CEA Announces New Color Coding Standard for Home Theater

Arlington, VA - April 15, 2005 - The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) today announced the publication of an updated Home Theater Color Coding standard, designed to simplify consumers' installation of home theater systems. The standard defines color codes for home theater systems with up to 12.2 audio channels as well as digital, composite and component video connections. The previous standard allowed for only 5.1 channels.

The revised standard is designed to provide installers - whether professional or consumer - with consistent information on home theater set-up. Ensuring home theater systems are even easier to install, the new standard also incorporates diagrams depicting recommended speaker locations for up to 14 speakers to ensure optimal performance.

The original spec covering 5.1:

Main-R: Red, Pantone No. 032C
Main-L: White, Pantone No. not specified
Center: Green, Pantone No. 361C
Surround-R: Grey, Pantone No. Cool Grey 7C
Surround-L: Blue, Process Blue C
Sub-Woofer: Purple, Pantone No. 2582C

"Standards may be written by engineers but their end products are for consumers," said Ralph Justus, vice president of CEA's Technology & Standards Department. "The Home Theater Color Coding standard is an example of how valuable standards are at the end of the day for customer adoption, ease-of-use and for making a `must have' product. The CEA Technology & Standards Department strives to publish standards that grow the consumer electronics (CE) industry and make products more accessible to the average user. This new standard tackles both objectives head-on."

CEA leads technology manufacturers in fostering CE industry growth by developing industry standards and technical specifications that enable new products to come to market and encourage interoperability with existing devices. CEA maintains an unmatched reputation as a credible and flexible standards making body and has earned American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accreditation.

Through more than 70 committees, subcommittees and working groups, the CEA Technology and Standards Program provides a unique and efficient forum where technical professionals throughout the industry develop a unified technology roadmap and address technical issues critical to CE industry growth. For information about CEA Technology & Standards or to get involved, visit http://www.ce.org/standards .

Copies of the new standard for home theater color-coding (CEA-863 A) are available from Global Engineering Documents at http://global.ihs.com .

About CEA
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,000 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $121 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at http://www.CE.org , the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.