3DsoundSurge Press Release: Wolfson Microelectronics Delivers Sound to Microsoft's Xbox

Wolfson Microelectronics Delivers Sound to Microsoft's Xbox

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2000--Wolfson Microelectronics announced today that it has been chosen as the initial provider of the analog audio DACs for Xbox; Microsoft's(r) highly anticipated, future generation video game console. As the bridge between the NVIDIA(TM) Multimedia Processor IC and the ultimate aural experience, the Wolfson WM9709 provides the Xbox with high quality audio performance comparable to current CD and DVD players.

``Microsoft selected Wolfson based on their technical excellence and ability to provide high-quality performance,'' said Leonardo Del Castillo, senior design engineer Microsoft's Xbox hardware design development team. ``Wolfson's responsiveness and excellent engineering support were major factors in the selection process.''

``Xbox is the first video game console to fully embrace the audio experience, and we are proud to deliver such a critical component to Microsoft,'' said David Milne, Wolfson's president and CEO. ``We applaud Microsoft for working with audio pioneers to further immerse gamers into limitless new worlds.''

The WM9709 is a high-quality stereo audio DAC (Digital to Analog converter), based on Wolfson's well proven multi-bit Sigma-Delta converter architecture. It combines cutting edge design technology with state-of-the-art sound quality. The WM9709 utilizes AC-Link architecture, as commonly used in most PC motherboards, customized with some novel technology to provide the Xbox with superior audio performance that will complement its unparalleled graphics capability.

About Xbox

Xbox is Microsoft's future-generation video game console that delivers superior graphics, high quality audio and the most imaginative, immersive, and exhilarating game experiences available. All this is possible because Xbox has at least three times the graphics performance of the newest generation of game consoles. Features will include a 733MHz CPU, a graphics chip capable of processing more than one trillion operations-per-second, an 8GB hard drive, 64 MB of total memory, a 3-D audio processor with 256 audio channels, DVD movie playback and broadband connectivity for on-line game play. Xbox uses familiar architecture and DirectXŽ development tools so game developers will be able to create better games faster.

About Wolfson

Wolfson Microelectronics Ltd., develops mixed-signal semiconductors for multimedia and communications applications. Privately-held and based in Edinburgh, UK, Wolfson is a leading supplier into both audio and imaging markets and is the supplier of choice by market makers around the world. For more information, please visit the company's Website at www.wolfson.co.uk.

Note to Editors: Trademarks and product names are acknowledged to their respective holders.

Contact:

     Buckmaster-Wilson & Assoc., Fremont
     Donna Wilson, 510/413-4994 ext. 101
     donna@bwapr.com
         or
     Wolfson Microelectronics, Inc., Edinburgh
     Julian Hayes, +44-131-667-9386
     julian.hayes@wolfson.co.uk