FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Christina Ramirez, 310-952-2388 or christina.ramirez@pioneer-usa.com
Callie Jernigan, 323-761-7430 or cjernigan@gcigroup.com
PIONEER BRINGS A NEW DIMENSION TO HD WITH A TRIO OF SUPERIOR PRODUCTS
Combining the best of plasma, Blu-ray Disc and audio technology results in the ultimate HD moment
LAS VEGAS, CES Booth #9827 – (January 4, 2006) — Pioneer Electronics (USA) today launched a series of audio and video products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that bring a new dimension to the high definition home theater experience. With one of the world’s first 1080p 50″ plasma displays, one of the world’s first Blu-ray Disc players and best-in-class receivers and speakers, Pioneer unveiled technical innovation in HD that creates an experience never seen or heard before in a home theater.
“It is a rare moment in time that all three critical home theater categories undergo this level of innovation that brings the experience to a new dimension never before felt,” said Russ Johnston, senior vice president of marketing and product planning for home entertainment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “When people see the new products at Pioneer’s CES exhibit, they will definitely experience the difference that comes with best-in-class technology.”
A key factor in creating this new dimension in high definition is the ability to deliver on all three legs of the home entertainment stool: display, source and sound.
Pioneer’s newest plasma display doubles pixel density on screen to deliver ultimate resolution and the best flat-panel picture quality anywhere. The 50-inch plasma builds on all the proprietary technologies the company has developed since it began plasma R&D in 1991 to realize a native resolution of 1920 X 1080. Increasing video resolution to 1080 progressive lines of information is key to bringing this new dimension of high definition into America’s homes. But consumers who are unfamiliar with the range of the high definition spectrum only need to see the image quality to realize it is by far the best with bright, sharp, accurate images that bring the on-screen action to life.
High definition television creates an emotional experience between the viewer and the on-screen action in a way that standard television has never been able to achieve. Although certain programming — the Olympic Games, the SuperBowl or many movies — evoke emotion from the viewer, high definition TV captivates the viewer no matter what they watch. To date, most HD televisions have offered 720 progressive lines of resolution or 1080 interlaced lines of resolution. While both offer excellent HDTV viewing, the newest televisions with 1080 progressive lines of resolution are by far superior, bringing high definition television to a new dimension.
Pioneer’s PRO-FHD1 50-inch plasma with 1080p resolution will be available in May at a suggested price of $10,000.
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Pioneer Introduces A New Dimension in HD / pg. 2
DVD, which has long been the most popular source material for viewing movies, undergoes a revolution this year as Pioneer brings to market its first Blu-ray Disc player. This new optical disc format enables consumers to purchase or rent major movie titles and enjoy all the benefits of high definition audio and video quality with a 5-inch optical disc that looks very similar in size and shape to a DVD. The disc is able to hold five times the information as DVD, enabling movie studios to include more features than currently available on DVD including interactive features. No matter how much the American public has come to love the DVD, Blu-ray Disc brings a new dimension to watching movies at home that will make it difficult to go back.
The Pioneer BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Disc player will be available in June at a suggested price of $1800.
The third leg of the stool — often left out of the high definition conversation — is the audio. With a heritage in audio that goes back to 1938, Pioneer recognizes that this element is critical in completing the picture.
“No one wants to watch the big game with the sound on mute,” said Johnston. “Sound effects that accompany today’s high definition programming help bring the experience to life.”
The introduction of Pioneer’s EX reference loudspeakers using a beryllium tweeter diaphragm, magnesium midrange driver and the groundbreaking Precision Curve cabinet design that envelops the listener in a “virtual sphere” of pure 5.1 surround sound.
The line of EX speakers will be available beginning in March with a suggested price beginning at $1,700.
“Everyone remembers the first time they saw high definition TV because it is so awe-inspiring,” said Johnston. “Any consumer in pursuit of the ultimate home theater wants nothing less for their own home then the combination of Pioneer’s 1080p plasma, Blu-ray Disc player and EX reference level speakers.”
Pioneer’s Home Entertainment Division is a leading manufacturer of plasma televisions and monitors, DVD players and DVD recorders, A/V receivers, CD players and CD recorders, speakers and other audio and video accessories. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including Digital Network Entertainment. The company markets its products under the Pioneer and Pioneer Elite brand names. When purchased from an authorized dealer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Pioneer Elite products.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on four core business domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital Network Entertainment and components.
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