CEA's Color Coding Standard Simplifies Home Theater Installation

Business Wire, April 15, 2005

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today announced the publication of an updated Home Theater Color Coding standard, designed to simplify consumers' installation of home theater systems. The standard defines color codes for home theater systems with up to 12.2 audio channels as well as digital, composite and component video connections. The previous standard allowed for only 5.1 channels.

The revised standard is designed to provide installers - whether professional or consumer - with consistent information on home theater set-up. Ensuring home theater systems are even easier to install, the new standard also incorporates diagrams depicting recommended speaker locations for up to 14 speakers to ensure optimal performance.

"Standards may be written by engineers but their end products are for consumers," said Ralph Justus, vice president of CEA's Technology & Standards Department. "The Home Theater Color Coding standard is an example of how valuable standards are at the end of the day for customer adoption, ease-of-use and for making a 'must have' product. The CEA Technology & Standards Department strives to publish standards that grow the consumer electronics (CE) industry and make products more accessible to the average user. This new standard tackles both objectives head-on."

CEA leads technology manufacturers in fostering CE industry growth by developing industry standards and technical specifications that enable new products to come to market and encourage interoperability with existing devices. CEA maintains an unmatched reputation as a credible and flexible standards making body and has earned American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.

Through more than 70 committees, subcommittees and working groups, the CEA Technology and Standards Program provides a unique and efficient forum where technical professionals throughout the industry develop a unified technology roadmap and address technical issues critical to CE industry growth. For information about CEA Technology & Standards or to get involved, visit www.ce.org/standards.> Copies of the new standard for home theater color-coding (CEA-863-A) are available from Global Engineering Documents at http://global.ihs.com.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $121 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

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