Pioneer Launches BDP-95FD Elite Blu-ray Player, Mammoth Elite SC-09TX Receiver, 1080p KURO Displays

Pioneer is showing a bevy of new products here at CEDIA Expo, including the new Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray player, Elite SC-09TX A/V receiver and 4 new flat panels under the KURO brand.

The BDP-95FD Blu-ray disc player, which will replace the company's BDP-94HD, outputs 1080p video over an HDMI 1.3 connection and supports Dolby True HD, DTS-HD and HDMI-CEC. It also incorporates Pioneer's Home Media Gallery technology, which allows digital content to be streamed over a home network through the player.

Set to be released in October, the BDP-95FD has an MSRP of $999.

Despite the news of hybrid players from LG and Samsung at CEDIA, Pioneer reps say they have no plans to jump on the dual-format bandwagon. "We are firmly committed to Blu-ray disc," the company says.

4 1080p KURO Flat Panels Launch

Pioneer is also launching 4 new flat panels under the new KURO brand -- all 1080p models. The KURO models are plasmas, but the company is calling them "flat-panel displays" to avoid the LCD-plasma comparisons.

"We're trying to get away from numbers and specs," says Christina Ramirez, a Pioneer rep. "Once people look at it, they'll know," she says.

The KURO line of 1080p displays are now available in 50" and 60" sizes. The KURO 50" PDP-5010FD and 60" PDP-6010FD carry an MSRP of $5,000 and $6,500, respectively, while the Elite KURO 50" PRO-110FD and 50" PRO-150FD sets are priced at $6,000 and $7,500.

Elite SC-09TX A/V Receiver is Massive Beast

Launching at CEDIA is the Elite SC-09TX A/V receiver, a massive 1080p unit weighing in around 65 pounds. The receiver features a 1.5" LCD screen for previewing content, 6 HDMI inputs and 2 HDMI outputs, RS-232 control, support for THX Loudness Plus and Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD.

The SC-09TX uses ICEpower's analog class-D amplification technology, and combines it with Pioneer's "Super DSP" room tuning technology for sound that the company compares to that of professional studios.

It also incorporates the Home Media Gallery functionality through network connectivity, and has support for Sirius and XM satellite radio. It will be shipping this winter with an MSRP of $7,000.