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Creative Launches the Mind-Shattering Sound Blaster® Roar: A New Concept Booklet-Size, 5-Driver Portable Wireless Speaker

Audiophile Sound Booklet Combines Multiple Advanced Audio Technologies That Deliver Powerful, Spacious, Precise Audio and Other Features - Way Beyond the Capabilities of Portable Wireless Speakers

SINGAPORE - 25 February 2014 - Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Sound Blaster® Roar, a new concept, 5-driver portable wireless speaker. Designed to rival existing home stereo systems, it is a heavyweight contender in the wireless speaker market that delivers amazingly powerful, precision-tuned, high fidelity sound from a compact and portable booklet size.

The launch follows a highly successful sneak preview at CES 2014 in Las Vegas, with the Sound Blaster Roar receiving very positive comments from members of the press and the general public.

Dubbed the ‘Audiophile Sound Booklet' by audio aficionados, the sleek, metallic Sound Blaster Roar measures only 57 x 202 x 115 mm and weighs 1.1 kg, but still packs a punch in audio performance. A product of years of research in speaker design and technology, it represents the pinnacle of portable wireless audio, and marks the redefinition of the home stereo and wireless speaker market - by combining wireless connectivity, portability, high fidelity and audio power all into one compact unit that can rest on the palm.

“Many portable wireless speakers are designed primarily to be small and compact. They hardly suffice in audio fidelity to provide decent sound as a home stereo system. We've approached the Sound Blaster Roar from the opposite direction. By incorporating advanced acoustic design elements, we focused on high quality audio performance first and portability second. This has allowed us to create the first high performance home stereo grade wireless speaker that can be taken on-the-go. Many people did not believe what they saw when they heard the Sound Blaster Roar, they were hunting around for a hidden external subwoofer! The audio power of the Sound Blaster Roar is mind-shattering for its size and precision fidelity. To top it off, we are prepared to market it at a compelling and no-holds-barred price. I believe the Sound Blaster Roar is the best portable wireless speaker in its class in the market and will be a no-brainer purchase for anyone who is looking for a wireless speaker,” says Sim Wong Hoo, Chairman and CEO of Creative Technology.

Sound Blaster Roar - Advanced Acoustic Design and Features
The Sound Blaster Roar is designed from the ground up with Creative's heritage in audio technology and years of research and expertise in speaker design. It has incorporated the following key advanced acoustic features for superb listening experience in a portable speaker in its class.

Bi-Amplified Design
Most other portable speakers utilise a single amplifier to reproduce the entire audio spectrum, with most demand going into producing lows and mid-range audio. A single-amplified design thus compromises the highs, which results in unbalanced, low-fidelity audio, a symptom that is common among portable speakers.

In contrast, the Sound Blaster Roar features a bi-amplified design that utilises two amplifiers - one dedicated to driving the lows and mids, and another dedicated to delivering the highs. This allows the speaker to produce uncompromisingly clear, high definition, well balanced music.

Space-Filling Dispersion
Another key differentiating factor is that the Sound Blaster Roar is specially designed to produce space-filling audio, instead of small, constrained audio. This is achieved by the incorporation of far-field high frequency front-firing drivers that project audio further than most other speakers in its class, allowing users to hear subtle audio details clearly even when at the other end of a room.

Audio spaciousness is further enhanced through the unique placement of the five different drivers. While the two high frequency drivers are front-firing, the active bass and mid-range driver is top-firing, with lower-range audio enhanced even further by the two side-firing passive radiators. This design results in a holosonic soundscape that enables improved width, height and depth while preserving stereo focus. The listener thereby experiences spacious audio that is not sweet spot-dependant.

Boxer-Bass-Module Design
Placing the top-firing bass and mid-range driver horizontally also allows for a low centre of gravity, which increases the stability of the Sound Blaster Roar. This eliminates any unnecessary movement, vibration or rattling of the speaker's body during audio playback, even at high volumes.

ROAR Audio Power
By default, the Sound Blaster Roar is designed to deliver clear and balanced high fidelity audio, even at high volumes. In scenarios such as parties or gatherings where a wider audience needs to be addressed, pressing the ROAR button will instantly and significantly boosts the loudness, depth and spaciousness of the speaker audio for an even more powerful, kick-ass, no-holds-barred listening experience.

Other Useful Features
Beyond its astounding audio performance, the Sound Blaster Roar also comes with several useful features, such as speakerphone teleconferencing, a MicroSD slot for MP3/WMA/WAV playback and audio recording, a siren, Bedtime Mode and Life Saver Mode.

Integrated MicroSD WMA and MP3 player
The Sound Blaster Roar conveniently features an integrated MicroSD WMA and MP3 player that allows users to play audio directly from a MicroSD card, so users do not need to always commit their smartphone to play music. The player even allows users to skip music folders so that they can navigate to their songs faster without having to tediously cycle through all their individual tracks.

Speakerphone Teleconferencing
With its built-in high quality microphone providing for clear 360° voice pickup, the Sound Blaster Roar is able to take calls when connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth®.

Integrated Voice Recorder
The Sound Blaster Roar's Integrated Voice Recorder utilises the speaker's built-in microphone, allowing for versatile one-touch recording of all kinds of audio - calls, external voices, or streamed music - directly to an insertable MicroSD card. The feature is ideal for recording voice memos, lectures, interviews, teleconferencing sessions, business/corporate meetings.

NFC-Enabled Bluetooth with Multipoint and HD Audio Codec Support
The speaker is able to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth, and utilises the aptX® and AAC codecs for the highest quality audio and lowest possible latency. The sound booklet also features the latest Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, allowing users to quickly and easily connect to Bluetooth devices, requiring only a simple tap from an NFC-enabled smart device to the sound system to pair and establish a connection. Users can also connect two Bluetooth devices to the Sound Blaster Roar simultaneously.

