Premium Sound System in the BMW Z4 Achieves THX Certification

Premium Sound System in the BMW Z4 Achieves THX Certification

BMW Z4 Roadster and Coupe Become First European Cars With THX Certified Car Audio System

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- THX Ltd., the leading provider of technologies, certification programs and quality assurance standards for the entertainment industry, today announced that the Premium Sound System available in the BMW Z4 Roadster and Coupe has achieved THX certification. This makes BMW the first European manufacturer to offer a THX Certified Car Audio system, providing car buyers a system that can deliver state-of-the-art sound experiences.

"THX is dedicated to providing high-end entertainment experiences beyond cinemas, home theaters and listening rooms," said Kaling Lim, Executive Director of THX. "More and more consumers will demand car audio that can rival the performance of premium home entertainment products. THX and BMW are committed to addressing that demand."

With a THX Certified Car Audio System, the speakers, subwoofers and other audio components are only half of the equation. The other half is equipment performance, positioning and an analysis of the vehicle's acoustic design. During the certification process, THX worked with BMW engineers to analyze speaker layout and positioning, and acoustic and equipment performance in the Z4 to make sure they were optimal for distributing sound throughout the vehicle. In addition, THX rigorously tested the system under a variety of road and driving conditions to measure exterior and interior noise to ensure it met THX standards for quality and performance.

"BMW Z4 buyers are not only getting a high quality car audio system, they are getting one that is backed by THX," said Edgar Kirk, head of Development of Audio Systems of the BMW Group. "THX is known throughout the world for ensuring uncompromised sound quality in the cinema, home and now the automobile. We are thrilled to offer an audio system of this caliber to BMW drivers."

THX is one of the few entertainment companies in the world that works to optimize how music, films and other content is created in the studio, while also focusing on the consumers' entertainment experience in the cinema, home and automobile. The goal of the THX Certified Car Audio program is to produce audio systems that deliver sound presentations that match the quality and ambience of the original recording. For luxury automakers, THX certification provides a means to differentiate from competitors by offering a premium sound system.

THX CERTIFIED SYSTEM DETAILS

The THX Certified Car Audio system in the BMW Z4 is designed to deliver a music experience as the artist intended. So whether the focus is on classical music or pop, both the driver and passenger in a BMW Z4 will enjoy their favorite music -- with a standard of intensity and brilliance traditionally offered by the most sophisticated home entertainment systems.

The highlights of BMW Z4's THX Certified Premium Sound System:
-- 10 speakers
-- Digital ten-channel audio amplifier and digital sound processor
-- 7-Band Graphic Equalizer
-- BMW Carver technology for high sound pressure with small speaker
diameter (sound pressure/output level of more than 120 db with a volume
of only 10 litres per loudspeaker)
-- Two sub-woofers with an output of 100 Watts located behind the seats
-- Two woofers each developing 40 Watts at the front of the car
-- Six midrange loudspeakers and tweeters, fitted in the doors and behind
the seats, each driven by a 25 Watts terminal
-- Total power output of 430 Watts

BMW's sound systems are configured and coordinated individually for each model within the BMW range. This ensures that each system meets all the demands made of each vehicle's varying size and body contours.

"THX Certified Car Audio systems are best in class because they are designed to present music exactly like it was produced in the recording studio or concert hall," said Laurie Fincham, Chief Scientist at THX Ltd. "By teaming with BMW to offer a THX Certified System in the Z4, we are combining the strengths of two world's premium brands to deliver an exceptional car audio experience."

ABOUT THX LTD.

THX Ltd. is dedicated to developing new ways to make the creation, delivery and presentation of entertainment content more efficient, more powerful and more enjoyable. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios, car audio systems and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certified status. For more information, visit www.thx.com.

THX and the THX logo are trademarks of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

THX MEDIA CONTACTS:

Jon Chun
Director of Marketing
THX Ltd.
415-492-3929
jchun@thx.com

Graham McKenna
PR Manager
Pacifico Inc. (for THX)
408-293-8600x335
gmckenna@pacifico.com

Source: THX Ltd.

CONTACT: Jon Chun, Director of Marketing of THX Ltd., +1-415-492-3929 or
jchun@thx.com; or Graham McKenna, PR Manager of Pacifico Inc.,
+1-408-293-8600, ext. 335, or gmckenna@pacifico.com, for THX

Web site: http://www.thx.com/

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