Tensilica now has a Dolby Digital Plus 7.1-channel decoder designed for HD DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players, and set-top boxes. Tensilica also offers a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel decoder/converter to ensure compatibility with most existing home theater systems equipped with coaxial or optical digital audio inputs. These two optimized decoders have been approved by Dolby for use with Tensilica’s popular HiFi 2 Audio Engine for Xtensa processors and the Diamond Standard 330HiFi audio processor core.

With the addition of a Dolby Digital Plus 7.1-channel decoder and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1-channel decoder/converter, Tensilica expects to expand the popularity of its HiFi 2 Audio Engine – already the de facto standard for cellular phones and other mobile consumer devices – to further penetrate the home entertainment market. Tensilica provides SOC designers with a drop-in, proven, high-quality 24-bit audio hardware solution with over 20 encoders and decoders for a variety of different audio and speech standards.

Dolby Digital Plus is a highly sophisticated and versatile audio coding system designed for next-generation home entertainment applications, including HD DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players and set-top boxes. Dolby Digital Plus is a highly flexible audio technology that delivers excellent high-definition sound on optical discs as well as on cable, satellite and IPTV set-top boxes, where bandwidth efficiency is critical. Dolby Digital Plus offers up to 7.1 channels of surround sound and more than three times the audio information of conventional DVDs to deliver a rich, involving entertainment experience.