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

Information contained in the news release is current as of the date of announcement.
It is subject to change without prior notice.

Pioneer
May 26, 2004
Pioneer Corporation

Pioneer Introduces New DVD Recorders with Built-in HDDOffering a variety of easy, one-touch operations and the world's fastest *1 high-speed copy

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

[Recording]  Users simply choose a program to timer-record from the "Electronic Program Guide (EPG)" on the TV screen. The EPG also displays detailed information about programs and allows users to search by genre and keyword to help them easily find the program they are looking for. In addition, users can start recording immediately with single-touch operation.
[Playback]  Users can easily check recorded contents using "Disc Navigator" displayed as moving pictures with sound.
[Copying]  Recorded contents can be easily copied simply by pressing the "ONE-TOUCH COPY" key on the remote control.

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:

*1 According to Pioneer survey as of May 26, 2004.
G-GUIDE
*2 The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) uses the G-GUIDE technology developed by Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. G-CODE and G-GUIDE are trademarks of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc.
*3 This is the time for high-speed copying of a program recorded on the HDD in SLP mode onto a DVD-R Version 2.0 / 8x (recordable at 1x to 8x speeds), and should be considered as a reference only. Copying time and speed may change depending on used discs and copying conditions.
*4 The capacity mentioned may not be available due to a limited number of recording titles. A maximum of 250 titles can be stored on the HDD, and 99 titles on a DVD. The continuous recording time on the HDD is limited to about 8 hours.
*5 Positions of chapter marks may deviate.
*6 No sound is available when DTS/MPEG sound is selected or during "Chase Play" on a DVD-RW. The sound may not be clear depending on recording conditions.
*7 i.LINK is a registered trademark. The terminal can be connected to a digital video deck and DV camcorder. It may not work with some models. The terminal cannot be connected to BS digital tuners, D-VHS tape decks, DVD players, or AV amplifiers.
*8 The digital tuner supplied separately or a digital tuner-equipped TV is required. In the recording, the digital HD picture quality cannot be obtained.
*9 After copy-once programs from terrestrial digital or BS/CS digital broadcasts are copied from the HDD to a DVD-RW disc in the VR mode, the recorded programs are automatically erased from the HDD.

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