Boston Acoustics Audi TT --- Audio Nuts get ready to salivate (long)

Copyright 2000 PR Newswire Association, Inc.
PR Newswire

January 6, 2000, Thursday 10:22 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: FINANCIAL NEWS

DISTRIBUTION: TO AUTO, BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY EDITORS

LENGTH: 580 words

HEADLINE: Boston Acoustics Offers Sneak Peek of Cutting Edge MobileConvergence(TM) Technology at Winter Consumer Electronics Show; CES Booth: SANDS, #16962

DATELINE: CES, LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6

BODY:
Introducing a brand new direction in delivering car audio, Boston Acoustics (Nasdaq: BOSA) today unveiled its MobileConvergence Technology in a demonstration vehicle at the Sands Exhibition hall, Booth 16962.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990830/BOSALOGO )
With the advent of new video screens and DVD players for the automobile, cars are coming equipped with more entertainment and information options. Consumers are demanding that their cars have the same consumer entertainment options found in their homes, and as a result, automotive audio systems will be challenged to keep ahead of the new entertainment technology. Boston Acoustics' MobileConvergence is the marriage of traditional Mobile Electronics audio systems with technologies previously reserved for the home such as 5.1 audio, movies, Internet access, and gaming software.
The technology is being shown in the new Boston Acoustics Audi TT demonstration vehicle. The Audi TT vehicle showcases an electronics package that includes a full Dolby 5.1 Theater system, and concept speakers specifically designed by Boston Acoustics R&D engineers for automotive 5.1 audio applications.
Combining its extensive knowledge of Dolby 5.1 for the home and multimedia environments with its proven automotive audio expertise, Boston's engineers have installed a complete 5.1 audio/theater system using prototype left, center, and right speakers along with two diffuse field surround speakers inside the vehicle. All of the speakers were specifically engineered for the automotive environment, and were designed to mount in optimum locations for proper localization of discreet audio tracks. The speakers are also designed to blend in with the interior in such a way as to not be obtrusive to the operator or other listeners.

The speakers utilize Boston's proprietary Slim Speaker Technology(TM) (SST(TM)) which was announced last month at a press conference at Boston Acoustics headquarters. The new SST technology provides a significant breakthrough in thin panel speaker design, and allows for placement of the center channel speaker in optimum sonic locations without intruding on the
cosmetics or driveability of the automobile. The midrange driver in the center channel speaker employs a flat diaphragm composed of a rigid foam-typically used in high-tech aerospace applications-enabling rugged durability and smooth, accurate audio response.
This sneak peek of the future is intended to demonstrate the cutting edge of mobile electronics technology from Boston Acoustics' engineering department that may be introduced in future Boston Acoustics Automotive products. The Audi TT will be touring dealers and consumer events in North America throughout the year.

About Boston Acoustics
Boston Acoustics, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovative, high-performance consumer audio entertainment products for the automotive, home and computer environments. Corporate headquarters are at 300 Jubilee Drive, Peabody, MA 01960, USA. The company can be reached at 978-538-5000. Please visit www.bostonacoustics.com for more information.

I'm not convinced that 5.1 is desireable in a vehicle. Why? Well, the purpose of stereo (left & right channels) is to put the listener in a virtual soundstage (e.g., concert hall or rock concert) where the music comes from the front (i.e., where the musicians would be located). In a car, although it's not easily attained (just ask TT Bose owners), the idea is to design a system that replicates that environment. Thus, the rear mids & highs are attenuated to add just enough sound so that they add to the listening experience without pulling the "soundstage" to the rear, hence the term "rear fill." Low frequencies (those provided by subwoofers) are non-directional, so they don't tend to affect the soundstage in this manner.
With 5.1, some of those mids & highs will be pulled to the rear, which will negatively affect soundstage. While this is great for a movie experience, it's not really suitable for music for the aforementioned reasons.
The result?
1--I'm sure those of us who have negative feelings about drivers who talk on cell phones will NOT welcome a movie experience in the automotive arena, especially in a 2+2 configuration.
2--5.1 sound requires "DVD-audio" recordings, which aren't widely available (yet).
3--"3.1" sound is already common, and sounds well when done right (right, center [mono], left, and sub.

As always, Denny, thanks for the heads-up. But I think I'll pass on this one!
: )
-John P.

no subwoofer referenced here. What gives!

It is true that the release does not specifically mention a sub-woofer, it also does not mention a head unit, but everyeon assumes that one is installed!

I will be waiting for the speakers and electronics to be released! I want to see the TT that is going to be touring the country. If they hid everything as the release says they did, then I should be able to get some ideas for my TTQ.

Larry
180TTQ

They had it on display at SEMA. How do you like the rear wing? The German Audi/VW engineers that were at the show tried to buy one of these wings to take with them to Germany!

John

In real life it has a little metal flake in it. If I would have kept my silver/grey 180q I probably would have painted the top as well. It gives the car a very unique look.

John