Pioneer introduces two new standalone Blu-ray players today - the Elite BDP-05FD and the Pioneer BDP-51FD BonusView players. Both of these new players support 12 bit deep color (thanks to the 12 bit video DAC), 1080p/True 24 frames per second video output, as well as all of the advanced audio formats available on Blu-ray including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD, and DTS HD Master. Other common features include:

• Wolfson Digital Audio Converters
• Center loading tray to help reduce vibration
• Dedicated audio and video boards for smooth operation and uninterrupted playback of discs
• Same GUI as KURO and Elite receivers
• Improved disc load, power on, power off, and disc eject times

The Elite BDP-05FD features gold-plated connection ports, capacitance touch key buttons, and an aluminum front panel.

The specs to the Pioneer BDP-51D include:

• HDMI 1.3a support
• 12 bit deep color
• Supports all advanced audio bitstream formats
• Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS HD Master
• 4 Wolfson Professional Audio DACs
• 108MHz 12 bit video encoder
• Jitter free HDMI Audio with PQLS
• Picture Control Suite
• 7.1 Channel Analog Output
• 1 year warranty
• Suggested price of $599

The specs to the Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD include:

• HDMI 1.3a support
• 12 bit deep color
• Supports all advanced audio bitstream formats
• Decodes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS HD Master
• 4 Wolfson Professional Audio DACs
• 297MHz 12 bit video encoder
• Jitter free HDMI Audio with PQLS
• Picture Control Suite
• 7.1 Channel Analog Output
• Gold Plated Connectors
• Aluminum Front Panel
• Capacitance Touch Key Buttons
• 2 year warranty
• Suggest price of $799

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer, Elite BDP-05FD, Pioneer BDP-51FD BonusView, Blu-ray Player

Looking to service the custom installation market, Pioneer is introducing the new Signature Series of Elite KURO monitors as well as new Elite KURO HDTV sets. These displays are designed to be flexible and extremely configurable - necessary features for the custom install market. Why build monitors tailored for this market? Money of course! According to Pioneer, the custom installation market is expected to grow to 226,000 installations in 2012 with more than $23,000 spent on average per installation!

Features of the Signature Series of Elite KURO monitors include:

• Many parts and components are hand selected and hand assembled
• Comes with certificate confirming the superior level of panel performance
• Optimum Mode feature for the Elite KURO HD televisions - adjusts audio and video settings based on sound, picture, and room light conditions
• Elite KURO HD TVs also feature six picture and sound pre-set modes and exclusive Home Media Gallery home networking functionality

The four new models are as follows:

Pioneer Elite KRUO HDTV:

• PRO-111FD - 50 inch, 1080p panel coming out in June for $5000
• PRO-151FD - 60 inch, 1080p panel coming out in June for $6500

Pioneer Elite Signature Series Monitor:

• PRO-101FD - 50 inch 1080p panel coming out in October
• PRO-141FD - 60 inch, 1080p panel coming out in August

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer, Custom Install, HDTV, Signature Seres Elite KURO, Elite KURO

Looking for the deepest blacks in flat panel television sets? You’ll probably want to check out the new additions that Pioneer made to their KURO lineup of plasma televisions. The new PDP-5020FD and PDP-6020FD feature black levels that are five times deeper than the previous KURO sets which were already amazing in rendering deep blacks. Other features found in the new KURO models include:

• New automatic adjustment feature called Optimum Mode that simultaneously monitors video and room light conditions and then adjusts picture and sound settings
• Six pre-set modes which include standard, movie, sports, performance, game, and dynamic
• Each mode has unique sound settings associated to them
• 3.7 inches thick
• New remote control
• Redesigned graphic user interface
• Networked Home Media Gallery for playback of digital content from a PC or via USB
• DLNA compatible and Windows PlaysForSure compatible
• 1080p resolution

The Pioneer PDP-5020FD (50 inch model) will be coming out in June for a suggested price of $4000. The Pioneer PDP-6020FD will also be coming out in June for a suggested price of $5500.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer, PDP-5020FD, PDP-6020FD, KURO

Akihabara News is reporting that Pioneer will be releasing a new digital wireless headset called the SE-DRS3000C. The unit comes with a wireless transmitter and of course the headset itself. Features include a 30 meter distance, compatibility with Dolby Digital, DTS-ES, Dolby NR, bandwidth of 10Hz to 24kHz, and a weight of 720 grams. Hopefully I’ll find some additional information on this headset shortly.

I’ve actually been passively looking for a wireless headset - especially since late at nights, I’d rather not wake up my wife or my neighbors. Perhaps this new model will fit the bill nicely - assuming the price is right.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer, Digital Wireless Headset, SE-DRS3000C

As expected by many, Pioneer announced last week that they would be ending their in-house production of plasma display panels as a way to streamline their business and shift focus from money-losing businesses to growth oriented business such as car electronics and Blu-ray products. Pioneer will continue to sell plasma displays but will now procure the panels from third party manufacturers. Pioneer is also looking into how it can procure panels that include some of their own plasma display technologies.

Pioneer also announced that they would be partnering with Sharp Corporation - with Sharp providing LCD panels for upcoming Pioneer LCD HDTV systems. The two companies would also be developing acoustic systems for ultra-thin flat panel TVs.

In the meantime, Pioneer will focus on internally developing Blu-ray disc players which it expects to grow as a business worldwide as more consumers adopt Blu-ray. On the Blu-ray recorder front, Pioneer will continue to use joint developing and outsourcing in creating new products (also working with Sharp on this front).

You can read more about the business restructuring at Pioneer here in their press release.

[Check it out via Digital Trends]

Technorati Tags: Pioneer, Sharp, LCD, Plasma, Blu-ray