Stabilization tendencies of the perovskite structure in a Pb(Zn1/3Ta2/3)O-3-BaTiO3 pseudobinary system with/without compositional modification by 20 mol% PbTiO3 introduction were compared. In order to promote perovskite phase formation, the B-site precursor method (which is conceptually similar to the columbite process) was employed in this study. Dielectric properties of sintered samples were investigated as functions of composition and measurement frequency. Dielectric constant spectra, in the paraelectric temperature region, were further analyzed in terms of diffuseness. Microstructures of sintered specimens were also investigated and correlated with perovskite stabilization. (c) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.