Pioneer Announces Second-Gen Blu-ray Player

Pioneer Electronics has announced it will bring its next-generation of Elite Blu-ray disc player to stores later this month.

Dubbed the Elite BDP-94HD, the deck follows Pioneer's successful BDP-HD1 first-gen unit, but upgrades several key features.

Among the additions are a retooled user interface, enhanced networking capabilities and support for internal decoding of Dolby TrueHD. (The player apparently does not offer internal decoding for DTS-HD Master Lossless Audio, nor is it yet known if the deck will also offer such anticipated features as HDM V1.3 outputs or an upgradeable ethernet port. We'll keep you posted.)

"This new player is a prime example of our dedication to exceptional quality, creating sights and sounds that leave an emotional impression for movie enthusiasts," said Chris Walker, senior manager of marketing and product planning at Pioneer Electronics. "A significant aspect to a quality home theater is convenience and this unit is designed to deliver high performance with minimal user effort for a premier entertainment experience."

Pioneer has set a cool $1,000 list price for the BDP-94HD. And as an added sales incentive, the company will be throwing in two free (as yet unnamed) Blu-ray discs with every purchase.

Further details for the player can be read here via the company's official press release.