3DsoundSurge Press Release: Dolby Headphone Technology Goes Portable and Personal

Dolby Headphone Technology Goes Portable and Personal

With Dolby Headphone technology, consumers can take their surround-sound experience with them wherever they go

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2003-- Dolby Laboratories, the world leader in multichannel audio, is showcasing its leading-edge audio technologies at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 9-12, 2003, in Las Vegas, under its "The Sound of Entertainment(TM)" theme. Visitors to the Dolby Laboratories Exhibit (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Lower Level, Booth 22022) will experience a host of advanced Dolby® audio technologies -- including Dolby Digital, Dolby Surround Pro Logic® II, Dolby Virtual Speaker technology, and Dolby Headphone technology -- in a wide range of consumer entertainment products designed expressly for use in the home and on the go.

At CES, Dolby showcases seven Dolby Headphone technology demonstrations, including devices such as the Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox, and technologies including DVD-Video with Dolby Digital, AAC, CD audio played through Pro Logic® II decoders, and DVD-Audio. Various products that incorporate Dolby Headphone technology will be shown, including audio receivers from Denon and Onkyo, the Pioneer SE-DIR1000C cordless headphone system (currently available in Japan), and the InterVideo WinDVD player.

"As entertainment becomes increasingly mobile and personal, the choice of headphone technology becomes more important," said Craig Eggers, director of consumer channel marketing, Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby Headphone technology delivers a high-quality surround-sound experience, minus the 'listener fatigue' or 'in your head' effects associated with other headphone applications. Movies, music, games, and other personal entertainment applications come alive in ways never previously imagined.

"For example, Dolby Headphone technology is the perfect solution for portable DVD players, where consumers can revel in a highly involving surround-sound experience from a conventional set of headphones. It is ideally suited for rear-seat entertainment applications in a car, keeping children and other passengers occupied. It's also great for videogame buffs, who can now enjoy even more compelling and engaging action in full surround sound without disturbing others."

Dolby Headphone technology is currently available in Japan, Europe, and North America, in a number of laptop computers, PC-based software DVD player applications, home audio/visual components, and wireless headphone products. Austrian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines also feature Dolby Headphone technology as part of their value-added in-flight entertainment offerings.

Dolby Headphone Technology Revolutionizes Personal, Mobile Entertainment

Dolby Headphone technology, which was developed by Australia-based Lake Technology, Ltd., enables stereo headphones to portray the sound of a five-speaker, surround-sound playback system. It achieves its unique effect through a powerful signal-processing algorithm that generates a multitude of audio cues modeled from real life. From these cues, a person's ears and brain perceive a truly three-dimensional sound image.

Dolby Headphone technology lets listeners enjoy multichannel sound sources, such as Dolby Digital and Dolby Surround movies, with thrilling, realistic surround sound over any conventional stereo headset; it also produces far more natural sound from stereo sources, such as CDs and MP3 files. With the Dolby Headphone process, spatiality is preserved: music and sound that is intended to be in front of you is indeed located in front of you, and special effects and ambience surround and envelop you. Importantly Dolby Headphone technology maintains the integrity of key center-channel dialogue, the most critical element of any surround-sound entertainment experience.

About Dolby Laboratories

Dolby Laboratories is the developer of signal processing systems used worldwide in applications that include motion picture sound, consumer entertainment products and media, broadcasting, and music recording. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the privately held company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.

Note to Editors: Dolby, Pro Logic, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.

Contact:

     Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
     Jim Arnold, 415-645-5116
     jja@dolby.com
        or
     Martell Communications
     Colleen Martell, 408-374-7420
     cmartell@martellpr.com

Source: Dolby Laboratories, Inc.