LINN BECOMES PREFFERED SOURCE OF SUPPLY FOR QUALITY SILVER DISC SOLUTIONS: Linn delivers true Silver Disc Solution (for mid and high-end AV market)

In this collaborative venture, Linn will be Sony and ESS's reference design house supplying this jointly developed high-quality solution.

The Linn SILVER DISC ENGINE(TM)" shown at CES 2002 integrates for the first time Sonys The SACD format, ESS Technologys decoding algorithms and navigation software incorporated in its Vibratto DVD chip family, and Linns audio-video processing expertise to create the first implementation of this core technology to suit high quality consumer products and play any audio disk put into it. Sony has provided the key CD and SACD playback device technology, which Linn have has used in conjunction with ESSs Vibratto MPEG decoder chip to produce a playback engine that plays the key formats desired by discerning end users. These formats include: CD, SACD and DVD. Many other disc types can be accommodated and full details are available on request.

In this collaborative venture, Linn will be Sony and ESSs reference design house supplying this jointly developed high- quality solution, which provides easy and desirable interfaces for other high-quality manufacturers to hook into. Initially Linn will produce two standard versions (one mid-market and one high end) of this engine, which can be tailored by other manufacturers to suit their audio and video processing and control interfaces. The kits consist of loader, PCBs, and software and will be made available on an OEM basis from mid 2002. Licensing costs and procedures and development systems will be supplied to interested parties by contacting Avri Livingstone (avri@linninc.com) at Linn Products Inc. USA.

Contact details

LINN

Linn Products Ltd of Glasgow, Scotland, manufactures in the UK the worlds widest range of advanced, high- performance entertainment products. Linn sound systems are used in Royal Palaces and the worlds finest homes, luxury liners, private superyachts and award winning aircraft lounges. As a market leader, Linn are is famed for high-quality and innovative technology. Linn makes systems that are beautiful, discreet, robust, reliable, and supported by global service.

Linn Products Ltd, Floors Road, Glasgow, G76 OEP, Scotland, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 141 307 7777, Fax: +44 (0) 141 644 4262, email: helpline@linn.co.uk

Linn Products Incorporated, 8787 Perimeter Park Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32216 USA
Telephone +1 904 645-5242, Fax: +1 (904) 645-7275 email: helpline@linninc.com, www.linninc.com

SONY

Joint developers of both CD and SACD technology and market leaders in the domestic audio market worldwide.
SACD Development GroupSuper Audio CD Business Center
Shinagawa Tec.
Shinagawa INTERCITY C Tower
2-15-3 Konan Minato-ku
Tokyo 108 6201
Japan

ESS Technology

ESS Technology, Inc., is a leading supplier of high-performance feature-packed chips for the rapidly expanding DVD and digital entertainment markets. The company is also a leading provider of solutions for applications in the growing consumer entertainment market. ESS provides advanced products that enable the emergence of digital home systems that deliver and manage entertainment and information in the home. ESS, headquartered in Fremont, California, has R&D, sales and technical support offices worldwide. ESS Technologys common stock is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol ESST. ESS Technologys web site address is: http://www.esstech.com.

ESS Technology
48401 Fremont Blvd.
Fremont, CA 94538
USA