Spatializer Brings Virtual Surround Sound to Headphones

July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Spatializer Audio Laboratories Inc., developer and marketer of the "de facto" standard for virtual surround sound announced today that Spatializer Natural Headphone is now available for license based on Cirrus Logic's CS493xxx-CL family of Digital Signal Processors (DSP). The offering combines the market's best selling DSP for A/V receivers with Spatializer's natural sounding virtual surround headphone algorithm.

"We are pleased to support Cirrus Logic's CS493xxx-CL family with our Spatializer Natural Headphone technology," says Spatializer's Chairman and CEO Henry R. Mandell. "Until now, high quality virtual surround processing for headphones required a tremendous and often unrealistic amount of processing bandwidth. The result was expensive processors and high priced algorithm royalties, which discouraged widespread use throughout most A/V Receiver lines. Spatializer is now offering an affordable, yet impressive solution that is suitable for the high volume, mainstream consumer electronics market. Cirrus Logic's CS493xxx-CL family is the leading DSP for the A/V Receiver market and we are pleased to again partner with them to deliver our value added and bottom-line building virtual audio solutions."

Spatializer Natural Headphone is the ideal solution for all headphone applications. The algorithm down-mixes 5.1 channel surround sound into a natural quality sound effect over headphones. A well-defined center image allows for crystal clear presentation of dialogue, while the other surround channels immerse the listener in an enveloping audio experience. One innovative feature is Spatializer Virtual LFE (Low Frequency Effects), which creates the impression of subwoofer frequencies that are usually lower than the minimum frequency response capability of most headphones. The result is a more dramatic listening experience, with greater impact, particularly through inexpensive or low quality headphones. User adjustable reverberation also allows for customizable headphone effects. Different listeners often require different levels and types of reverberation to achieve a natural sounding presentation. By making this user definable, listeners can set a custom-tailored effect according to their listening tastes.

"Spatializer's Natural Headphone technology leverages the 493xxx-CL family's extraordinary sonic realism to deliver a compelling product for digital entertainment consumers," says Lew Paceley, marketing vice president, Crystal Products Division, Cirrus Logic.

"Spatializer has been a leader in providing the 'de facto' standard for virtual surround sound to the DVD player market," says Mandell. "Now, we are in position to replicate our DVD market success in the A/V Receiver market. With our extensive distribution network in the Far East that can quickly and efficiently demonstrate the powerful audio enhancement benefits of our technology, we are confident that this will be a successful product."

Further information may be obtained from the company's web site, http://www.spatializer.com

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