DTS opens Singapore Technology Centre
Published: ASIA
SINGAPORE: The DTS Singapore Technology Centre is part of a strategic move by the company to establish an R&D and customer response facility in the Asian Pacific region.
As audio technology continues to evolve, consumer behaviour has shifted towards emerging content delivery platforms such as mobile, PC, flat-screen TVs and other personal devices. Singapore is consistently ranked as one of the best locations in Asia to conduct business, and with additional resources in Asia, DTS is now strategically positioned to keep pace with this market.
DTS has accumulated more than 20 years of R&D leadership experience in the telecommunications and digital media industries, and Dr Mark Randolph, vice president of technology at DTS, now manages the DTS Singapore Technology Centre.
DTS’ new office is located in the high-tech Solaris building adjacent to Fusionopolis and is equipped with a 13.1 surround sound theatre. This serves as a demonstration studio as well as a facility for research and development activities.
The acoustic treatment was completed by Alpha acoustics Engineering Pte Ltd, and the room, measuring 7m in length and 4.3m in width, has been acoustically treated with the flooring raised by 12cm, tapering of walls, a profile ceiling, two bass traps behind the room, and air-conditioner diffusers.
‘R&D needs a clean signal, but sales didn’t want the room to be too dead for presentations, so the challenge was to demolish the old room, construct the new one and install the systems in just five weeks, from concept to delivery,’ explained Dr Randolph. ‘We need it treated for our neighbours, above, below and next door to us. It is similar to other DTS facilities, like those at our headquarters in Calabasas – just outside of LA – in that we can bring a wireless keyboard and touchpad into the room and connect to the audio system via an Extron matrix switcher.’ A patch panel provides additional inputs to the matrix switch allowing external devices to be connected from the demo room.
The requirements to use the room for both R&D and customer demonstration purposes led DTS to opt for an Onkyo A/V pre-amplifier that supports up to 9.1 channels including play out using the company’s Neo:X technology. The amplifier can decode a DTS bit-stream from a Blu-Ray player and up-mix the output to 9.1 surround, plus height channels. Another key feature is a Focal Professional 13.1 surround speaker system, which will support further expansion of DTS’ 3D audio roadmap.
In its role as system integrator, Broadcast Communications International (BCI) supplied and installed the system, which features a single Focal Professional Twin6 Be speaker at the front with eight surrounding Solo6 Be monitors configured at ear level, two Solo6 Bes for front height and two more Solo6 Bes for rear height. A floor standing Focal Professional CMS sub is used to reinforce the LFE channel.
‘We are very impressed by how easily the Solo6 Be handles the mid-range and dynamics at normal listening volume,’ said Cedric Tio, senior audio R&D engineer of DTS. ‘These monitors are accurate and nice to listen to and the service rendered by BCI was impeccable. It was a very tight schedule and the BCI team consisting of Brian Ong and Ian Huang were experts in their domain and a pleasure to work with.’