Pioneer will release three BD-Live Blu-ray players in late May: The $300 (29,800 Yen) BDP-120, the $450 (45,000 Yen) BDP-320 and the $880 (88,000 Yen) BDP-LX52.

The BDP-120 player comes with BD-Live, a 1GB flash drive, fast disc loading, USB expandable memory that includes bus-powered hard drives. The device supports 1080/60p and 24p video output (DeepColor 36bit), as well as streaming of linear PCM, Dolby NR TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master audio. However, no analog multichannel outputs are available.

The entry-level model also features the "Quick start" mode that allows the player to power up from standby mode in just 0.8 seconds.

The supported media formats include BD-ROM (video), BD-R/RE, BD-R DL/RE DL, DVD video, DVD-R/RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R/RW, and DVD+R DL. JPEG images as well as AudioCDs can be reproduced from a CD-R/RW disc.

The other two higher-end models, the BDP-320 and the BDP-LX52 will sense picture settings when connected to the company's 9G Kuro plasma, and will adjust video output accordingly. For those without Kuro 9Gs, the technology will soon be able to sense what TV you do have and make adjustments. It's called the "KURO LINK Picture Mode"

The famed Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS) can now sync up multichannel, making sure all that sound data is processed. The BPM-320 model is able to utilise the PQLS technology for jitter-free sound procession only for 2ch linear PCM sound sources such as an audio CD, while the BDP-LX52 could take advantage of PQLS even when connected with a multichannel linear PCM AV amplifier (if available).

Professional-grade digital audio decoders (DAC) and jitter-reduction advancements in the new Blu-ray Disc players promise to offer enhanced movie and music sound reproduction.

The high-end BDP-320 and BDP-LX52 units offer the same features plus 1080/60p and 24p video output (DeepColor 48bit).