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AIWA Selects QSound’s QSurround Technology for New
DVD Models
Over 65 QSound-enhanced models of Portable Audio, Mini-Component,
Multimedia Speaker, and DVD Systems Now Available World-wide
Calgary, Alberta-- June 22, 1999-- QSound Labs, Inc.
(NASDAQ: QSND), the leading supplier of analog and digital audio
solutions, announced that AIWA Co. Ltd., one of the world’s leading
consumer electronics manufacturers, has introduced its first DVD players
featuring QSurround™. In North America, the models now available are,
XD-DV300, XD-DW1 and XD-DP1. This brings the total number of AIWA’s
QSound-enhanced portable audio, multimedia speaker, mini-component, and
DVD product models in the world-wide consumer marketplace, to over 65.
Momentum in the DVD arena has been growing steadily with sales of DVD
players in the U.S. increasing significantly during the first 5 months of
1999 to over 900,000 units as compared to 197,000 units during the same
period in 1998. According to the Cahner’s In-Stat Group, the market will
heat up in the coming years rising to more than $ 1 billion in revenues
and shipping more than 5 million units in 2002.
"The prolific use of QSound’s technology by AIWA in new and existing
product lines is very rewarding," stated David Gallagher, President and
CEO of QSound Labs. "It confirms the strength of our alliance as well as
AIWA’s commitment to enlarge their already significant share of the home
audio marketplace worldwide."
AIWA’s worldwide presence in the home audio market is ever increasing, and
for the 5th year in a row AIWA’s sales rose to new highs in the United
States. The addition of QSurround to AIWA’s new DVD product line provides
QSound with increased, comprehensive exposure to consumers worldwide.
QSound’s relationship with AIWA began in 1997 when QSound’s stereo
expansion technology, QXpander™ was incorporated into AIWA’s portable
audio and multimedia speaker systems. Since that time, the technology has
been enjoyed by over 6 million AIWA customers world-wide. As a direct
result of the success of these products, early in 1999, Mini-Component
systems with QSurround™, QSound’s "virtual surround" technology, were
added to AIWA’s catalog of QSound products and in May, the first USB
Speakers with QSound entered the marketplace.
About QSurround:
QSurround is QSound’s family of "virtual surround" technologies which
includes, QSurround, QSound Multi-Speaker System (QMSS™) and QSound Matrix
Surround Decoder/Virtualizer (QMDV™). QSurround isthe key enabling
technology ideal for playback of Dolby™ Digital, Dolby Surround Pro Logic
or MPEG 2 information.providing accurate audio position-ing from two
speakers. Certified by Dolby Labs, QSurround meets the challenge of new
multi-channel audio delivery formats. By creating "virtual speakers", . By
creating "virtual speakers", QSurround reproduces the full surround sound
effect of multi-channel audio so that surround sound encoded movies and
music can be enjoyed with only two physical speakers, and also includes
enhancements for every system configuration up to a full "5.1-channel"
set-up.
About AIWA Co. Ltd. And AIWA America, Inc.:
AIWA Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo is a $ 3 billion manufacturer and marketer
of consumer and professional audio and video, computer data storage, and
communication products. Based in Mahwah, New Jersey AIWA America is a
world leader in consumer electronics and computer products. The company
has thrived by identifying and satisfying market needs. Its commitment
explains AIWA’s history of industry "firsts". The parent company, founded
in 1951, introduced Japan’s first cassette tape recorder, was the first to
manufacture digital audio tape (AT) products, and was first to market a
recording headphone stereo. AIWA offers a wide range of products in the
U.S. for the consumer electronics, multimedia, computer storage and
peripheral marketplace.
This release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Act of 1995 concerning, among other things, the anticipated
introduction of new products and projected shipment dates of products and
future financial results. Investors are cautioned that such
forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, which could
cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or
industry results to differ materially from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, risks associated with the successful completion of the
acquisition, electronic commerce offerings and the effective integration
of Virtual Spin's operations into the company, commercialization of the
Company's technologies, dependence on the performance of third parties who
have licensed the Company's technologies, dependence on intellectual
property, uncertainties relating to product development and commercial
introduction, rapid technological change and competition, manufacturing
uncertainties and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations,
projections and opinions of the Company's management, and the Company
undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions
to such forward-looking statements which may be made, for example to
reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
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