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Pioneer Launches New DVR-930H-S High-end HDD/DVD Recorder

Pioneer has announced the availability of its range-topping HDD/DVD Recorder, the DVR-930H-S with 400GB HDD.

The deck features HDD/DVD recording and playback technology including: full 10 bit precision signal processing; an HDMI interface for immaculate signal transfer; a 108 MHz/14-bit Video DAC that provides picture-perfect images; and PureCinema Progressive Scan for flicker-free ‘cinematographic’ viewing.

‘The DVR-930H-S has a stylish, highly contemporary design with a black acrylic finish. Its attractive looks will complement any interior. And the aesthetics are backed by performance and ease-of-use: with its superior recording and playback performance, up to 700 hours recording time and an enhanced GUI including GUIDE Plus+1 EPG for intuitive operation and programming, this flag ship model leaves nothing to be desired for lovers of high-end AV,’ says Jim Catcheside, Product Manager, Product Management & Technology, Home Entertainment Division, Pioneer GB Limited

Key features of the DVR-930H-S include:

Acquisition and playback

A key feature of the DVR-930H-S is the immediate conversion of incoming video signals from analogue to digital and subsequent full 10-bit precision signal processing in the digital domain. The conversion ensures that images are of the highest possible quality and encompasses all analogue video inputs - including RGB. With PAL signals, an adaptive 5-Line Comb filter ensures the optimum Y/C separation with the least possible cross colour and dot disturbance. A Time Base Corrector, part of the digital process, stabilises the signal and removes the jitter characteristic of analogue video recording to achieve an exceptional level of recording precision.

The DVR-930H-S includes Pioneer’s ‘Picture Creation’ processing to further enhance picture quality.

The integrity of the video playback circuit is secured by the HDMI connection (High Definition Multimedia Interface) that allows transfer of full digital video and audio content over a single cable to produce perfect pictures and sound without signal deterioration. Connected directly or via HDMI switching (on Pioneer’s forthcoming VSX-AX4AVi-S and VSX-AX2AV-S receivers) to a completely digital Pioneer ‘PURE Vision Black’ plasma display, users can enjoy a fully digital pure audio and visual experience.

Additionally, the DVR-930H-S features a 108 MHz/14-bit Video D/A Converter. It ensures picture perfection by boosting resolution far beyond the limit of traditional data converters - to as close to the original DVD source as possible. Pioneer’s latest VQE9, only incorporated in Pioneer’s top video devices, significantly advances the progressive processing function for all video content. The recorder also includes PureCinema Progressive Scan that effectively doubles the scanning rate of the picture output, for a very stable, flicker-free ‘cinematographic’ viewing experience.

GUI features

By assessing how consumers interact with technology, Pioneer has designed a highly intuitive easy-to-use on-screen interface (GUI). So even when users operate the new recorder for the first time, they’ll be able to enjoy its simple, convenient and clear on-screen controls.

GUIDEPlus+ EPG

The ease of use of the DVR-930H-S is enhanced by the GUIDE Plus+(tm)2 EPG. This provides an up-to-seven-day listings guide with easy one-button programming from detailed TV channel and programme listings.

Capacities and high-speed dubbing

The DVR-930H-S can record up to 700 hours of video on its hard drive. Thanks to Pioneer’s high quality MPEG encoder, it can record up to eight hours on a single-layer DVD-R/DVD-RW disc. Making optimal use of the integrated high-speed DVD-writer mechanism, video can also be transferred easily to DVD. Depending on the recording mode selected and DVD-R/DVD-RW media used, transfer speeds over 50 times faster than real time can be achieved.

Expanding applications

The recorders also offer great flexibility in recording and playback. Users can not only enjoy ‘Chase Play’ playback, but even make a high-speed copy of previously recorded media to DVD or a disc back-up while recording new content to the HDD or watching previously recorded content from the HDD.

Support for compressed audio playback from disc is also provided through WMA and MP3 formats. Likewise users can play back JPEG files recorded on CD from within the PhotoViewer application. Easy recording is possible from a variety of sources in addition to the built-in analogue TV tuner, with support for optimum quality RGB video via SCART and for digital camcorders via the DV input/output.

Chassis stability

The stability of the system, crucial for high-quality audio and video performance, is advanced through its innovative dual-layer chassis. This absorbs unwanted internal and external vibrations offering stable audio/video processing and reproduction

Add comment November 23rd, 2005

Xbox 360 As Media Center Extender

The Xbox 360 has hit the streets in the good old US of A and the opinions are starting to appear on the web. Quite apart from the amazing gaming visuals, a lot of reviewers are getting pretty excited about the Media Center Extender feature of the 360 and are writing in gushing terms about Microsoft having bridged the gap between the console, the PC and the home entertainment setup. TechSmec.com has been ploughing through the internet chatter to bring you the highlights.

Matt Slagle at the Associated Press leads the bandwagon. He likes just about everything the Xbox 360 has to offer and is positively frothing at the mouth about the ‘digital hub’ idea. “Microsoft has done more than beat rivals to market with a powerful, flexible video game machine. With Xbox 360, the company that helped turn personal computers into household devices has created a machine that may someday replace them.” Strong words indeed. TechSmec.com would love to see you write a letter on your 360, or bank online, or…[ STOP!! Ed ].

PC Magazine has run a full review of the Xbox 360’s Media Center Extender prowess and decided that it came up just a little short of being a ‘must have’ feature. Still, they offer the idea that it might be the carrot that convinces your wife / girlfriend that you should spend a few hundred dollars on a new games console. “We’d say you could safely allocate $100 of the cost to media-play features, maybe $200 if you’re big on HD,” they suggest. “The drawbacks, while many, are mostly minor compared against the ability to show media in high definition.”

On his CNET blog, Dan Ackerman has been pleased to discover that all this Media Center Extender fun isn’t just for owners of an XPMCE machine. He writes about how he used Windows Media Connect (think of it as Media Center Extender’s little cousin) to view photos and stream music from a normal XP Pro PC. “If you don’t have an MCE system, it’s a good start and a painless way to get your MP3 collection pumping through the living room surround-sound system,” he writes.

Joystiq have looked at yet another side to the Xbox 360’s interconnectivity - it’s ability to talk via USB to just about any device with portable storage and media playback. They picked on the fabulous PSP for their demo and say “it works great”.

However, lest we forget, the Xbox 360 is a games console and IGN brings us back to Earth with a bump on that front. “For all its pre-release promise, at launch the Xbox 360 will have to stand up on its games,” the writer prophesises. “It’s going to sell out, straight through the holidays most likely, but in truth, I cannot honestly say I’m impressed by the launch titles.”

The Xbox 360 has a few months to get it right before the PS3 launches and spoils the party. For the future of media convergence we hope it does.

With thanks to MediaCenterPCWorld.com

Add comment November 23rd, 2005