Al Griffin

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3D Blu-ray Player ReviewsBlu-ray Player Reviews
Pioneer Elite BDP-88FD Blu-ray Player Review
Al Griffin  |  May 29, 2015  |  6 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $2,000

AT A GLANCE
Plus
High-quality 4K video upconversion
Superb detail enhancement and noise reduction
Excellent digital-to-analog audio conversion
Minus
As pricey as it is heavy
Slim feature set compared with competition

THE VERDICT
Pioneer’s flagship 4K-upconverting universal disc player is something special, even if it’s late to the party.

What’s new in the world of Blu-ray? 4K, that’s what. Expected to arrive sometime in late 2015, the UHD Blu-ray format should offer not just UHD-resolution video but also high dynamic range (HDR) capabilities, an extended color gamut, and up to 16-bit color encoding, among other advanced features. Something to get excited about, right?

Now that I’ve dropped that tidbit, let me tell you about the Pioneer Elite BDP-88FD, a universal player that can handle Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, SACD, DVD-Audio, regular DVDs, and CDs—just about everything except UHD Blu-ray. And it lists for $2,000. Excited? No? Well, let’s see if we can work you up.

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Custom Installation How-To
Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Disc Player
Al Griffin  |  Apr 14, 2007  |  0 comments

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Pioneer Elite Kuro PRO-111FD 50-inch plasma HDTV
Al Griffin  |  Aug 19, 2008  |  0 comments
TRST
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Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 50-inch 1080p Plasma Monitor
Al Griffin  |  Oct 03, 2006  |  0 comments

Over the past 2 years, new flat-panel LCD TVs with 1080p resolution have turned up in stores regularly, causing plasma-TV enthusiasts like me to wonder: Where are all the 1080p plasmas? A number of such sets have been announced, but the one I've been waiting for is the Pioneer Elite PRO-FHD1 50-inch 1080p plasma monitor.

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Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD 50-inch Plasma HDTV
Al Griffin  |  Nov 04, 2007  |  0 comments
Pioneer Kuro PDP-5010FD 50-inch plasma HDTV 12562864785 Pioneer PDP-5010FD While most TV manufacturers have struggled through the years to deliver acceptable black levels in their flat-panel TVs, Pioneer cruised ov
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Pioneer PDP-4340HD 43-inch Plasma HDTV
Al Griffin  |  May 11, 2004  |  0 comments

Plasma TVs are hardly new, but for me it didn't register that the technology had "arrived" until I starting seeing ads for them on TV. Yes, thanks to companies like Pioneer, when you sit down to channel-surf there's a chance you'll see new flat-panel sets that make your current model seem old, fat, and downright sad in comparison.

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Other Tech
Planar Xscreen Front-Projection Screen
Al Griffin  |  Jun 03, 2007  |  0 comments

Front projectors have long been considered an exotic way to experience movies at home, but they're quickly becoming a more mainstream option. That's because prices for 1080p-resolution front projectors have sunk below three grand, while flat-panel sets with screen sizes 60 inches and up that offer similar resolution have yet to become affordable.

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Plasma Action!
Al Griffin  |  Mar 09, 2003  |  0 comments
Photos by Tony Cordoza Cutting-edge tech your thing? Flat-panel plasma TVs are where the action is! Over the past few years, the image quality of these space-saving sets has improved tremendously, and prices have moved steadily downward.
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Plasma for Less
Al Griffin  |  Sep 05, 2005  |  0 comments
What We Think
JVC PD-42X795
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Plasma in Steps
Al Griffin  |  Nov 04, 2005  |  0 comments

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