News

Airfonix Brings Wireless Audio to the Home With Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound Wireless Transmitter (17/9/2008)

CEDIA US Expo 2008

Sleek, Slim-line Design Transmitter Handles all Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoding, Eliminating the Need for a Bulky A/V Receiver

Airfonix today expanded its line up of advanced wireless audio products with the addition of a new wireless audio transmitter that vastly improves the quality and set-up of wireless audio in the home environment. The new AFX-19DD051 is a two-channel, slim-line wireless transmitter featuring built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding, and three 100W digital amplifiers, enabling it to support a full 5.1 home theater set up. The new transmitter, along with the entire Airfonix line of professional wireless audio products, will be on display this week at the CEDIA EXPO 2008 being held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, September 3-7. For more information or to see a demo, please visit the Airfonix Sound Room #SR-7.

Through its two digital S/PDIF inputs, the AFX-19DD051 connects directly to an HDTV, DVD player or other audio/video/gaming equipment, thus streamlining the home theater by eliminating the need for a separate, bulky digital audio decoder/receiver. The AFX-19DD051 includes 100W/channel RMS digital connectivity to the front left, right and center channel speakers and a sub-out jack for the subwoofer, or it can also support connection to a soundbar speaker. The surround sound audio to the left and right rear channel speakers is transmitted wirelessly using uncompressed, 24-bit HDTV-compliant audio at 48-KHz sampling rate to an Airfonix wireless receiver, which docks neatly to any passive or active speaker. By eliminating the need for unsightly wiring to the rear channel speakers, Airfonix solves one of the prime obstacles to home theater installation.

Furthermore, like all Airfonix wireless audio products, the new AFX-19DD051 boasts Smart Channel capability, a patent-pending technology developed by SST Communications that automatically searches for and selects an un-congested channel from the 2.4 GHz and 4.9-5.8 GHz ISM bands. Because of this unique Smart Channel capability and dual-band operation, Airfonix products are virtually impervious to interference from other co-located wireless equipment. This is especially important in the home environment where many products operate in the 2.4 GHz band, including baby monitors, microwave ovens, cordless phones, cellular phones, wireless LANs, Bluetooth devices and more.

In addition, the AFX-19DD051 includes an independent remote controller for all Dolby Digital audio functions.

Tony Wu, general manager, Airfonix, commented "Since their unveiling at InfoComm a few months ago, our professional wireless audio products have garnered significant interest from the industry. We believe our superior quality, interference-free wireless audio products will greatly benefit the home theater market, where customers want an easy-to-install, elegant product that fits nicely with their flat panel HD display and has no degradation to sound quality whatsoever. The ability of our wireless receivers to dock easily to any active or passive speaker is a huge advantage to the home market."

Airfonix professional wireless audio products include a complete line of wireless transmitters and receivers, including the industry's first 50W RMS wireless receiver, that save time and wiring, and ease system hook-up by eliminating the need for wires between the audio source and the speakers. All Airfonix products are designed to retrofit any active or passive speaker, thereby bringing the freedom of wireless capability to any wired audio system.

Airfonix products are built upon the MelodyWing SP wireless audio solution from SST Communications. Leveraging MelodyWing's Smart Channel technology, Airfonix products have up to 12 non-interfering dedicated channels available to offer full-spectrum wireless digital audio transmission. This is a significant advantage over other alternative wireless audio products, which are often limited to the "crowded" 2.4 GHz band only. Airfonix products feature a rugged weatherized industrial aluminum die-cast chassis and offer a 50 meter minimum transmission range, making them ideal for both indoor or outdoor audio set ups.

Pricing and Availability

Demo samples of the AFX-19DD051 wireless transmitter with independent remote controller will be available in the fourth quarter. Production quantities are scheduled for shipment in early 2009. For product pricing information, please contact an Airfonix sales representative.

www.airfonix.com