Cirrus Logic Offers Windows Media Audio 9 Professional on Flagship Digital Signal Processor

Business Wire, Jan 7, 2005

LAS VEGAS -- Preparing for the growing wave of high-definition audio and video content for home theater systems, Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq:CRUS), has incorporated Microsoft's Windows Media Audio 9 Professional (WMA Pro) decoder onto its flagship CS49520 audio digital signal processor (DSP).

By porting WMA Pro onto the CS49520, Cirrus Logic continues its leadership of being among the first silicon companies to incorporate mainstream multichannel decoders onto its DSP families.

"In 1998, Cirrus Logic was the first semiconductor company to support both the Dolby(R) Digital and DTS(R) audio formats for multi-channel surround sound audio in home theater systems, and we continue to strive to be the first implementer for new leading audio algorithms," said Warren Rhee, manager of Digital Audio Product Marketing, Cirrus Logic. "Microsoft has shown Cirrus Logic great teamwork to enable us to once again take a leadership role in helping audio/video receiver manufacturers differentiate their consumer AVR systems by providing their tremendous WMA Pro codec as the industry prepares for the upcoming tidal wave of high definition audio and video content."

"With its focus on digital entertainment ICs, Cirrus Logic represents one of the leading audio IC suppliers for which to help create more consumer electronics products that support Windows Media Audio 9 Professional," said Michael Aldridge, group product manager for the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft Corp. "Cirrus Logic has responded by being among the early adopters to offer WMA 9 Pro onto a Cirrus Logic Audio DSP and paving the way for a growing line of consumer AVR systems ready for high-definition content."

WMA 9 Pro is a new high-performance audio codec that supports better-than-CD-quality resolution and targets 5.1 and 7.1 channel surround sound playback.

Cirrus Logic Inc.

Cirrus Logic is a premier supplier of high-performance analog, mixed-signal and digital processing solutions for consumer entertainment electronics, automotive entertainment and industrial product applications. Building on its global market leadership in audio ICs and its rich mixed-signal patent portfolio, Cirrus Logic targets audio, video and precision mixed-signal applications in these growing markets. The company operates from headquarters in Austin, Texas, with offices in California, Colorado, Europe, Japan and Asia. More information about Cirrus Logic is available at www.cirrus.com.

Cirrus Logic is a trademark of Cirrus Logic Inc. All other product names noted herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.