Crystal Semiconductor Introduces First Single-Chip Audio Sub-system with
Immersive 3-D Sound

CS4237 brings SRS 3-D audio standard to PC motherboard applications

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- FEBRUARY 12, 1996 -- Crystal Semiconductor Corporation, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Cirrus Logic Inc. (Nasdaq: CRUS), today
announced the industry's first single-chip audio subsystem to support
spatially-accurate, immersive 3-D sound for multimedia computers. The
CS4237 is pin compatible with Crystal's CS4236 industry-standard
motherboard audio IC and adds Sound Retrieval System (SRS) technology from
SRS Labs, Inc. for full dynamic control of immersive 3-D audio. Since the
SRS technology requires no audio encoding or decoding, the CS4237 expands
any audio technology -- mono, stereo, surround sound and others -- to
create a realistic, panoramic sound experience with no "sweet spot" or
centered listening position. The CS4237, supported by an extensive suite
of Crystal software, provides a complete audio solution that fully
supports Microsoft's DirectSound API which provides end-users with the
ability to play the new wave of high-performance Windows games.

"Crystal's CS4237 is the first single-chip device to bring the popular SRS
3-D audio technology to PC motherboards," explains Brad Fluke, director of
marketing for Crystal's Computer Products Division. "We're excited to
couple Crystal's leading multimedia audio solutions with SRS, the 3-D
sound solution already chosen by many of the top computer manufacturers."

Crystal's audio subsystem is pin compatible with the CS4236 and CS4232. The
CS4237 offers register-level control to select, enable and disable mono or
stereo sound that can be modified in increments as small as 1.5 dB. The
CS4237's internal digital signal processor (DSP) provides dynamic control
of space and the sound field perceived width. The device directly supports
the Sony/Phillips (S/PDIF) digital interface providing a seamless
interface to home stereo and other common consumer audio equipment.

The CS4237 features a fully-compliant Plug-and-Play Specification 1.0a ISA
interface, and delivers a comprehensive audio solution including Crystal's
de facto industry-standard delta-sigma converters. Crystal's audio
subsystem incorporates Plug-and-Play compatible peripherals with a
joystick interface, an external wavetable music synthesizer interface, an
enhanced IDE CD-ROM interface and a MPU-401 compatible MIDI UART. The
device extends Plug-and-Play capabilities to the peripherals attached to
its bus, including peripherals that are not inherently Plug-and-Play
compatible, such as an IDE CD-ROM and modem.

The CS4236, CS4232 and CS4232A comprise the de facto standard multimedia
audio architecture used by the majority of the top 10 computer
manufacturers.

SRS Technology

SRS technology, from SRS Labs, Inc., is based on the human hearing system.
It produces a fully immersive, 3-D sound image from any audio source with
two or more standard stereo speakers. SRS expands any audio technology --
mono, stereo, surround sound and others -- to create a realistic,
panoramic sound experience with no "sweet spot" or centered listening
position. SRS is single-ended, requiring no encoding or decoding, and uses
no artificial signal manipulation such as time delay or phase shift to
produce its natural, true-to-life sound image.

Software Support

The CS4237 is supplied with a complete suite of drivers supporting the
major operating systems including Windows 3.1X, Windows for Workgroups,
IBM OS/2 WARP, Windows 95 and Windows NT. The CS4237 Windows 95 driver
meets all requirements to obtain a Windows 95 Plug-and-Play logo from
Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL), including requirements outlined in
the recently released specification supplement. DirectSound support is
integrated in Crystal's Windows 95 driver which provides end-users with
the ability to play the new wave of high-performance Windows games written
to the DirectSound standard API. Crystal's CS4232 and CS9233 audio
solutions are provided as part of Microsoft's Games Developers SDK.
Crystal also provides a wide variety of free end-user DOS and Windows 3.1X
applications and audio control applets. Development and diagnostic
software to support multimedia audio integration are also available.

Price and Availability

The CS4237 is available in a 100-pin thin quad flat pack (TQFP) and sells
for $42.50 in quantities of 10,000. Samples are available now with
production planned for the second quarter of 1996.

Crystal Semiconductor Corporation

Crystal Semiconductor, headquartered in Austin, Texas, designs,
manufactures, and markets advanced analog and digital integrated circuits
for applications in the multimedia, telecommunications, data
communications, consumer audio, data conversion and signal acquisition
markets. Crystal is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirrus Logic Inc.
(Nasdaq: CRUS).

For more information regarding the CS4237 and other multimedia audio codec
products, contact Eileen R. Carlson, Crystal Semiconductor Corporation,
4120 S. Industrial Drive, Austin, Texas 78744; Telephone 512-442-7555 or
800-888-5016; Fax 512-462-2723.

Press releases from Cirrus Logic and its subsidiaries may be obtained by
fax by dialing 1-800-359-6414, or by dialing 510-249-4200 from outside the
United States, or via Internet on the world wide web at
http://www.cirrus.com/
 
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