SRS Labs adds 6.1 audio to the conventional compact disc

June 29, 2004

We have SACD and also DVD-A, but you need a special player for those type of discs. In the meantime, SRS has tried to come up with a compromise to bide the time until these newer modes are fully accepted as mainstream.

SRS recently announced that Lava Records' artist Uncle Kracker has chosen the company's Circle Surround (CS) multichannel encoding technology for a disc that will be released this week called Seventy Two & Sunny. According to SRS, CS provides the capability to encode up to 6.1 channels of audio for transmission or storage over standard two-channel carriers such as CD and stereo broadcasts.
"CDs encoded with the patented Circle Surround technology can be played back on any regular CD player," says SRS, "unlike competing technologies that specifically require DVD-Audio or other special playback equipment." The company says the process is compatible with all types of CD players and A/V receivers or preamps and with all playback environments, including mono, stereo, and other matrix surround systems. SRS adds, "One Circle Surround mix satisfies all playback environments."

The company explains though, that those of us using a conventional stereo or headphones will only experience "enhanced stereo". However, once the CD is placed into a 5.1 surround sound system such as in a home theater or a car, it will then be decoded into full surround sound, with the output quality subject to the limitations of the specific decoder."

Source: Stereophile