Pioneer didn't introduce any new plasma HDTVs or LCD TVs during its keynote during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), instead focusing on Blu-ray technology.
The company introduced three new Blu-ray players, with prices ranging from entry-level to expensive.
The entry-level Pioneer BDP-120 will require owners use a 1GB flash drive for BD-Live support, fast disc loading, and USB expandable memory slots. It has HDMI 1.3a output, 1080p True 24 fps video output, and an Ethernet port for BD-Live connections.
The BDP-120 is expected to be released in April for about $250.
The middle Blu-ray player is the BDP-320 has a USB port for multimedia playback, and has 1GB of internal storage ready for BD-Live support out of the box. The player also has 16-bit Deep color support, and 7.1-channel analog outputs, along with 1GB of internal memory and the built-in USB slot.
The Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD has a RS-232C port, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio support, along with an automated control system supporting lossless codecs.
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Pioneer expects to ship the Elite BDP-23FD in April for a retail price of $599.
Pioneer previously launched several Blu-ray players across the world, but the North American market was left without a refresh for some time now.
Standalone Blu-ray manufacturers, despite struggling sales, are all expected to use the CES as a platform to promote their latest wares.
$250 to $600! I thought Blu-ray was going to get more affordable this year.
