Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD Review

What the reviewers like:
If price isn't a big issue, reviewers say that the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is perhaps the best consumer-level 42-inch plasma HDTV available, offering class-leading image quality and highly realistic, convincing color. Those who like to tinker will appreciate that the Pioneer PRO-940HD has more image controls than any other plasma TV. The connectivity is great, and this Pioneer plasma can accept 1080p/24 frame-per-second inputs from high-def DVD players. The robust lineup of features includes a Home Media Gallery that let's you hook the TV up to a home network to view multimedia content.

What the reviewers don't like:
The Pioneer PRO-940D is one of the more expensive plasma TVs in its size and resolution range (1024 x 768 pixels). Like all 42-inch plasma TVs, it cannot fully resolve a 720p HD signal (1280 x 720 pixels) in the horizontal direction. Although it’s an excellent plasma TV, experts say several other models come close in picture quality and cost far less.

Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD review highlights

Reviewers across the board say that the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD delivers the finest picture quality among 42-inch plasma TVs. The PRO-940D plasma TV is also packed with features and has great connectivity, although it's on the expensive side for a 42-inch plasma HDTV. While reviews say the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is one of the best in its class, Pioneer's less expensive PDP-4270HD (*est. $1,700) offers an image that reviewers say is nearly as good, with just slightly lower scores for black depth and overall image quality. The Vizio VP42 (*est. $1,000) falls considerably short in image quality compared to the Pioneer plasma TVs, but it isn't that bad of a performer overall and rates highly in the value department.

We found a number of great reviews of the 42-inch Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD plasma TV. Consumer Reports tested the TV for its latest update. Ratings are given, although commentary is relatively short. PC Magazine doesn't test nearly as many plasma TVs as Consumer Reports, but they go into far more depth. Audioholics.com and HDTV Solutions.com also go into great detail in their reports on the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD, but they don't review many plasma TVs and don't really compare plasma TVs to each other. Home Theater Magazine's review of the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is disappointingly short and superficial.

Also see full report: Plasma TV

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Consumer Reports
>> Details/Subscribe
Plasma TV Reviews
Editors of Consumer Reports
Feb. 2007

Consumer Reports covers the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD in its latest update. While discussion is very short, ratings are assigned so that readers can see where the TV stands relative to the competition. The magazine also makes specific recommendations for plasma TVs in various size categories.

2. PC Magazine
>> Details/Subscribe
Pioneer PRO-940HD Review
Robert Heron
Feb. 23, 2007

This single-TV review of the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD at PC Magazine is detailed and complete. While the discussion centers on the results of PC Magazine's battery of bench tests, reviewer Robert Heron does a good job covering features and overall impression. Some limited comparisons to other TVs are made, and an editors’ rating makes it easy to compare plasma TVs.

3. HDTV Solutions.com
Pioneer Elite 42" PRO-940HD Plasma HDTV Review
Dick De Jong
Oct. 29, 2006

This review of the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is detailed and illustrated with lots of photos. Ratings are given in areas of performance, value and more, but there's no overall grade assigned and no easy way to compare how the Pioneer PRO-940D plasma TV stacks up against competing models.

4. Audioholics.com
Untitled
Clint DeBoer
Dec. 5, 2006

Audioholics.com concentrates on high-end gear with reviews that are pages long and include lots of technical details, test results and photos. The Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is one of the relatively few plasma TVs covered by the site, but it is well received.

5. Home Theater Magazine
>> Details/Subscribe
Pioneer Elite PRO-940D Review
Shane Buettner
Jan 2007

Although the Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD is a recommended model at Home Theater Magazine, the individual report here is exceedingly short and reads more like a press release than an actual review. This is disappointing because some of Home Theater Magazine's other review efforts are first rate.

6. AVSForum.com
Plasma Flat Panel Displays
Contributors to AVSForum.com

This discussion site includes a busy sub-forum dedicated just to plasma TVs. The Pioneer Elite PRO-940HD plasma TV gets lots of discussion here, and shares a very active main thread with other Pioneer Elite 40HD-series plasma TVs.

Also see full report: Plasma TV