News Release：Pioneer Introduces New DVD Recorders with Built-in HDD

DVR-620H-S
DVR-520H-S	DVR-320-S

May 26, 2004, Tokyo, Japan - Pioneer Corporation announced today the introduction of the DVR-620H-S and DVR-520H-S, new DVD recorders with built-in HDD that offer much easier and simpler operations and the world's fastest^*1 copying speed of approximately 55x, into the Japanese market in late June, 2004. The company plans to produce 20,000 units and 30,000 units respectively. Also announced was the introduction of the straight DVD recorder DVR-320-S, with the monthly production of 10,000 units, to meet the demand in Japan for affordable, yet high-quality, simple DVD recorders.
No retail prices of these models are suggested.

In Japan, DVD recorders are considered to be one of the new three sacred treasurers - most popular digital home appliances, and the market is growing rapidly. Pioneer forecasts that over 3.8 million DVD recorders will be shipped in fiscal 2004 in Japan, substantially more than shipments of VCRs and DVD players. DVD recorders are thus becoming mainstream home audio/video electronics products in Japan.

Pioneer's new DVD recorders with built-in HDD incorporate the Electronic Program Guide (EPG)^*2, which greatly helps easy, one-touch timer recording, and a large-capacity HDD (250GB for DVR-620H-S and 160GB for DVR-520H-S), offering the world's fastest high-speed copying of approximately 55x.

Main features

DVR-620H-S and DVR-520H-S:

1 ) Easier and more convenient operations in recording, playback, and copying

Pioneer has realized the concept of easy "one-touch operation" to accommodate a wide range of users, regardless of age and familiarity with complicated AV electronics equipment operation:

2 ) The world's fastest high-speed copy capability of approximately 55x speed (HDD to DVD) makes it possible to copy one-hour program in about 66 seconds^*3.

Thanks to Pioneer's proprietary DVD-R/DVD-RW drive capable of recording on DVD-R at 8x and on DVD-RW at 4x speeds, these new recorders can copy the one-hour program recorded in the SLP mode from the HDD to a DVD-R in about 66 seconds.

3 ) Large-capacity HDD (250GB for DVR-620H-S, 160GB for DVR-520H-S)

The DVR-620H-S is capable of recording about 433 hours max. ^*4, and the DVR-520H-S about 277 hours max.^*4 (when recorded in the SLP mode).

Common features among the three models:

1 ) New SLP mode accommodates about 8-hour recording on one side of a DVD

The new DVD recorders provide the SLP mode, as well as the conventional FINE, SP, LP, and EP modes. The SLP mode is a new recording mode to allow an about 8-hour recording on one side of a DVD.

2 ) Various technologies to achieve high-quality images

1. New VBR (Variable Bit Rate) algorithm attains higher quality of recording.
2. "Picture Creation" function improves picture quality not only when playing back but also in recording. High-quality copies from a VCR can also be made.
3. Pioneer's original DVD-R/DVD-RW drive contains a variety of technologies for high-quality DVD recording and playback:
   • "Liquid Crystal Tilt Compensator" maintains recording and playback accuracy even with warped discs or ones of uneven thickness.
   • "Ultra Dynamic Resonance Absorber (UltraDRA)" minimizes mechanical vibration during high-speed disc rotation to improve reliability.
   • "Precision Recording Technology" optimizes recording characteristics for individual discs to achieve high accuracy even with repeatedly used DVD-RW discs.

3 ) Other advantageous features

1. ‹New› The slim and stylish design - only 5.9cm height - can be installed in a narrow space.
2. ‹New› Sound-linked "Auto Chapter"^*5, synchronized with broadcasting sound mode (stereo, monaural, and bilingual), automatically inserts chapter marks in the recording onto the HDD or a DVD-RW disc in the VR mode. And "Auto CM Skip" automatically skips parts with stereo sound (commercials) from recorded content (only on the HDD).
3. ‹New› "Auto CM Cut Copy" (except for the DVR-320-S) enables users to make a high-speed copy of the program from the HDD with commercials removed onto a DVD. All you have to do is press the One-Touch Copy button during "Auto CM Skip" playback.
4. ‹New› "CM Skip and CM Back" are convenient features to skip unwanted scenes and replay ones users missed.
5. ‹New› "Chapter Edit" and "Erase Section" (on HDD or a DVD-RW in VR mode only) offer a wide range of editing options; for example, it allows users to specify and delete unnecessary parts of the recorded contents.
6. ‹New› "1.5x View" plays back recorded programs at 1.5x speed with sound^*6.
7. ‹New› Users can program another timer recording during timer recording.
8. ‹New› When the new "Auto" mode is selected in the timer recording setting, the new DVD recorders automatically adjusts the recording rate to the optimum according to the length of the program. Users can record a program of over 2 hours to make it fit on just one DVD by using this new mode.
9. The DV I/O terminal is provided for i.LINK^*7 connections with a digital video camera (DVR-620H-S only).
10. The new recorders enable users to record "copy-once broadcast" programs from terrestrial digital and BS/CS digital broadcasts onto a CPRM-compatible DVD-RW disc in VR mode. ^*8 "Move" function (except for DVR-320-S) allows copying such programs from the HDD onto a CPRM-compatible DVD-RW disc in VR mode. ^*9

4 ) Environmentally-friendly low energy consumption

Power consumption in the standby mode (FL off): 0.4W (for DVR-320-S) or 0.43W (for DVR-620H-S and DVR-520H-S).

Notes: