Altec Lansing’s CommStar™ Digital Sound System Redefines Distributed Audio Performance

Digital Power Link™ Delivers High Fidelity Music and Speech over CAT5E

freehand™ Installation System is Patent Pending

Las Vegas , NV – March 16, 2006 . At the 2006 NSCA Expo, Altec Lansing’s Professional Division introduced the CommStar™ Digital Speaker System. Hundreds of NSCA attendees witnessed CommStar’s claim as the best sounding, easiest-to-install distributed speaker system in the world. The system has seven unique features:

	All Altec Lansing speaker systems begin with a quality transducer. CommStar™ features a 6.5” High Definitional Dual-Drive Audio component with 20-ounce magnet. The Duplex® design couples a high efficiency 6.5” woofer with a one-inch silk dome tweeter mounted to a conical horn. An on-board dual channel DSP is responsible for bi-amplification, limiting, over-excursion protection, phase-correction and signal alignment.
	CommStar™ is a digital speaker system that accepts AES/EBU and pro inputs. CAT5E cabling provides a digital pipeline from input to speaker.
	A CommStar™ system offers Plug & Play connectivity via CAT5E cables carrying DC power and two channels of digital audio. CommStar is compatible with a client’s existing IT infrastructure.
	CommStar™’s MusicPath is equalized to deliver a high fidelity listening experience. Active low frequency enhancement means that most CommStar™ background & foreground systems won’t need a subwoofer.
	Articulate voice announcements are delivered over the SpeechPath, which is processed for speech intelligibility.
	Most regions don’t require low voltage DC to be installed in conduit, resulting in dramatically lower project costs. CommStar™ installations can frequently be completed in one visit to the client.
	Altec Lansing’s new freehand ™ Installation System means fast and repeatable installations with fewer mistakes. The freehand ™ system uses a proprietary three-step spring-loaded clamp that attaches to a C-ring via a simple twist-and-lock.

Altec Lansing offers two CommStar™ power supply options, each capable of supporting eight speakers over the CAT5E architecture. The SM1 Source Master has AES/EBU inputs and outputs (Link-In and Link-Out). The dual RCA and 1/8” mini-jack inputs route to the MusicPath, while the microphone input is sent to the SpeechPath. A pro input can be switched to either processing path. The SM1 offers access to both the MusicPath and SpeechPath processing. The SM1 is simple to set up and operate.

Expand the CommStar™ system by adding a C1 power converter. The C1 can be directly accessed via the AES/EBU Link-In connector.

Each CommStar™ power converter has a switching power supply rated 90V – 250V, 50 Hz – 60 Hz and an RJ11 connector for remote volume control using a standard 10K pot. Optional wall attenuators and a rack-mount shelf are available.

The CV6 ceiling speaker has an internally-mounted a dual-channel Class D power amplifier and a dual-channel DSP processor. The RJ45 connectors on the top of the enclosure are parallel and pass-through so either can serve as Link-In or Link-Out, eliminating wiring mistakes during installation. The enclosure is 8.875” in diameter and requires 9” of ceiling clearance to install.

The installed cost of a CommStar™ Digital Speaker System is comparable with traditional, component-based 70V speaker systems.

“Altec Lansing Technologies is the world’s largest manufacturer of powered audio speaker systems,” offers John Sexton, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “CommStar™ is built in our ISO9000 state-of-the-art company-owned factory. We have over ten years of experience of working with small Class D power amps and DSP. The pro audio industry can trust Altec Lansing to bring the CommStar™ Digital Speaker System technology to market.”

Dave Merrey, President of Altec Lansing, explains “For Pro AV Contractors, the CommStar™ story is simple and compelling. Make more money – make it more often – and keep more of it.”

CommStar™ will begin shipping in March, 2006. Visit www.altecpro.com to learn more about CommStar™ and Altec Lansing’s professional product line.

About Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc.

Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. has a rich legacy of quality professional and consumer speaker systems. The market leader in Powered Audio™ systems, Altec Lansing designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of computer and home entertainment sound systems and a line of headsets and headphones. The company’s Professional division, re-launched in 2002, builds on the storied Altec Lansing name among sound system specifiers, contractors and installers in the fixed installation market. Headquartered in Milford, PA USA and privately held, Altec Lansing also has offices in Oklahoma City, Luxembourg, and Hong Kong. In addition, Altec Lansing has an ISO 9002 and SA8000 certified manufacturing facility in The People's Republic of China. The company employs about 1,500 people worldwide.

Altec Lansing is a registered trademark of Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.