Pioneer to Introduce "Studio-Master-Quality" Blu-Ray Disc Player with 1080/24p Output in Japan

Pioneer Corporation announced today the introduction of the BDP-LX70, a Blu-ray Disc(R) Player, for the Japanese market.

With the start of terrestrial digital broadcasting and the spread of Plasma and other high-definition televisions in recent years, interest in high-definition video images is growing rapidly. In November, 2006, the first Blu-ray Disc titles were released in Japan, and further releases of high-definition content are expected in the future.

In response to the growing demand for high-definition video contents, Pioneer has decided to release its Blu-ray Disc player in Japan, following its first entry to the North American market last year.

The Pioneer BDP-LX70 takes maximum advantage of the characteristics of Blu-ray Discs - it is capable of reproducing the high definition details impossible with DVD or the delicate nuance that cannot be rendered in high-definition broadcasts.

The Home Media Gallery, a DLNA CERTIFIED(TM) Local Area Network(LAN) function, allows the user to connect the Bru-ray Disc player to a personal computer and play the video, music, or photos that are stored on the computer. These files can be enjoyed in high-quality video and sound through the user’s A/V equipment.

The Pioneer Bru-ray Disc player also supports next-generation audio formats including Dolby(R) Digital Plus and Dolby(R) TrueHD, and is capable of LPCM 7.1-channel playback[1]. The users can enjoy a surround sound ambiance never before possible.

The Pioneer Blu-ray Disc Player BDP-LX70 will be available in Japan in late June, 2007 for a suggested retail price of 170,000 yen (including tax).

Main features:

(1) 24p Direct Out[2] gives smooth movement in BD/DVD 1080/24p film material video and brings out all the possible texture of movie films

The Pioneer BDP-LX70, capable of 24-fps output in high definition, takes maximum advantage of the characteristics of the Blu-ray Disc format. The tactile quality of such movie film material is brought out to the maximum extent possible when the player is connected via an HDMI(R) cable to the Pioneer PDP-5000EX or a similar 1080/24p-compatible display.

(2) Next-generation audio formats supported

The BDP-LX70 offers enhanced-quality audio performance with internal decoding of Dolby TrueHD lossless audio technology for high-definition contents that delivers studio-master-quality sound, and supports Dolby Digital Plus, a highly flexible audio technology that provides superior-quality multi-channel sound. The users can enjoy such newest-format audio on their A/V amplifiers or other A/V devices via an HDMI connection to the Blu-ray Disc player, which converts these next-generation audio formats into linear PCM signals and put out from the HDMI terminal.

(3) Home Media Gallery plays video and music content directly from a LAN-connected computer in high definition.

The Home Media Gallery - Pioneer’s exclusive DLNA compatible LAN feature - allows users to stream compressed video, music, and photo files directly from the computer in high definition. With the spread of portable audio devices and digital cameras in recent years, household personal computers contain large volumes of music and photo files. Opportunities to enjoy video file playback are also expected to increase with the growth of video download services. The Pioneer Home Media Gallery makes it easier to enjoy these files in high definition, via the user’s TV and audio equipment located in various rooms such as a dedicated A/V room or living room.

Supported Formats
Video : MPEG1, MPEG2 (including HD), WMV9 (including HD)
Audi : MP3, WMA9 (including WMA9 Pro), Linear PCM (WAVE)
Photo : JPG, PNG, GIF

(4) Advanced devices and constructions

- Dual-layered chassis to suppress unwanted vibration
The BDP-LX70 employs a dual-layered chassis, whose chassis base is reinforced with a thicker and heavier stabilizing plate, to boost its rigidity and stability of the case.

- High-performance Burr-Brown(TM) DACs for all 6 channels
The BDP-LX70 uses Burr-Brown PCM1738 DACs, renowned for high quality sound, for all 6 channels. Even for analog connections, this design achieves well-balanced multi-channel playback across all channels.

- A wide range of terminals
The pin jack output terminals are all gold-plated to ensure high-quality transmission of both video and audio signals. The 2-channel analog audio output and coaxial digital output terminals are machined terminals (not die-cast terminals) to ensure solid connections. For the component video output, independent pin jack terminals instead of D terminals minimize transmission loss.

(5) Other features

- HDMI cable supplied as standard
- Up-conversion of DVD video to 720/60p, 1080/60i, or 1080/60p for high-definition playback[3]
- I/P conversion and output resolution changes possible even during video playback
- Inlet-compliant power cable
- Fully lead-free circuit boards; environmentally-friendly design and manufacturing
- IR input for easy customized installation
- Low standby power consumption of 0.5W or less for environmentally-friendly energy saving
- Quick 10-key track selection for music DVDs

(Notes)
[1] Requires an HDMI connection to A/V amplifiers or other device supporting 7.1-channnel input.
[2] During playback of 1080/24p Blu-Ray Disc titles, with an HDMI connection to TV or display supporting 1080/24p input
[3] Requires HDMI connection to TV or display.

Blu-Ray Disc is a registered trademark of Sony Corporation.
DLNA and DLNA CERTIFIED(TM) are trademarks and/or service marks of Digital Living Network Alliance.
Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories.
HDMI and the HDMI logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.
BURR-BROWN(TM) is a trademark of Texas Instruments.

About Pioneer Corporation

Pioneer Corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of consumer and business-use electronics products such as audio, video and car electronics on a global scale. Its shares are traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information , please visit http://pioneer.jp.