Press Releases

Polk Audio I-Sonic™ Entertainment System Ships

Baltimore (August 18, 2006)-- Polk Audio today announced the first shipments of the much-anticipated, award-winning I-Sonic entertainment system. The first orders filled were those of radio broadcasters who had pre-ordered I-Sonics for monitoring and promotional use. Shipments commenced yesterday to consumers who purchased I-Sonics directly from Polk’s web site. Despite the shipments made to date, supplies of I-Sonic entertainment systems will continue to be tight for the next 60 days.

“We ask our customers for a little more patience” said Polk’s Senior VP of Marketing Dan Hodgson. “Given the tremendous response from broadcasters, consumers and the press we have more orders than we can fill in the short to medium term. However, production is going smoothly and we are confident we will be able to produce enough I-Sonic entertainment systems to meet demand this Holiday season.”

The I-Sonic entertainment system is the first product of any type to include a digital HD Radio tuner, a DVD/CD player and XM Satellite Radio capability into a single unit.

I-Sonic is the winner of the Best of Innovations award for the Audio Component category in the 2006 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and endorsed by the Industrial Designers Society (IDSA), the International CES Innovations Awards highlight product advancements in technology design and engineering.

The I-Sonic entertainment system is a compact, easy to use stereo, all-digital audio system that includes an AM/FM digital HD Radio tuner, a DVD/CD player and XM Satellite Radio capability. Exclusive 4-speaker I-Sonic and Power Port™ technologies produce sound quality so big and lifelike that for many, the I-Sonic entertainment system is capable of being the primary home entertainment system.

The I-Sonic entertainment system measures only 14.5" x 9.75" x 4.75", making it the perfect system to use on a kitchen countertop, on a nightstand, in a TV stand or on a coffee table. I-Sonic can be used in homes, offices and small businesses to deliver rich, room-filling 360-degree stereo sound that rivals or betters that of much larger and costlier audio systems. The I-Sonic entertainment system sells for $599 in the United States and $719 in Canada.

HD Radio is digital radio technology that offers static-free, crystal-clear reception with CD-quality sound from FM stations and the richness of FM-analog stereo sound quality from AM stations. HD Radio also allows the ability to multicast program streams over a single FM frequency (e.g. 97.7-1, 97.7-2, etc.) so that broadcasters can offer additional content to serve multiple audiences. A variety of data services that range from text-based information -- artist name, weather alerts, school closings, traffic alerts, etc. -- can be scrolled across the receiver display. In addition to receiving standard analog AM and FM broadcasts, the Polk Audio I-Sonic entertainment system incorporates all the digital HD Radio features listed above. Hundreds of radio stations nationwide are currently broadcasting HD Radio. At least 75 percent of the U.S. population is within range of an HD station. Most major radio networks such as Clear Channel, Cox, Beasley and CBS Radio support HD Radio technology. Polk Audio’s I-Sonic entertainment system is also the first product of its type to incorporate a DVD player. When connected to a TV or monitor, it is a complete, compact, high performance audio/video entertainment system. The single disc DVD player plays DVD video discs, CDs, Picture CD, Video CD, MP3 CD and many other formats. It features S-Video and composite video outputs to facilitate hookup to video displays.

The I-Sonic entertainment system becomes an XM Satellite Radio receiver with the addition of an XM Connect & Play or Mini-Tuner antenna (a $49 item) and monthly subscription. XM Satellite Radio is the nation’s leading satellite radio provider with more than 5 million subscribers and provides listeners with over 170 digital channels, including 100 percent commercial-free music, more than 30 channels of news, sports, talk and entertainment, and more than 20 dedicated channels of XM Instant Traffic. All XM metadata is displayed on the I-Sonic’s front panel display, including full song title and artist name as well as information extras such as stock and sports score tickers.

The Polk Audio I-Sonic is simply the best sounding and most advanced compact home entertainment system. Powerful 4-speaker I-Sonic™ technology delivers a rich, room-filling stereo soundstage 360º around the entertainment center. Listeners will enjoy a big-life-like stereo image wherever they are in the room. Patented Power Port venting technology belts out the kind of rich powerful bass you’d expect from much larger stereo speakers.

Two sets of auxiliary inputs allow hook up of any stereo audio device such as an iPod or other portable MP3 player or cassette deck. The I-Sonic entertainment system is also a full function dual-alarm clock radio that can use the radio or DVD/CD player as the alarm. It also features a headphone jack for private listening at any hour, 30 radio presets and a wireless remote control. On-product controls and an on-display menu system allow the unit to be operated should the remote be lost or disabled.

About Polk Audio
Baltimore, Maryland-based Polk Audio is an award-winning manufacturer of high performance audio products. Founded by Chairman Matthew Polk and CEO George Klopfer in 1972, Polk Audio holds over 50 patents for advances in audio design and technology. Polk's products include loudspeakers and electronic components for home, auto and marine applications, the first XM satellite home component tuner, the world's first active IP-addressable high fidelity loudspeaker, and I-Sonic—the first entertainment system to include HD radio, XM Connect & Play capability and a DVD player. Polk products are available through specialist consumer electronics retailers worldwide. For the location of a Polk retailer or distributor in your area visit the Dealer Locator page of www.polkaudio.com or call us at 1-800-377-7655 (USA and Canada). Outside of North America call +1 (410) 358-3600.

About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $122 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

About the HD Digital Radio Alliance
The HD Digital Radio Alliance is a joint initiative of leading radio broadcasters to accelerate the successful rollout of HD Digital Radio. Current members include ABC Radio (in Los Angeles and Minneapolis), Beasley Broadcast Group, Bonneville International, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, Clear Channel Radio, Cumulus, Emmis Communications, Entercom, Greater Media, and Susquehanna. Visit www.hdradio.com for more information.

About iBiquity Digital
iBiquity Digital is the sole developer and licenser of HD Radio™ technology in the U.S., which is transforming today's AM and FM radio stations to digital, enabling radically upgraded sound, crystal-clear reception and new wireless data services. The company's investors include 15 of the nation's top radio broadcasters, including ABC, Clear Channel and Viacom; leading financial institutions, such as Grotech Capital Group, J.P. Morgan Partners, New Venture Partners, Pequot Capital and J&W Seligman; and strategic partners Ford Motor Company, Harris, Texas Instruments and Visteon. iBiquity, named one of Deloitte's Fast 500 Companies, is a privately held company with operations in Columbia, MD, Detroit, MI, Belmont, CA and Warren, NJ. For more information please visit: www.ibiquity.com.

About XM Satellite Radio
XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio service with more than 3.77 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City and Nashville at the Country Music Hall of Fame, XM's 2005 lineup includes 152 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: 67 commercial-free music channels, featuring hip hop to opera, classical to country, bluegrass to blues; 64 channels of premier sports, talk, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and 21 channels of the most advanced traffic and weather information for major metropolitan areas nationwide. XM Satellite Radio is the satellite radio leader in sports programming, offering thousands of live sporting events every year. XM is the official satellite radio network for Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the Indy Racing League, the PGA TOUR, and the college sports conferences ACC, Pac-10, and Big Ten. XM was named Best Radio Service at the 2004 Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Volkswagen/Audi, is available in more than 120 different vehicle models for 2005. XM also is available in Avis, National, and Alamo rental cars. XM is the exclusive in-flight entertainment service for AirTran Airways, and will soon be available on JetBlue flights. Consumers can experience XM over the Internet through XM Radio Online at listen.xmradio.com. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit www.xmradio.com.