News Release：Pioneer Renews Its Lineup of DVD Recorders with Built-in HDD to Suit Customers' Increasingly Diverse Lifestyles in Japan

DVR-920H-S

DVR-720H-S

September 30, 2004, Tokyo, Japan - Pioneer Corporation announced today the release of five new DVD recorders with built-in HDD in the Japanese domestic market between late October and late November, 2004. All models offer the VR-mode recording to DVD-R discs^*1. No retail prices are suggested.

Since releasing the world's first DVD recorder in 1999, Pioneer has led the domestic and overseas markets for DVD recording at home. As a result, nowadays, DVD recorders are attracting much attention, and become a key device of home A/V products worldwide. Pioneer expects domestic shipments of DVD recorders to amount to 3.8 million units, easily surpassing shipments of VCRs in fiscal 2004.

To satisfy the increasingly diverse lifestyles of the customers in such a rapidly expanding market, Pioneer has decided the release of a new lineup as follows:

• The DVR-920H-S and DVR-720H-S: the DVD recorders with 400GB and 250GB HDDs, respectively
  These high-end models employ the "DianaCircuit" - the newly developed, fully-digital high-quality picture processor. It allows the high-definition recording of digital high-definition programs on the large-capacity HDD via an i.LINK connection to a Pioneer plasma TV with built-in terrestrial/BS/CS digital tuners^*2.
• The DVR-625H-S and DVR-525H-S: the DVD recorders with 250GB and 160GB HDDs, respectively
  To better satisfy the customers' need of "easier and more reliable timer recording", these two standard models employ various easy-to-use functions, including the expanded "keyword" search function in Electronic Program Guide^*3 timer recording.
• The HTZ-929DVR: the 5.1-channel surround system equipped with a 160GB HDD built-in DVD recorder allows users to enjoy both DVD and HDD recording and home theater entertainment easily and conveniently.

Plus, these new DVD recorders offer VR-mode recording to DVD-R discs, which enables a variety of VR-mode editing functions, such as Frame Edit, Play List Edit and Chapter Edit. All models can also record "copy-once" programs from terrestrial/BS/CS digital broadcasts, and move or copy such programs stored in the HDD to a CPRM-compatible DVD-R discs ^*4.