Pioneer PDP 436 SXE Review

Overall Rating

Great picture
Great sound

Built in freeview could be better
Only 1 HDMI
Sensitive to screenburn

I bought my Pioneer PDP 436 SXE plasma TV after careful research, and I picked it because all the reviews said it had a fantastic picture, even with standard resolution, to which I wholeheartedly agree. In the shops you'll see plasma with fantastic high definition images (which this does great), but they won't show you standard resolution, as on many it looks awful, whereas on the Pioneer, it's as good as it can be, and since most of my viewing, for the time being, will not be high definition, standard definition performance is crucial.

This set has a simple stylistic construction with the screen boarded by a thin black surround. In fact, when I unboxed it I thought they must have forgotten the speakers as I could see none. They were in fact hidden in the surround at the base, with special processing to make the sound appear to come from the centre of the screen.

Connections are 3 x SCART (2 RGB), 1 x Component (RCA), 1 x HDMI, 1 x Analogue Audio Out (RCA), 1 x Digital Audio Out (Optical), 1 x RS232c, 1 x Digital Aerial In, 1 x Analogue Aerial In, and 1 x Aerial loop through. There is also a common interface slot to allow you to plug in a module to take a card for top-up TV.

The set has a number of picture modes to suite the various source ratios. The 4:3 stretch mode is OK, but in 4:3 standard (34.5"!) you get grey bars on each side, which can be distracting. It's a pity they don't explain that the bars are grey to prevent burn! With 16:9 source the set is great. When the source is good enough the performance is unbelievable, and you almost believe you're there. Unlike the LCD sets, there is no drop off in brightness whatsoever, as you move to the side of the set. The set is susceptible to screen burn, although this should reduce after 200 hours use, so you must reduce brightness and contrast for this period (although contrast is still fantastic), and make sure you don't leave it on those awful quiz programs etc. (and remember ITV goes to quiz TV after midnight). I have seen some burn as a result of quiz TV, which fortunately faded after another days use.

The sound has a number of options and can produce a good performance, both in terms of base and surround, though obviously not as good as a proper 6 speaker surround sound system.

The built-in freeview tuner provides a good performance, and is better than many. However, in the end I reverted to my trusted Sony VTX D800U, which has the edge. There is also an analogue TV tuner.

Overall, this is as fantastic set and I am very happy with my purchase. I recommend it highly.

Members' Comments onFreeky's Review

• Freeky on 5th Aug 2007

  LCD v PLASMA
  
  Having owned this set for 18mths now I thought I would add this update.
  
  The set continues to provide fantastic images and performs superbly, the only failing is the digital receiver sometime falls down (I live on the fringes for the nearest TV transmitter) so I just return to the Sony VTX D800U then.
  
  There have been numerous times when some screen burn has occurred, (the Achilles Heel of plasma) especially after long periods of use with a games console, however to date this has always faded after a day or two normal viewing.
  
  I have and through work have seen many other sets, both LCD & Plasma, and have never seen anything better, to me LCD is clearly inferior in all respects (born out by a recent consumer comparative study) and as an engineer I see the technical reasons behind this. LCD's forte is said to be its lack of susceptibility to screen burn, but this isn't quite true, LCD's don't have burn, but they do have image persistence (it looks the same) it is less likely to occur though, but may also be more difficult to remove. In my experience they are also much more prone to stuck or dropped pixels.
  
  So take great care before you choose which technology, the pros and cons aren't as definite as some would say.

• Freeky on 10th Jan 2009

  Having recently installed some of the latests LCD screens from the likes of sony etc, with specifications that therorectically far exceed those of this set (take them with a big pinch of salt) I still have no hesitation in saying, this gives the best pics. If you want the best choose a plasma & pioneer are the best in my opinion.
  
  Screen burn is becoming less of an issue & with care will not be even that (my set still has none despite suffering quite a number of 'accidents').
  
  LCD can get 'image persistance' as I have seen & there is no cure for that!!

• bruss on 15th Jan 2009

  Hi. I have this TV and have just added a Denon 2309 AV receiver and a bdp -lx08 blu-ray player. The bdp outputs 1080p/24fps which is displayed on the 436 but the Denon when set to output 1080p won't display at anything other than 1080i. Any ideas why this should be so? Thanks

• bruss on 15th Jan 2009

  Hi I have one of these - great piece of kit. I've just updated some of my AV set-up with a Denon 2309 receiver and a bdp lx08. The lx 08 displays in full 1080p/24fps ( shown on the TV top right), but when I run a signal from the Denon HDMI output, even if I select 1080p as the output. the 436 sxe only displays in 1080i (or 1125i as the display shows). Any ideas why? Thanks