Press Releases

Polk Audio® Launches New Brand – Polk Audio Designs™

BALTIMORE, MD (March 15, 2007)—Today Polk Audio, a Directed Electronics Brand (NASDAQ: DEIX), announced a new brand entity called “Polk Audio Designs.” The new mark will be used for products aimed at the general population, such as iPod accessories, radios, audio systems and other mass-appeal products. Polk Audio Designs™ products will be distributed through existing Polk Audio dealers and/or a wider network of retailers. Products designed for the audio enthusiast market will continue to be branded Polk Audio and distributed through Polk’s network of value-added retailers. Polk Audio Designs products will aim to offer the best possible sound quality and value in their respective categories.

The first product to bear the mark is the MiDock10™, a portable iPod audio system that is being sold exclusively through RadioShack stores at a Suggested Retail Price of $179. A similar but slightly larger and differently styled Polk Audio Designs iPod portable audio system called the MiDock Studio™ will debut in April and will be sold by Polk Audio’s existing retailers, select big-box retailers and on Polk Audio’s website.

“Our vision is that Polk Audio Designs products will meet the needs of customers that we have not addressed in the past,” said Jim Herd, President of Polk Audio. “Specifically we’re thinking of those consumers who are not audio hobbyists but who comprise an important segment of the market. Our engineering group has applied Polk’s core acoustic competence to product configurations targeted at emerging trends in audio-listening like iPod/MP3 players and the new radio formats.”

The Polk Audio Designs MiDock Studio (pictured left) is a portable iPod music system that can be operated with either the supplied AC adaptor or eight C cell batteries. Its dual 3.25-inch high excursion drivers are vented via a side-firing flared port for high output and robust bass response. Supplied adaptors allow the MiDock Studio to accept any iPod model from the Nano to the 80GB iPod. Its two-tone black grille/white body color scheme looks great with any color iPod. Any audio playback device with a headphone jack or audio output jack may be connected to the MiDock Studio via its 3.5mm stereo input jack. A rear mounted iPod multi-pin connector permits the MiDock Studio to be connected directly to a PC so that the iPod’s music library can be updated conveniently while the iPod sits in the MiDock Studio. Side-mounted handles make the MiDock Studio easy to carry from room to room while the supplied credit-card sized remote allows convenient operation from across the room. Sound quality is pure Polk Audio—well balanced, spacious and natural. The MiDock Studio will be sold through existing Polk Audio retailers, select big-box retailers and on-line at PolkAudio.com.

The MiDock10 is similar to the MiDock Studio in features and function but is smaller and styled differently and is being sold exclusively in RadioShack stores at an MSRP of $179.

About Polk Audio
Polk Audio is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of high performance audio products and the largest audio brand of Directed Electronics, Inc. (NASDAQ, DEIX). Founded in 1972 by three Johns Hopkins University graduates, 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 satellite radio home component tuner, the world's first audiophile-grade active IP-addressable loudspeaker, the first THX Ultra2 Certified in-ceiling 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 authorized specialist consumer electronics retailers worldwide. For more information and the location of a Polk retailer or distributor in your area visit the www.polkaudio.com or call us at 1-800-377-7655 (USA and Canada). Outside of North America call +1 (410) 358-3600.