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| DCS-535
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Pioneer has given its home cinema product range a summer re-vamp, announcing an extensive new line of HDD and DVD players/systems and AV receivers.
Firstly, there's five new digital home cinema systems (or DCS, for short) comprising digital or high-power analogue amplifiers, DivX playback compatibility, a 108MHz/12-bit video D/A converter, versatility to install surround sound speakers and, on the top models, Automatic Optimal Surround Set-up. The DCS-535 is the company's flagship model and boasts an ultra-slim 60mm main unit incorporating a 380-watt digital amplifier and DVD player, combined with compact satellite front and centre speakers and a digital wireless rear speaker with a built-in stereo amplifier.
Also in the range are the DCS-232 and DCS-240 systems, which are aimed at the first-time home cinema buyer. Both feature a 60mm main unit that houses a DVD player and 360-watt digital amplifier. The next models up are the DCS-333 and DCS-340 systems both sporting a 70mm main unit, DivX compatibility and a video D/A converter. The DCS-333 incorporates a 600-watt analogue amplifier, bookshelf satellite speakers, and a 9.8cm subwoofer which can be installed upright or on its side to fit the room. The DCS-340 offers variation with two 'tallboy' front speakers.
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| DV-585A
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Also released are three new entry-level DVD players, all of which are DivX compatible and utilise 108MHz/12-bit Video D/A converters. At the summit of the trio is the super-slim (49.5mm high) DV-585A, which boasts both DVD-Audio and SACD playback and is available in black or silver. The DV-380 player is designed for first-time buyers and supports MP3, WMA compressed audio and JPEG files, and similarly, the DV-2850 player has all the features of the DV-380 but in a rounded slimline silver housing.
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| VSX-1015
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The 'VSX' AV receiver series delivers a host of specifications including Pioneer's award-winning Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) and extensive application of surround sound decoders. Previously only available on Pioneer's high-end multichannel amplifiers, the MCACC process is a sound-field adjustment system designed to replicate the sound and feel of a movie sound studio at home.
The range-topping VSX-1015 is a 7.1 channel receiver providing additional THX listening modes for enhanced playback of a variety of entertainment content, including movies, music and games. Other highlights of the range are the inclusion of WMA9 Pro decoding on the VSX-515, VSX-915 and VSX-1015 receivers.
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| DVR-630H
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Pioneer has also upgraded its HDD/DVD range, claiming its new models are the first on the market to provide a staggering 24 hours of recording on Dual Layer (DL) DVD-R media. This is apparently achieved via an advanced MPEG encoder that extends recording times while improving recording/playback quality. The wafer-thin range (59 mm) comprises the DVR-433H which has an 80GB hard disk for up to 227 hours of video, the DVR-530H (160GB HDD) which can accommodate up to 445 hours of video, and the top-spec DVR-630H (250GB HDD) which allows you to store up to 711 hours of video. Furthermore, each product is claimed to record up to an impressive three hours thirty minutes of video in full resolution on DVD-R or up to six hours for a dual layer DVD-R.
For more information on Pioneer, go to www.pioneer.co.uk
