Osaka, Japan, 10 July 2001
Sharp has introduced the first portable audio product to include Dolby Headphone technology, which uses sophisticated processing to re-create the sound of speakers in a room over any pair of stereo headphones.
Although it measures only 2.8 × 0.5 × 3.1 inches and weighs just 3.4 ounces, the MD-ST880 MiniDisc player includes the world’s first application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), also from Sharp, designed for Dolby Headphone processing. The MD-ST880 will be released in Japan in August.
"Sharp has been dreaming of a means to deal with ‘in-the-head’ fatigue through longtime listening with headphones, and we found Dolby Headphone was the solution," said Mr. Yasuo Masuda, Deputy General Manager, Audio Division, Sharp Electronics. "We implemented Dolby Headphone technology into a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) in cooperation with Lake Technology, and are very excited to introduce our portable MD player to the market carrying this excellent technology. The sensation of listening to real speakers over regular stereo headphones is truly natural and comfortable."
"This stereo version of Dolby Headphone allows listeners the experience of listening to real speakers even when they’re jogging, riding on a plane, and so on," said Brent Butterworth, Director, Consumer Technology Marketing, Dolby Laboratories. "For products like the Sharp MD player, Dolby Headphone technology makes basic headphone listening more natural-sounding and comfortable."
Dolby Headphone is best known as a means to experience five-channel surround soundtracks from DVD movies over headphones. The process uses models of human hearing to make the ear and brain think sounds are coming from a 5.1-channel speaker system in a real room, instead of from the two tiny drivers inside the headphones. Of course, Dolby Headphone can also re-create the sound of a two-channel stereo speaker system, which is what the Dolby Headphone ASIC in the MD-ST880 is designed to do.
The Dolby Headphone processing used in the MD-ST880 does more than create a pleasing stereo effect. Many people find listening to music through headphones fatiguing, due to the unnatural "in-the-head" effect that unprocessed headphone sound produces. Because Dolby Headphone produces a more natural sound, it greatly reduces listener fatigue, and thus makes long listening sessions over headphones much more enjoyable.
The MD-ST880’s Dolby Headphone processing provides simulations of three room types. The first type is DH1, which Sharp calls "Studio," is a small, mostly nonreverberant listening environment, similar to a monitor room in studios. The second option is DH2, which Sharp calls "Live" and which sounds more like a typical living room. The DH3 mode is called "Dome," because it implies a large space with reverberant acoustics, such as an auditorium. The listener may choose any of these options depending on the type of music or on personal taste.
For more information on Dolby Headphone, please consult www.dolby.com/headphone.
About Dolby Laboratories
Dolby Laboratories is the developer of signal processing systems used worldwide in applications that include motion picture sound, consumer entertainment products and media, broadcasting, and music recording. Based in San Francisco with European headquarters in England, the privately held company also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo. For more information about Dolby Laboratories or Dolby technologies, please visit www.dolby.com.
