3DsoundSurge Press Release: Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound Mx300 Audio Accelerator Wins Seventeen Leading Industry Awards In Just Three Months


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Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound Mx300 Audio Accelerator Wins Seventeen Leading Industry Awards In Just Three Months

Monster Sound MX300 Positional 3D Audio Card Receives PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Honor and Computer Gaming World's 1999 Best Hardwareö Premier Award

SAN JOSE, California - March 2, 1999 - Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq; DIMD), a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, today announced that the company's state-of-the-art Monster Sound MX300 audio accelerator received PC Magazine's "Editors' Choice" award as the best sound card in the "The Ultimate Upgrade Guide," March 9, 1999 issue and Computer Gaming World magazine's "Best Hardware" award as the top gaming hardware for 1998 in the April 1999 issue.

"In addition to four-channel output, a generous software bundle, and foolproof setup routines, the Monster Sound boasts some of the most powerful MIDI and 3-D we've seen," reported PC Magazine.

Diamond's Monster Sound MX300 sound card, based on Aureal Semiconductor's Vortex^TM 2 processor and A3D 2.0 audio technology, features multi-dimensional sound that reflects the acoustics and surfaces of each game environment and provides a fully immersive 3D audio experience for one of the most complete audio solutions for PC games and DVD movies.

"We're very excited about these awards as they further acknowledge the quality of Diamond's Monster Sound MX300 and our delivery of a high-performance sound card to today's computer users looking for the utmost in PC gaming and entertainment," said Scott Vouri, vice president and general manager of the Multimedia Division at Diamond Multimedia. "The Monster Sound MX300 delivers innovative audio capabilities right to the ears of PC consumers at a very attractive price."

An Impressive List of Accolades

These most recent industry awards enhance an impressive list of honors and awards in just three short months of shipping the Monster Sound MX300 to PC consumers and gaming enthusiasts. Featured in both online and hardcover publications, Diamond's Monster Sound MX300 has won significant recognition in head-to-head comparisons since its launch, including:

"Best Hardware-1999" award, Computer Gaming World, April 1999 issue
"4 + Stars out of 5-Stamp of Approvalö, Computer Games Strategy Plus, April 1999 issue
"Editor's Choice" award, PC Magazine, March 9, 1999 issue
"Ten out of Ten" 3D Audio Wars, PC Accelerator, March 1999 issue
"Editors' Choice" award, Computer Dealers News, February 26, 1999 issue
"Hardware of the Year" award, MPOG.com, February 1999
"4.5 out of 5" rating, Computer Games online, January 1999
"9.8 Rating out of 10", igamer.net, January 1999
"Kick-Ass Award", Maximum PC, January 1999 issue
"100% and Phatty Boom Batty Blunt" award, PC Fan, January 1999
"9 out of 10" rating, AGN3D, December 1998
"1998 Sound Card of the Year," Gamers Depot, December 1998
"4.5 our 5" rating, Gamespot, December 1998
"Five Stars out of Five," MPOG.com, December 1998
"4.5 Rating out of 5," Sharky Extreme, December 1998
"98% and Sonic Boom" award, 3D Audio Immersion, December 1998
"Whoop Ass" award, Voodoo Extreme, December 1998

Diamond's Monster Sound MX300 state-of-the-art positional 3D audio solution has been further accredited as the sound card of choice for leading system manufacturers.

Monster Sound MX300 Design Wins

In addition to the numerous awards, Diamond Multimedia's Monster Sound MX300 has won support both from top OEM's, such as Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: CPQ), and leading gaming system integrators, such as Falcon Northwest located in Oregon. According to Falcon Northwest President and CEO Kelt Reeves, "Our demanding customer base is now requesting Diamond's Monster Sound MX300 over other leading sound technologies in such high measure that we've made it the standard offering in our MachV series gaming machines." Falcon Northwest builds custom PC systems precisely to gaming enthusiasts' specifications and recently received Computer Gaming World's "Editors' Choice" award in the January 1999 issue for the Ultimate Gaming Machine, the fourth year in a row for Falcon Northwest.

In addition, Compaq recently announced that one of their new home Internet PCs, the Presario 5600i, will include the Monster Sound MX300 as an option for consumers wanting the latest in PC audio equipment. Through Compaq's retail ôBuilt For Youö program and direct channels, including Compaq's Online Store, http://www.compaq.com/buynow/online.html, PC consumers can custom-configure the system they are ordering to meet their exact requirements, including selection of the award-winning Monster Sound MX300.

