News

Kenwood Launches Landmark Networked Audio/Video Receiver Using Sigma Designs' Media Processor (29/9/2004)

Kenwood USA Corp., a leading manufacturer of consumer electronics products, has launched a revolutionary networked audio/video receiver that incorporates Sigma Designs' (Nasdaq:SIGM) Media Processors. The Kenwood Fineline(TM) VRS-N8100 uses Sigma's EM8550 media processor chipset and is being introduced into the Japan, US, and EU markets, with first shipments of the US model scheduled for September.

One of the most powerful multi-function products to enter the market, the Kenwood Fineline(TM) VRS-N8100 offers all the features of a premium A/V receiver, as well as a digital media adapter that enables streaming media to become a new input option. Cutting-edge features that set the VRS-N8100 apart from similar products include:

-- The ability to directly accept streaming digital music, movies and photos from any networked PC to a stereo or television via the remote and TV user interface.
-- Kenwood's new "Supreme" audio playback system that restores high pitched audio tones (treble) that may have been eliminated due to MP3 and WMA compression, thus giving digital music its full range of sound back.
-- Media management is enabled through the use of an on-screen GUI interface along with a remote control to select sound, images and animation files on a PC.
-- Digital memory support based on an optional PC card adapter for compact flash, memory stick, smart media, and SD/MMC card support.

"Our VRS-N8100 is an advanced solution for the consumer that is looking for a way to conveniently select from the widest range of input sources, including networked streaming media," said John Hwang, R& D & Product Manager for Kenwood USA's Home Electronics Division. "Sigma's EM8550 provides us with scalability and seamless operation for our digital media network solution."

With the PC becoming the media center for home entertainment, consumers have more flexibility in storing and collecting a myriad of content. As a result, digital media adapter functionality allows consumers to remotely access all the digital music, photos and video stored on their PC through any TV in the home. Sigma media processors are designed to address this need, decoding major digital media formats and facilitating control of an embedded network device.

"The advancing trend of home networking and streaming audio/video continues with this latest network player from Kenwood," said Ken Lowe, vice president of strategic marketing, Sigma Designs. "With an endless choice of video, audio, photo, and other media, which consumers are collecting, opportunities to unite the entertainment library are quickly becoming a convenient necessity."

About the EM8550 Media Processor

The EM8550 provides a highly-integrated solution for MPEG-4, MPEG-2 and DVD decoding. Based on the company's award-winning REALmagic(R) Video Technology, it enables cost-effective solutions for consumer appliances, such as portable media players, low-cost video endpoints and progressive DVD players/recorders with PVR and networking.

www.kenwood.com
www.sigmadesigns.com