CES 2009: Toshiba Taps Dolby Volume For HD Sets
TV Manufacturer Is First To Deploy Dolby Technology
By Glenn Dickson -- Multichannel News, 1/8/2009 12:01:00 PM
Las Vegas -- Toshiba announced at CES that it will be the first TV set manufacturer to employ “Dolby Volume,” a technology from Dolby Laboratories aimed at solving loudness problems when switching from one DTV channel to another.
(Click here for MCN's complete CES coverage.)
Toshiba will roll out Dolby Volume in its new high-end Regza LCD TVs, which also include the manufacturer’s Resolution Plus video upconversion technology and a USB slot for viewing digital media like photos or downloaded movies on the TV screen. Toshiba vice president of marketing Scott Ramirez wouldn’t disclose how much cost licensing the Dolby Volume technology would add to Regza sets, but said the investment in Dolby Volume makes sense.
“It’s a worthwhile expense that solves a real-world problem, as opposed to putting $500 of speakers in there that people won’t use,” said Ramirez. “This is a way to make their everyday life better.”
Dolby first unveiled Dolby Volume at CES two years ago as a way to eliminate loudness, the volume spikes that occur on a TV set during a commercial break or when switching channels. Loudness has plagued television for years and has become even more of an issue with DTV broadcasts that use powerful 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio. Dolby has already developed several professional devices aimed at solving the loudness problem, which it markets to television stations, programming networks and cable operators.
Dolby Volume manages loudness issues in TV programming, whether analog or digital broadcasts, with audio-normalization software in the television set itself. Dolby Volume ensures that a consistent volume level is delivered to the TV speakers or external home-theater audio system, and normalizes volume when video inputs on a television set are switched, such as from a digital cable box to a DVD player.
“This really works, and I think it’s going to save my marriage,” joked Ramirez.
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