Original Pioneer Technologies Take Reliability and Performance to New Levels in Latest PDP-MXE20 Professional Plasma Screens

Pioneer Europe today announces the availability of its latest
professional plasma screens. The three new PDP-MXE20 screens include
the new PUREBLACK PANEL and PURE DRIVE image performance technologies
that have secured a wide range of industry accolades for the company's
plasma TVs. Complementing the supreme picture qualities are a range of
newly engineered features to meet the exacting demands of the
professional sector and which advance the screens' flexibility,
efficiency and reliability.

'Buying Pioneer is about confidence - the screen will be reliable
and deliver the best image quality available,' observes Darren Gaffey,
Product Manager, Plasma Display Business, Pioneer Europe. 'The new
displays ensure that buying Pioneer makes more sense than ever. The
panel performance is exceptional; we've advanced the reproduction of
colour and there's no image distortion, while the processing engine
delivers precise scaling and very sharp images. As well as the looks,
we've addressed the "pragmatics" too: the screens are highly reliable,
flexible, extremely efficient and very tough.'

The three screens include 42-inch, 50-inch and 60-inch options
(PDP-42MXE20, PDP-50MXE20 and PDP-60MXE20). The sleek black or silver
panels(1) will be used across professional applications including
corporate, retail and information display environments. Their key
technologies are outlined below.

PUREBLACK PANEL

The PUREBLACK PANEL elevates image performance to a stunning new
level of reality. A redesigned Deep Waffle Rib Structure includes a
switch to square pixels in the 50 and 60 inch models. This ensures
that images are true to life and distortion free while the phosphorous
discharge is improved and unwanted light output reduced. Other
advances include: a new dielectric layer (greatly improves panel
efficiency); a superior colour filter (delivers a higher level of
colour accuracy and contrast); up-rated phosphor, and a new Crystal
Emissive Layer that generates better luminance performance, higher
brightness and faster discharge response.

New PURE DRIVE PRO processing engine

Pioneer retains a dedicated panel of engineers to focus on the
unique demands of professional applications; a key product of the
team's work is a high-performance chip set. This manages the colour
output, scaling, GUI mix and other image processing technologies to
deliver high efficiency levels and optimum picture quality. Scaling
performance (vital for professional monitors) is up-rated to ensure
that even high-resolution signals are reproduced with accuracy. Image
processing is further advanced by i-Clear Drive: depending on the
video signal, this feature intelligently adjusts grey steps in darker
areas to sharpen details. Since it doesn't ignore any data when
scaling, image processing is smoother and more precise.

Operating efficiency

Thanks to the efficiency of the PUREBLACK PANEL, the screens'
power consumption is among the lowest in the industry: PDP-42MXE20
(285 W), PDP-50MXE20 (340 W) and the PDP-60MXE20 (450 W). In addition
to the standard mode, the efficiency is further advanced by four
energy saver modes that manage peak intensity of high brightness
images while an automatic mode(2) applies an ambient light sensor to
adjust to local light conditions.

Intelligent and flexible display options

The powerful PURE DRIVE PRO image processing engine supports an
extensive array of flexible image display options. Highlights include
a 'standard dual-screen' mode to display two pictures with four sizes
of sub-image to select from. Thanks to the PURE DRIVE PRO's image
processing engine, the images in dual-screen mode are presented with
identical pinpoint accuracy. The order of images can be swapped using
a command on the remote control unit (RCU) and similarly the audio can
be switched between images. Also available is an upgraded 'side by
side' mode with three display options; as well as a 50:50, a 4x3 image
can be selected that's tailor-made for digital signage applications.
It's also possible to present the images in a portrait format to
enhance installation options.(3) In addition, the display also
supports picture-out-picture, intelligent dual-screen PiP freeze (to
freeze the image in PiP) and a banner PiP mode so that text or
information can be overlaid onto the main page using applications like
Microsoft PowerPoint(R).

Video Wall function

Configuring multi-screen video walls with the PDP-MXE20 range is
easy. Possible configurations are 2x2, 3x3, 4x4 and 5x5. Two display
modes have been designed to enhance video walls - 'Normal' and
'Adjusted'. In Normal mode, static information can be displayed
without losing text within the bezel areas. Normal mode splits the
image into multiple parts (up to 25) without losing any data that
would normally be obscured by the PDP frame. Adjusted mode divides the
picture into sections keeping the overall image complete as though
looking through a window. Video Wall functions include Power on Delay,
ABL Link, Auto ID Setting and Repeat Timer.

Expansion Solutions

The new displays include Pioneer's Expansion Solutions concept
that makes the creation and management of plasma installations an
easier and more cost-effective process. As well as the standard 15 Pin
D-sub and DVI-D connector for PC and video signals, the displays
include two open architecture expansion slots. One slot is dedicated
to signal input with two optional Pioneer expansion cards available to
handle the major video signals. The second is a unique communications
slot and includes an RS-232C expansion card as standard. With their
open architecture, the slots enable interchangeable cards to be
designed by third party developers to handle current and future
analogue, digital and communications signals. They also provide the
flexibility for systems integrators to design plasma installations to
customers' exact specifications.

Availability

The PDP-50MXE20 is available in November this year and the
PDP-60MXE20 in December while the PDP-42MXE20 will be available in
January 2006.

About Pioneer Europe NV

Pioneer Europe NV is the regional European headquarters of the
Pioneer Corporation, a global leader in electronics and audio/video
products for the home, car, commerce and industry, particularly in the
following core multimedia technologies - digital versatile disc (DVD),
plasma display panels (PDP), and in-car navigation and AV systems. Its
shares are traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

(1) Silver is available as an option on the PDP-50MXE20 only

(2) Not available on the PDP-60MXE20

(3) External manipulation of the signal is needed