Monster Sound MX25 Offers Dolby Digital® Support

Additionally, Diamond Multimedia today announced its first option in the MX-LINK series, the Monster Sound MX25 upgrade card, giving Monster Sound MX300 customers the latest advancements in Dolby Digital support at a very affordable price point. The Monster Sound MX25 option combined with the Monster Sound MX300 and software DVD offers S/PDIF (Sony and Philips Interconnect Format) output for an impressive home theater experience. The Monster Sound MX300 audio accelerator and the Monster Sound MX25 daughtercard connected to an external receiver with AC3 (Dolby Digital) decoding capabilities allow PC users to enjoy DVD titles in a cinema-quality environment. The Monster Sound MX25 upgrade provides a true-digital signal to a home-theater system delivering a high audio listening experience.

"The Monster Sound MX25 option is the most cost-effective means of enabling Dolby Digital support for Monster Sound MX300 users today," said Michael Dexter, product manager for Diamond Multimedia's audio business unit. "It allows the computer user to experience true surround sound for the full motion-picture sound quality right in the home."

Diamond's Monster Sound MX25 will be available in late March through Diamond's Online Store at http://www.diamondmm.com/where-to-buy/online-store/ for a U.S. estimated retail price (ERP) of $39. The Monster Sound MX300, including a powerful software bundle of popular 3D games and audio applications, is available for a U.S. ERP of $99.95 through major retailers including CompUSA, Babbages and Electronics Boutique, as well as from on-line retailers including Diamond's Online Store at http://www.diamondmm.com/where-to-buy/online-store/ .

About Diamond Multimedia

Diamond Multimedia is a leader in PC multimedia and Internet connectivity, providing advanced products that enable desktop computer users to create, access and experience compelling, new media content from their PC's and through the Internet. Products include the Rio series of Internet audio appliances, the Stealth and Viper« series of video accelerators, the Monster series of 3D gaming accelerators, the Fire series of professional graphics accelerators, the Supra« series of modems, and the HomeFree line of home networking products. Diamond's common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol DIMD, and its web site address is http://www.diamondmm.com. The Company's Internet music portal site is at http://www.RioPort.com.

How to Contact Diamond Multimedia

There are many ways to reach Diamond for sales support, technical assistance, driver updates and general information:
Internet Web Sites: http://www.diamondmm.com and http://www.RioPort.com
Diamond Multimedia's Headquarters and Multimedia Division: 408-325-7000; Fax: 408-325-7070
Communications Division (Supra brand modems) Main Phone Number: 360-604-1400; Fax: 360-604-1401
European Division (Germany): +49-8151-266-0; (UK): +44-1189-444400; (France) +33-1-55381600
Korean Office (Seoul): +82-2-551-2700; Fax: +82-2-551-2710
Japanese Office (Tokyo): +81-3-5695-8401; Fax: +81-3-5695-8403
ASEAN Office (Singapore): +65-353-9511; Fax: +65-353-9510
Hong Kong Office: +852-2262-9518; Fax: +852-2262-9555
Australian Office (Sydney): +61-2-9460-2355; Fax +61-2-9460-2360
Swedish Office: +46-417-40060; Fax +46-417-40054
Latin America Office (Miami): 305-593-8777; Fax: 305-593-2779
Mexico Office (Guadalajara):523-110-1144; Fax: 523-110-0744
Product Support (Voice), United States: 541-967-2450; Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-330; Europe (UK) +44-1189-444444; Europe (France) +33-1-55381616; TDD/TTY Support 541-967-2451
Product Support (Fax), United States: 541-967-2401; Europe (Germany) +49-8151-266-331; Europe (UK): +44-1189-444445; (France) +33-1-55381601
Pre-sales Information: 1-800-468-5846
24-Hour Fax-On-Demand Service: 1-800-380-0030
Investor Relations: 408-325-7476; 1-888-474-3463 (U.S. and Canada)
FTP site: ftp.diamondmm.com
BBS: Europe (Germany) BBS at +49-8151-266333v (to 28.8 Kbps) or +49-8151-266334 (ISDN); Europe (UK) at +44-1189-444415 (to 33.6 Kbps)

###HomeFree, Monster 3D, Rio, Shotgun, SpeedStar and SupraSonic are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. Monster« is a registered trademark of Monster Cable. Viper« is a registered trademark of Directed Electronics, Inc., Used under License. All other trademarks referenced are the service mark, trademark or registered trademark of their respective manufacturers. This announcement relates to products whose introductions are in North America. The product name, contents, prices and availability may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as statements relating to the Company's ability to successfully exploit technological and market developments, the timing and success of new product introductions by the Company and its competitors, and the Company's ability to invest in new technologies and to enhance its existing systems are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of competitive products and pricing and alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products and upgrades to existing products, and other risks as detailed from time to time in Diamond Multimedia's SEC filings, including its most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

SOURCE: Diamond Multimedia