ESS Technology and LINN Cooperate to Support Super Audio CD Format In DVD Players
Super Audio CD is a New High-Quality Sound Storage and Reproduction System
FREMONT, Calif., March 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ESS Technology (Nasdaq: ESST - news) a leading provider of silicon solutions for digital video, digital home systems, and home networking solutions announced today a cooperative effort with Linn Products Limited, a leading worldwide supplier of high-performance entertainment products, and Sony Corporation to support Super Audio CD (SACD) format in DVD players incorporating ESS Technology's Vibratto(TM) DVD single-chip solution family.
SACD players are designed to provide high quality audio. The technology for SACD is called Direct Stream Digital (DSD), which simplifies the recording and playback mechanism and results in better audio frequency response and dynamic range. DSD technology increases the resolution of music by more closely following the original waveform of the music.
Super Audio CD can accommodate 2-channel stereo music, as well as up to 6-channel audio with text and image data. It is backward compatible with the Audio CD format. Super Audio CD titles can be recorded in a hybrid format and played back on regular CD players.
The Linn ``Silver Disk Engine,'' shown at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2002, integrates for the first time the SACD format, ESS Technology's navigation software in its Vibratto chip family, and Linn's audio-video design expertise to create the first implementation of this core technology to suit high quality consumer products and play any audio disk put into it. Sony has provided the key CD and Super Audio CD playback device, which Linn has used in conjunction with ESS MPEG decoder chips to produce a playback engine that plays the key formats desired by discerning end users. These formats include: CD, SACD, Multi Channel SACD, DVD and DVD audio. Many other disk types can be accommodated and full details are available on request.
In this collaborative venture, Linn will be Sony and ESS's reference design house supplying this jointly developed high-quality solution, which provides easy and desirable interfaces for other high-quality manufacturers to hook into. Initially Linn will produce two standard versions (one mid-market and one high end) of this engine, which can be tailored by other manufacturers to suit their audio and video processing and control interfaces. The kits consist of loader, PCBs, and software and will be made available on an OEM basis from mid 2002. Licensing costs and procedures and development systems will be supplied to interested parties by contacting Avri Livingstone (avri@linninc.com) at Linn Products Inc. USA
About LINN Products Ltd.
Linn Products Ltd of Glasgow, Scotland, manufactures in the UK the world's widest range of advanced, high-performance entertainment products. Linn sound systems are used in Royal Palaces and the world's finest homes, luxury liners, private superyachts and award winning aircraft lounges. As a market leader, Linn is famed for high-quality and innovative technology. Linn makes systems that are beautiful, discreet, robust, reliable, and supported by global service.
For additional information about Linn Products in Europe, contact Linn Products Ltd, Floors Road, Glasgow, G76 OEP, Scotland, UK telephone: +44 (0) 141 307 7777, Fax: +44 (0) 141 644 4262, email: helpline@linn.co.uk
For additional information about Linn Products in the United States, contact Linn Products Incorporated, 8787 Perimeter Park Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32216 USA telephone: 904-645-5242, Fax: 904-645-7275, email: helpline@linninc.com. Linn Product's web site address is: www.linninc.com.
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. For additional information on Sony's Super Audio CD products, please contact Sony Super Audio CD Business Center Shinagawa Tec., Shinagawa Intercity C Tower, 2-15-3 Konan Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108 6201, Japan. Sony's Home Page URL: world.sony.com .
About ESS Technology
ESS Technology, Inc., is a leading supplier of high-performance feature- packed chips for the rapidly expanding DVD and digital entertainment markets. The company is also a leading provider of solutions for applications in the growing consumer entertainment market. ESS provides advanced products that enable the emergence of digital home systems that deliver and manage entertainment and information in the home.
ESS, headquartered in Fremont, California, has R&D, sales, and technical support offices worldwide. ESS Technology's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol ESST. ESS Technology's web site address is: esstech.com .
The matters discussed in this news release include certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the possible reduction of consumer spending occasioned by terrorist activity and armed conflict, the timely availability and acceptance of the Company's new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the dependence on continued growth in demand for PC and consumer multimedia products, the fact that the initial determinations described herein are subject to further review and appeal, and the other risks detailed from time to time in the SEC reports of ESS, including the reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: ESS Technology, Inc. |
