.
2) The 4340 has 'digital' interface that the xx30 does not. Not biggie however
3) No
4) See how many hours are on the panel; look behind the panel and you'll see a manufacture date. So that should give you an idea.

You can't split screen with an HD source and a SD source. Both MUST be SD soucres. For me that's a serious drawback.

One other: the 4330 has a Pio upgrade of the panel's power supply. Doubt whether that panel was updated but if you buy it make sure it's swapped out. No cost to you.

My first plasma was 43" and very-shortly after I got it home, I wanted a 50". It seems that we both suffer from that malady. You might want to wait.

[plasmike]

Sounds like a pretty good deal. You mention the Pioneer warranty...any chance to get an extended warranty? I'm guessing no, but it would be worth it if you could.

[TheSkeptiks]

I don't know...the 4330 is a very old model. Well at least 2 years old. I remember reading some reviews of it back in the day. At the time, the 4330 was a good plasma compared to many of the other models out, but there were false contour problems, very gray blacks, etc. I can't recall what magazine the review was in. I think I might still have the review at home. I will check tonight.

$2K is an ok price. I just got the 4340 for less then $900 more.

I just feel that in the coming months you will be able to find a newer plasma for not much more then that price.

There is another thread on this forum where someone found an OPEN BOX 50" Pioneer that is a couple years old. An Elite version too. They are getting it for about $1000 more then what you can get the 4330 for. That tells me that there are and will be better opportunities out there for you.

Just my opinion.

[JoelH]

I appreciate everyone's thoughtful responses. I decided to wait (once again). If the 50" models undergo anything like the price/performance improvement of 42" over the past year, there should be some pretty interesting deals in the next few months. Also, even though there may be limited use for the newer digital signal inputs (HDMI etc) right at the moment, it seems that boxes which source and/or switch using that are going to become common this year.

Joel

[ebrehm]

Same model, 1 year later...My local Walmart was clearing out the PDP-4330HD for $1399. They had one that had been on display for over a year, but also had one new in the box. Even though I wasn't planning a plasma purchase, I went ahead and picked up the new one for that price. I'm still trying to decide whether to keep it or not. It was manufactured in 2004, and I'm sure displays have progressed since then, but my budget doesn't have much upward room and I'm really unsure whether a newer off-brand would actually be better than an older Pioneer.

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated!!!

[JForge]

Looking back on that model, there's a least one feature that was 'cool'! The color temperature adjustment had four levels whereas all Pio except Elite, have 3 temp ranges.

And you'd be surprised how 'perfect' the "mid-high" level was compared to "mid" or "high" settings.

BTW, I'm on my third (3) Pio since that first one. Went to 50" since the 43" was actually too small. But for $1300, it's a nice deal esp if you have a 1 year warranty.

[DidHeFocus]

[QUOTE=JForge]... But for $1300, it's a nice deal esp if you have a 1 year warranty.[/QUOTE]Quote from first post:"It looks like I have the opportunity to purchase a Pioneer PDP-4330HD closeout floor model for around $2k"
I wouldn't pay $2k for a 3 year old Pio with over 2000 hrs on it when other brand new current models are available for the same or less. There've been great advances in plasma technology over the last few years and the prices are really dropping fast.

[Jason Priestley]

I just bought the new panny 50" TV for slightly over $1k more. I believe the new panny 42" plasma can be had at MSRP for $2500 and i would think would offer better performance than the 2 year old plasma. If you look around you can get the panny 42" for probably close to the same price.

[boca rat]

Similar here. I can get a used PDP-4300 for $1000.

Worth it? Manufactuired in May 2004 I think.

[omeletpants]

[QUOTE=Jason Priestley]I just bought the new panny 50" TV for slightly over $1k more. I believe the new panny 42" plasma can be had at MSRP for $2500 and i would think would offer better performance than the 2 year old plasma. If you look around you can get the panny 42" for probably close to the same price.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but then you would be stuck with a Panasonic (just kidding).

[Kampfer]

no, as my co-worker just got a 4360, was an open box model with all the parts for a couple ben's above 1k. 4330 is around 4 years old or so I'd believe, or at least that many panels back, unless you count the 4345, not sure if there was a 35 series or not. One way or another, it's not worth it. For the same price, you can probably hunt down a 4360 somewhere.

[boca rat]

Thanks omelet.

I tried hitting Pioneers website but couldn't find any info on the 4300 at all Anyone know of a backdoor into it, or if it might have been a Costco model or something? But the date is supposed to be mid-2004, but if it's a design from a year or more before....