Audio Video News

Although prices for high-definition displays have steadily declined in the past year, the equipment hasn't moved into the mass market in significant numbers. Home-theater specialty shops and their upscale clientele haven't yet had much of a "trickle-down" effect on rank-and-file consumers.

Best Buy Inc. and Pioneer Electronics are planning to change that. In September, the Minneapolis-based electronics chain will debut Pioneer's new 16:9 monitors in more than 350 stores nationwide, according to a July 27 announcement from Pioneer. Best Buy will feature two Pioneer HD rear-projection monitors: the 53"-diagonal SD-532HD5 and the 58" SD-582HD5, both of them 16:9 sets with the capability of displaying images in 480-line progressive-scan and 1080-line interlaced native formats. The two models offer 72-point user-friendly convergence adjustments, component inputs, and D-sub 15 connection for use with a variety of digital tuners.

For demonstration purposes, Best Buy supplies an HDTV feed to all of its locations in 40 states, instead of relying on spotty HDTV programming from local broadcasters. Best Buy will be the "showcase retailer" for Pioneer home theater products, according to Best Buy purchasing executive Lee Simonson. "Adding Pioneer to our assortment gives us a premium brand that is solely dedicated to the 16:9 format," he said.

The retailer and the manufacturer have a longstanding relationship that makes the arrangement a natural for both firms, according to Pioneer sales and marketing VP Michael Wakeman. "Best Buy is a leading retailer of digital television, and with the addition of our high-definition monitors in their stores, more consumers will now be able to enjoy the highest-quality advanced home theater in the market."

In addition to the two new HD models, Best Buy also features 14 other Pioneer video monitors and television sets. Pioneer was one of the first major electronics makers to commit to high-definition video, undertaking a massive retooling of its production lines two years ago to accommodate the new digital formats.