SRS Labs' WOW Stereo Enhancement Technology Goes Mobile With New Kenwood Car CD Receivers

Three of Kenwood's 2003 car audio in-dash receivers, introduced last month at the CES 2003 show in Las Vegas, will provide SRS WOW audio enhancement technology as premier audio features.

WOW is offered on the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X969 ($700 US, available March 2003) and KDC-X869 competition-grade mobile CD receivers, and also on the lower-cost Kenwood-branded KDC-MP922 model. These products mark the first time that WOW audio processing has been incorporated into car audio products available worldwide.

WOW provides three primary benefits to mobile audio listeners including

• 1) it elevates sound vertically, which is useful in vehicles where speakers are often located in kick panels and other low areas,
  
  
• 2) it creates the perception of a three-dimensional sound field, including a pronounced center channel, using conventional two-channel stereo sources, and
  
  
• 3) it uses bass harmonics to create the aural impression of very low frequencies, even from small speakers.

"Kenwood car products meet the need of mobile entertainment enthusiasts and it's the inclusion of a superior audio technology, such as SRS WOW, that enables us to continue to make products practical and affordable that offer cutting edge technology," comments Brian Towne, director of product management for Kenwood USA. "We are pleased to be the first products for the mobile market that include SRS WOW, and feel we are in an excellent position to increase our receiver market share for the fourth consecutive year."

Thomas C.K. Yuen, chairman and CEO of SRS Labs said, "These new car audio receivers from Kenwood featuring WOW are a prime example of our strategy to expand our relationships with current OEM customers across different product lines. We intend to focus on similar opportunities to expand business with other OEMs using this 'penetrate and expand' business strategy."

Kenwood USA Web Site

SRS Labs Web Site