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CES 2000 Picture Gallery

Page 6

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A wider view of Pioneer's all-in-one box, with plasma HDTV display.
A wider view of Pioneer's all-in-one box, with plasma HDTV display.
Pioneer also had their new line of standard and Elite set-top players, including new DVD changers. The Elite DV-F727 holds a whopping 301 discs (300 in the carousel and another in the play mechanism), similar to Pioneer's PD-F19 and F17 CD changers of similar capacity. The DV-C302D, on the other hand, holds a handful of discs in a regular rotating tray.
Pioneer's DV-C302D carousel player.
Pioneer's DV-C302D carousel player.
Pioneer's Elite DV-F0727... a 300+1 DVD changer!
Pioneer's Elite DV-F727... a 300+1 DVD changer!
And Pioneer has an impressive pair of portables now available - the PDV-LC10 (which includes a 7" LCD display for $1545) and the PDV-10 (without LCD for $620). Both feature 3 and 1/2 hour battery life, and slim design (again sized similar to an DVD case).
Pioneer's PDV-LC10 portable (also comes w/o screen).
Pioneer's PDV-LC10 portable (also comes w/o screen).
But the thing that everyone wanted to see, were the prototype DVD players. And Pioneer definitely had them on display. They've got a pair of nifty decks coming down the pike (pending the resolution of DVD-Audio issues): the heavyweight DV-AX10 and the Elite DV-08A. Both will play DVD-Video and Audio discs, along with CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, Video CDs and Sony's SACDs. They also have DTS and progressive scan outputs as well. Whew! The AX10 is definitely the Cadillac of the Pioneer DVD line, with incredibly solid and deluxe construction and an estimated retail price of $5000. The DV-08A brings along all the features of the AX10 (with more modest construction) for an estimated $2500. With luck, they'll both be out this summer.

One note - Frank and I both really like the ability of many forthcoming players we saw to play both DVD-Audio AND Sony's SACD discs. If this is adopted by more manufacturers, it might stave off the fears of those who were afraid a new audio format war is brewing. You'd simply have a choice - like you do now with Dolby Digital and DTS.
The DVD Cadillac - Pioneer's forthcoming DV-AX10 plays DVD-Audio, Video, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD and SACD too. Plus it's progressive scan, and has the DTS out and premium construction, all for $5000 (est.). Whew!
The DVD Cadillac - Pioneer's forthcoming DV-AX10 plays DVD-Audio, Video, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, VCD and SACD too. Plus it's progressive scan, and has the DTS out and premium construction (all for $5000 est.). Whew!
Their forthcoming Elite DV-08A. Does everything the AX10 does, but with less-solid construction and half the price ($2500 est.).
Their forthcoming Elite DV-08A. Does everything the AX10 does, but with less-solid construction and half the price ($2500 est.).
Not to be outdone, Pioneer also had a prototype HD-DVD deck driving a plasma DTV display. As with Zenith's display, this was purely a technology demonstration only - the player didn't even have a model number (it was simply labeled "HD-DVD"). And Pioneer echoed other manufacturers in saying that consumer HD-DVD is a long way off. But we were told that the disc format being used holds some 27.4GB of information - up to 4 hours of high-definition video (at an average video bit rate of 15mbps). Sure looks good...
And Pioneer's HD-DVD technology demonstration. Coming to stores near you... in 5 years or more (maybe).
And Pioneer's HD-DVD technology demonstration. Coming to stores near you... in 5 years or more (maybe).
A closer look at the prototype Pioneer HD-DVD player (which doesn't even have a model number).
A closer look at the prototype Pioneer HD-DVD player (which doesn't even have a model number).


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