Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD

The Pioneer Elite BDP-23FD is a Profile 2.0 blu-ray player that features HDMI 1.3a and Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD bit-streaming. The third in the Pioneer BDP series, the BDP-23FD is a direct upgrade from the BDP-320. As well as maintaining most of its predecessor’s features, the BDP-23FD adds along an aluminum front panel and an RS-232C port for improved automation capabilities. In all other ways, however, the BDP-23FD is practically a duplicate of its predecessor. For instance, the BDP-23FD also offers 48-Bit Deep Color Support that improves subtle gradations between colors for a more smooth/dynamic picture, a Picture Control Suite with 13 video adjustments, 3 different noise reduction circuits that improve the performance of low-quality disc content, a KURO Link for immediate syncing with Kuro plasma televisions, 7.1 channel analog output, a Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS) that offers “jitter-free audio transmission” with Pioneer receivers by synchronizing with them for a “high resolution listening experience”, and 1GB of internal memory. In addition, the BDP-23FD offers 1080p true 24FPS video output, not to mention BD Live with USB expandable memory (HDD support), Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Digital Plus. The BDP-23FD also comes equipped with an Ethernet jack for BD-Live & firmware updates, and TrueHD / DTS-HD master audio decoding. Slated to drop sometime in April 2009, the BDP-23FD is estimated to retail for somewhere between $300 and $400.