Philips will unlock the full potential of SACD

For immediate release
August 2000

Philips will unlock the full potential of SACD
Multichannel SACD combined with DVD Video to bring the best in audio and video

(musikpresse.de) Following Marantz' introduction of its first Super Audio CD (SACD) player, Philips announces that it will introduce a multichannel SACD player that includes DVD Video functionality. Philips will target this product at a broader audience, and will introduce it at the end of this year. The target introduction price will be around $ 1,999.

Frank Pauli of Philips Disc Systems comments: "We are very excited by the sound quality offered by SACD. Everybody who hears the pure and realistic sound quality that SACD delivers, is captivated," he adds. "Our SACD player will have six channel output, and will include DVD Video, which we believe will be a very attractive combination for everybody who likes to enjoy the best in sound and video."

The product, named SACD1000, will come in a stylish design. It can play back DVD-Video, VCD and CDDA, and is compatible with audio and video related formats, including DSD, PCM, MPEG2, AC3, DTS and supports CD-R and CD-RW playback as well.

Super Audio CD, developed by Philips and Sony, is the evolution of the CD format. It uses the latest DSD (Direct Stream Digital) technology to deliver superior sound reproduction quality, with the ability to render all the nuances of a live performance. This technology closely reproduces original analog waveforms, producing a clearer, more natural sound that captures the musical atmosphere of the source material with outstanding realism. Using a sampling frequency 64 times higher than that of CD, Super Audio CD offers an extremely pure and natural sound.

Compatibility with existing CDs and CD players
Philips regards compatibility as a key factor for the success of Super Audio CD, ensuring that users can play all their existing CDs on their new Super Audio CD players. Additionally, the SACD hybrid disc (two-layer disc) enables the consumer to play the discs on any existing CD player.



-more-




2/…Philips multichannel SACD with DVD-Video


Hybrid disc production line installed
Following the successful introduction of SACD, Philips and Sonopress recently announced the development of a SACD hybrid disc production line in the Sonopress factory in Gütersloh. This is the first step in the agreement to jointly develop Super Audio CD hybrid disc production facilities. The hybrid production line has now been installed and they are starting up production. The hybrid disc production line has been developed by Sonopress with the support from Toolex International NV and Philips Electronics.

###

Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 31.5 billion in 1999. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its 226,900 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, medical systems, and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges.
News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com


For more information, please contact:

Jeannet Harpe
Philips Media Relations
Tel +31 40 273 56 77
Fax +31 40 273 27 29
E-mail: Jeannet.Harpe@philips.com