IFA 2011: Pioneer adds two universal players to Blu-ray range

We've already reported on Pioneer's forthcoming BDP-140 3D/SACD Blu-ray player, and today at IFA details have emerged of a further two models to come.

They are the £250 BDP-440 (below), due out in October, and the £350 BDP-LX55 (above) arriving a month later.

The additional models are both 'universal players', with support for 3D Blu-ray, SACD and DVD-Audio playback.

Twin HDMI outputs feature on the BDP-LX55 – handy for owners of existing AV receivers without 3D passthrough – while both models hook up to the internet via a wired ethernet connection. Pioneer's AS-WL300 wireless LAN converter is optional.

There's also DLNA certification, support for MKV, DiVX Plus HD, WMV, WMA and MP3 playback, plus a jpeg viewer for photo slideshows.

Naturally high-definition audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are supported, and both models can be controlled using Pioneer's iControloAV2 app.

Key differences on the BDP-LX55 are an 'advanced anti-vibration construction', the use of selected acoustic capacitors and a high-grade power supply. Gold-plated HDMI terminals and a 32-bit/192kHz DAC complete the upgrade.

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Andy Clough

Andy is Global Brand Director of What Hi-Fi? and has been a technology journalist for 30 years. During that time he has covered everything from VHS and Betamax, MiniDisc and DCC to CDi, Laserdisc and 3D TV, and any number of other formats that have come and gone. He loves nothing better than a good old format war. Andy edited several hi-fi and home cinema magazines before relaunching whathifi.com in 2008 and helping turn it into the global success it is today. When not listening to music or watching TV, he spends far too much of his time reading about cars he can't afford to buy.