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iPod and XM Satellite Radio Capability Make Pioneer Elite A/V Receivers the Hub for Home Entertainment (1/10/2005)

New music options from iPod and XM Satellite Radio are only two of the features that make the new Pioneer Elite A/V receivers the hub of a great home entertainment center. The VSX-74TXVi and VSX-72TXV introduced today by Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. serve as the "brains" behind a great home theater; bringing in data from all types of sources and processing the data to enhance the audio and video experience. An automatic room-tuning feature in the receivers processes the sound quality so that every seat in the room feels like the "sweet spot."

As the "brains" of the system, a good A/V receiver must be able to connect every other device in your home theater. Pioneer's new receivers can connect up to 18 products including DVD players, game systems, satellite and cable boxes, iPod digital music players and XM Satellite Radio Connect and Play antennas. The remote control allows the user to simply select the source they want to hear easily instead of toggling through the inputs to find the right source.

"A great receiver completes the HDTV experience by enhancing the overall audio and video quality from each source whether it's a DVD player, cable, satellite or whatever. In this case, Pioneer offers the option to add two unique sources not traditionally found on an A/V receiver -- iPod and XM Satellite Radio," said Gary Bauhard, director of marketing and product planning for home entertainment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The auto tuning feature also enhances the sound quality. Since no two rooms are the same, our receivers are smart enough to identify the weaknesses of a room, correct for them, and then create an experience consumers will brag about to their friends."

Hub of Home Entertainment

-- iPod - The world's most popular digital music player with over 21 million sold. Connect iPod directly to the receiver to enjoy music through a home theater sound system. This transforms a primarily personal music player into something that can be enjoyed throughout the home. Instead of using the Click Wheel on the iPod, the remote control on the receiver is used to navigate through playlists, songs, artists and genres. The information can be viewed from a scrolling 14-character display on the receiver or from a full display on the TV.

-- XM Ready - As millions of people have already learned, XM Satellite Radio offers more than 100 channels of original music programming, sports, news and entertainment. Now, with an XM Connect and Play(TM) antenna and a monthly subscription, the same great programming can be enjoyed through a home entertainment center. The XM antenna is connected to either of Pioneer's new Elite receivers. The remote control for the receiver is then used to scroll through and select among the many available XM channels.

Auto Room Tuning

Pioneer created its own auto room-tuning feature -- Advanced Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration -- to customize the sound for each individual room. The room tuning processor uses the size, shape and surface of a room to optimize the overall sound quality. It will compensate for a room that is big or small, with high or low ceilings, hardwood floors or carpet and more, to accurately bring the music to life. By simply attaching the included microphone and pressing the button, the user activates the auto room tuning for that particular room. The memory settings allow a consumer to tune the room for anything from close quarter combat on gaming systems to lounging in a chair listening to music.

Completing the Experience

Both the Pioneer Elite VSX-74TXVi and VSX-72TXV offer special features that make them easy to fit into a custom installation. Among these features are:

-- Ability to play and control audio in up to three different rooms independently. -- HDMI(a) connectivity with digital video conversion -- RS-232C and IO ports

The VSX-74TXVi and VSX-72TXV are available now at an estimated market price of $1,500 and $1,200 respectively. A limited quantity of both receivers will be available in silver celebrating 20 years of Pioneer Elite. Pioneer's Home Entertainment Division is a leading manufacturer of plasma televisions and monitors, DVD players and DVD recorders, A/V receivers, CD players and CD recorders, speakers and other audio and video accessories. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including Digital Network Entertainment. The company markets its products under the Pioneer and Pioneer Elite brand names. When purchased from an authorized dealer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Pioneer Elite products.

www.pioneerelectronics.com