Dolby announces world’s 1st implementation of Dolby TrueHD 5.1 in online music distribution service

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Dolby Laboratories Inc has announced that e-onkyo music, the high-quality music distribution service managed by Onkyo Entertainment Technology Corporation, a subsidiary of Onkyo Corporation, will be the first online music distribution service to feature Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel surround sound.

Expected to launch on May 30 in Japan and in fall 2012 elsewhere in the world, this service will enable users to download music from 100 album titles (about 1,000 tracks) in Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel surround sound. The new Onkyo A/V receivers (AVR) TX-NR818 and TX-NR717 will support the service.

The e-onkyo music service began in August 2005, with DRM-free music (music without digital copyright protection technology) and DSD format music distribution added in 2010, and featured a high-quality distribution of music by the rock group Queen in 2011. Now, with lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1-channel surround sound, the music service will provide consumers with high-quality audio at reduced download times and file sizes.

Shinsuke Yamashita, president and representative director, Onkyo Entertainment Technology Corporation, explained: “We are very happy that e-onkyo music will start distribution with Dolby TrueHD lossless audio, thanks to the cooperation of Dolby. The evolution of network audio and PC audio means that users can enjoy high-resolution sound with data volumes greater than those that are possible on a CD. And we are aiming to achieve even further growth in our music distribution business. Through the collaboration between our two companies, we intend to increase our breadth of content and improve the user’s listening experience, in a way that only high-quality surround sound distribution can.”

Michael Bergeron, senior vice president, Worldwide Sales and Support, Dolby Laboratories, commented: “Consumer appreciation of the highest-quality audio playback experiences is increasing. Onkyo’s e-music service with Dolby TrueHD gives the listener access to 100 percent studio master–quality audio, delivering unparalleled detail and immersion, and reproducing every nuance of the recording or concert event. We congratulate Onkyo on their leadership in bringing these exciting experiences to the consumer through their download music service.”