Bedtime Mode
In Bedtime Mode, the Sound Blaster Roar gradually reduces its volume before automatically shutting down. The feature allows users to be gently and gradually lulled to sleep, and at the same time preserves the speaker's battery by turning it off after a predetermined time, instead of having it switched on for the whole night. Parents of young children would also appreciate the feature - they can record themselves reading out a bedtime story, and play the recording back to their children as they are falling asleep.

Life-Saver Mode
Users can also put the speaker into Life-Saver Mode - this allows the Sound Blaster Roar to play random tones and sound bytes at random, unpredictable intervals to keep users alert.

USB Audio With Sound Blaster Enhancement
The Sound Blaster Roar is not just a wireless speaker for smart devices. Users can connect it to their PCs or Macs via USB to enjoy clear digital audio for their desktops or laptops. Connecting the speaker via USB enables advanced PC audio processing via the downloadable software, Sound Blaster Control Panel, and full access to the SBX Pro Studio™ suite of technologies that intelligently enhance audio in real time.

Dual Purpose Battery
The Sound Blaster Roar also features a Dual Purpose Battery. The large, built-in 6000 mAh Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery can be used to charge smartphones and tablets, beyond providing up to 8 hours of audio playback.

Built-in Siren
The Sound Blaster Roar comes with a built-in one-touch siren that lets users instantly grab attention, for example, during emergencies and at campsites.

Highlights of the Sound Blaster Roar:

1. The Sound Blaster Roar's bi-amplified design sets it apart from most other portable speakers that feature only one amplifier, allowing it to produce amazingly powerful and balanced lows, mids and highs.
2. Far-field high frequency front-firing drivers project audio further than other portable speakers. Audio spaciousness is further enhanced through the top-firing bass and mid-range driver and side-firing passive radiators, resulting in room-filling audio that is not audio sweet spot-dependant.
3. The Sound Blaster Roar's boxer-bass-module design allows it to have a low centre of gravity that increases speaker stability. This means that the unit will not move from its position or rattle even at high volume levels.
4. The ROAR button: in scenarios where audio power is of absolute importance, such as in parties or gatherings, pressing the ROAR button will instantly and significantly boost the speaker's loudness, depth and audio spaciousness.
5. Housed within the Sound Blaster Roar is a high quality microphone that provides clear 360° voice pickup, making it suitable for speakerphone teleconferencing.
6. Integrated MicroSD WMA and MP3 Player - Plays music directly from a MicroSD Card without having to connect to the user's smart device.
7. Integrated Voice Recorder - Allows for simple, one-touch audio recording directly to a MicroSD card.
8. High-quality aptX® and AAC codecs Bluetooth support for wireless audio playback that sounds as good as a wired connection.
9. NFC connectivity - One tap of an NFC-enabled smart device on the Sound Blaster Roar connect it to a device via Bluetooth.
10. Connects to two Bluetooth-enabled devices simultaneously - Ideal in a situation when a user is watching a movie on a tablet and wants to take a phone call on the Sound Blaster Roar from another device.
11. Bedtime Mode - Gradually lowers the volume level before shutting off, perfect for bedtime listening or playing back pre-recorded bedtime stories for children.
12. Life Saver Mode - Plays random tones and sound bytes at random intervals to keep users alert.
13. Dual Purpose Battery - 6000 mAH battery charges smartphones and tablets beyond providing up to 8 hours of continuous audio playback.
14. Siren - Comes with a built-in siren that lets user instantly grab attention when need to.
15. Additional Sound Blaster Functionality - Connecting the Sound Blaster Roar via USB to a PC or Mac enables advanced audio processing through Sound Blaster Control Panel, a downloadable software program specially designed for the speaker.
16. Size: 57 x 202 x 115 mm
17. Weight: 1.1 kg

SBX Pro Studio™ Features*:

• SBX Crystalizer™ - Restores the “highs” and “lows” that are compromised during audio compression to create and audio experience as the original artist intended
• SBX Smart Volume - Intelligently minimises abrupt volume changes by automatically adjusting the loudness of audio playback
• SBX Dialog Plus - Intelligently enhances voices in music and movies for drastically clearer vocal range
• SBX Bass - Dramatically improves the sound experience by expanding the low frequency tones
• SBX Surround - Creates unprecedented levels of audio realism by producing virtual speakers around, above and below the listener

*The Sound Blaster Roar functions as an external Sound Blaster sound card when plugged into a PC via USB.

Pricing and Availability
The Creative Sound Blaster Roar portable wireless speaker will be available very soon in different regions through major retail outlets and online channels. The recommended retail price in USA is US$199.

For more information on Creative Sound Blaster Roar, visit
https://sg.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-roar-sr20

About Creative
Creative is a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products. Famous for its Sound Blaster® sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment with cutting-edge audio solutions, premium wireless speakers, wireless headphones and portable media devices. Today, Creative re-invents the Sound Blaster, which has a user base of over 400 million, with its ground-breaking Sound BlasterAxx that aims at the new mobile networked generation by bridging the worlds of the computer, smartphones, and tablets. Creative's proprietary technologies, innovative hardware, applications and services leverage the Internet, enabling consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment - anytime, anywhere.

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This announcement relates to products launched in the Asia Pacific. Availability is subject to change without notice and may differ elsewhere in the world according to local factors and requirements. Creative, the Creative logo, Sound Blaster, Sound BlasterAxx, Crystalizer and SBX Pro Studio are trademarks or registered trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Creative Technology Ltd Wynne Leong Tel (65) 6895 4120 wynne_leong@ctl.creative.com

August Consulting Alan Lee Tel (65) 6733 8873 alanlee@august.com.sg