Pioneer Wins Popular Mechanics Award with Breakthrough Picture Quality

New York October 5, 2006 - The Pioneer Elite® PureVision™ 60” PRO-1540HD plasma television was honored with a POPULAR MECHANICS Breakthrough Award at an awards ceremony held at the Hearst Tower in New York City last night. Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is only one of a select few manufacturers recognized for a groundbreaking product that “represents milestones in design and engineering.”

The Pioneer Elite PRO-1540HD plasma television offers unmatched high definition picture quality as a result of many proprietary technologies developed by the company. The brighter, sharper, richer picture quality, coupled with the introduction of an exclusive home networking feature delivers the ultimate high definition home entertainment experience. Home Media Gallery™ is Pioneer’s exclusive home networking feature that allows users to effortlessly connect the Elite plasma TV to an existing home network via Ethernet or USB. Users can easily access their favorite movies, music and photo images stored on their networked PC or any other DLNA 1.0 compliant device for immediate viewing in brilliant HD quality.

“We are proud to yet again introduce one of the most technologically advanced plasmas to date, and are equally honored to have it acknowledged by a respected publication such as Popular Mechanics,” said Paul Meyhoefer, vice president of displays for Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “Our goal each year is to raise the bar and make our plasma televisions capable of delivering the ultimate home theatre experience. Our new line of Elite plasma TVs offer consumers just that, with stunning pictures and the latest in cutting-edge technology that makes a difference you can see.”

Each year, the POPULAR MECHANICS Breakthrough Awards recognize 10 individuals and teams, including one winner of the Breakthrough Leadership Award, who are helping to improve lives and expand possibilities in the realms of science, technology and exploration. Additionally, POPULAR MECHANICS highlights a group of 10 consumer products that represents milestones in design and engineering.

“The Breakthrough Awards distinguish those ideas and inventions that are changing the face of technology, and we can’t think of a better recipient for this year’s awards than the Pioneer Elite PRO-1540HD plasma TV,” said James Meigs, editor-in-chief of POPULAR MECHANICS. “Pioneer is a renowned plasma manufacturer that is in tune to cutting edge technologies and we’re proud to have them as one of this year’s winners.”

About POPULAR MECHANICS
POPULAR MECHANICS is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (www.hearst.com) and one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines, with a total of 18 U.S. titles and 145 international editions. Hearst reaches more adults than any other publisher of monthly magazines (76.3 million, according to MRI, spring 2005). The company also publishes 19 magazines in the United Kingdom through its wholly owned subsidiary, The National Magazine Company Limited.

Pioneer’s Home Entertainment Division is a leading marketer of plasma televisions and monitors, Blu-ray Disc, DVD players and DVD recorders, A/V receivers, 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 Elite brand names. When purchased from an authorized dealer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Elite products.

Contact Information

Diana Gonzales

Communications Coordinator

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

Contact via E-mail