ACADEMIA

SMSC announced a collaboration in which SMSC's KleerNet technology is enabling streaming wireless audio in Monster's new Streamcast HD connectivity systems. SMSC will demonstrate its wireless audio family of products at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas from January 10 -- 13, 2012 at Booth # MP25766 in the South Hall 2 Meeting Place and at the Hilton Hospitality Suites. Monster will showcase its technology at Booth #s 13004 and 13013 in the Central Hall.

Monster's breakthrough StreamCast HD Transmitter and Receiver Kit (srp:$189.95) is a proprietary system that lets users send four separate channels (streams) of music to up to 12 rooms (zones) within the home. Any one of the four sources can be selected for each room via a single push button on the receiver module or by using a smartphone or tablet via the StreamCast App. Additional Receiver Modules may be purchased for a suggested retail price of $99.95, and additional Transmitters may be purchased for a suggested retail price of $79.95. The StreamCast HD kit works with all Monster audio products with the StreamCast wireless port, such as the company's ClarityHD Model One High Definition Multi-Media Speaker Monitor (srp:$749.95/pair).

SMSC's KleerNet wireless audio technology is built on an industry-leading expertise for streaming uncompressed digital wireless audio operating at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This digital audio transmission technology makes it possible to detect and correct transmission errors before they reach the listening device using SMSC's specialized Wireless DNA Detect 'n Avoid RF monitoring techniques. These techniques use a sniff and avoid mechanism for excellent audio transmission and manage the interference commonly associated with other RF devices such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and microwave ovens. Monster and SMSC have worked closely together to bring robust, interference-free wireless audio speaker solutions to market that enable home owners to place speakers around the home without having to worry about running audio cables across the floor. SMSC solutions also enable consumers to walk around the house wearing wireless headphones with their favorite music following them. Monster's unique use cases fully leverage KleerNet's extensive application capabilities enabling consumers to easily expand and configure their listening devices to best suit their needs. KleerNet interoperability allows consumers to use these products with other KleerNet sources they come in contact with, whether their own or those that belong to someone else.

"SMSC and Monster have collaborated to take wireless audio to the next level as it launches its Streamcast HD systems, its first wireless audio solutions," said Christine King, President & Chief Executive Officer of SMSC. "With the power of SMSC's KleerNet technology, the Streamcast solutions deliver a low power, uncompressed, high fidelity audio experience for wireless speakers and docks."

Noel Lee, the Head Monster, noted: "Monster's top priority is helping people achieve dramatically better sound quality in all their music listening. We are also committed to utilizing the world's most advanced technologies so that people can easily access and enjoy the benefits of 'higher definition' listening in ways that suit their particular lifestyle. For more and more people these days, that lifestyle includes wireless audio networking. With SMSC's KleerNet technology in our Streamcast HD connectivity systems, our customers will be able to enjoy the full range of uncompressed higher-definition audio throughout your home without wires, so they will never have to compromise on great sound, wherever they are!"