Introduction of AAC+ decoding improves sound quality for customers, reduces network bandwidth required for streaming.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, February 14, 2008 — Barix AG, a pioneer in IP-based audio, intercom, control, and monitoring, announces the availability of aacPlus (v1 and v2) compression in its new Exstreamer-110 IP audio decoder this spring, bringing more cost and quality benefits to radio broadcasters for audio transport over IP. The Exstreamer-110 will be on display for radio broadcasters for the first time at NAB2008. (Las Vegas Convention Center, April 14-17, Booth #N8036).

Barix Exstreamer IP audio decoders are the de facto standard for low-cost decoding in the radio broadcast industry, with a large global installation base. aacPlus v2 builds on the success of MPEG-4 aacPlus, or Advanced Audio Coding, to significantly improve compression rates over the initial release as well as mp3. Radio broadcasters distributing content over the Internet to Exstreamer-110 decoders can use aacPlus v2 compression to significantly reduce bandwidth or improve audio quality.

The Exstreamer-110, a bargain at $249 U.S., is ideal for radio broadcasters who require point-to-multipoint distribution and wish to take advantage of the reduced bandwidth or higher quality afforded by aacPlus v2. Far less expensive than satellite distribution or other aacPlus-capable decoders on the market, broadcasters can save thousands of dollars distributing program audio over the Internet to Exstreamer-110 decoders at multiple destination points, such as studios or transmitter sites.

“Radio broadcasters can achieve the same quality as MP3 and significantly reduce their transport costs by cutting the required bandwidth in half using aacPlus version 2 in the Exstreamer-110,” said Johannes G. Rietschel, CEO and Founder of Barix AG. “The alternative is to significantly raise the audio quality by using the same bit rate with aacPlus v2 compression as previously used with mp3. This means broadcasters that upgrade from a 128 kpbs MP3 stream to a 128 kpbs aacPlus v2 stream will experience exceptional audio quality.”

The Exstreamer-110 retains all the functionality of the popular Exstreamer-100 IP audio decoder and adds a backlit 2×16 character LCD to display stream metadata or file information, such as station identification and artist/title information. The Exstreamer-110 also includes a built-in relay to trigger an EAS stream, station identification, or local announcement. A built-in remote control receiver enables channel selection from a variety of audio streams, ideal for redundancy protection.

About Barix AG (www.barix.com)

Barix AG, headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, specializes in research and development of state of the art IP based communication and control technology. Barix products are stand-alone and able to remotely connect worldwide over standard networks / Internet offering new and improved solutions to the professional audio distribution, communication and automation industry. Barix products provide solutions in audio over IP (audio distribution and monitoring, communication, security) and automation (remote controlling, monitoring and maintenance).