NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA, July 16, 2007 - Demonstrating how advanced AV systems can support not simply the artistic performance of a play, musical or group but also the commercial performance of a modern gaming and hospitality venue, Caesars Atlantic City has just completed the audio upgrade of its 1600-seat theater with a Harman HiQnet™ system comprising dbx DriveRack® processors and Crown amplifiers powering JBL VERTEC® line arrays. According to Jim Esher, Technical Manager, Caesars Atlantic City operations, the goal of the upgrade was to grow the seating capacity of the theater to 1,600 seats and "to create a state of the art sound and light experience for our guests."

The HiQnet-enabled amplifier racks consist of 29 Crown I-Tech devices - seven I-Tech IT 4000 models, sixteen IT 6000 models, and six Crown IT 8000 models. These power a left, center, right and stereo delay loudspeaker configuration, driving 16 JBL VERTEC VT4889 full-size three-way line arrays and 12 JBL VERTEC VT4880A arrayable subwoofers. The center cluster features three JBL VERTEC VT4887 compact line array elements. Four JBL PD5322/64 loudspeakers are installed for delay and there are six JBL Pro MS 28 front stage lip speakers. The HiQnet system is configured and controlled with HiQnet System Architect™ software from the console to the amplifier.

"The Caesars audio team of Paul Swenson and Dave Wink can manage everything from either the front-of-house and/or monitor position laptops thanks to HiQnet," said Esher.

When touring acts come in with their own consoles, they simply plug into the dbx DriveRack 4800 system processors. They're offered either analog or digital inputs with EQ parameters through the 4800's to access the system.

All of the house processing is done internally in the amplifiers' digital signal processing section. "Each amp rack has a 1 GB 48 port Cisco switch in it which handles all the HiQnet routing and switching to the amplifiers enabling the HiQnet control and monitoring interface to be either at FOH or monitor position," he continued. "Then the entire system is connected via fiber optic, using AES EBU digital audio connections."

Cisco switches are used to manage network traffic rather than looping through all the amplifiers. This minimizes latency and, because the system is based on an Ethernet backbone, it is ready for future expansion for network media transport.

Jim Esher and the theater's audio department team worked with applications engineer Jay Fulmer at JBL Professional and Sam Helms at Sigmet, the Harman Pro regional representative for the Metro NYC and Philadelphia markets. "Jay worked closely with us on the system design and Sam Helms was instrumental in bringing the product to us," said Esher.

About HiQnet:

Harman HiQnet™ is the world's first connectivity and control protocol that integrates all product categories in the signal chain for professional audio systems of all types, size, and applications. Harman HiQnet no longer requires the user to manage multiple disparate operating systems or be responsible for programming individual signal processors, speaker controllers, wireless microphone systems, and mixing consoles. HiQnet was developed by the Harman Pro Group System Development and Integration Group (SDIG), a team of dedicated systems specialists based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

About the Harman Pro Group:

The Harman Pro Group (www.harmanpro.com) is the world's largest provider of professional audio products and system solutions for commercial sound, contracting, tour sound, recording and broadcast, musician, portable PA and cinema applications. The Group is headquartered in Northridge, California and includes industry leaders AKG Acoustics, BSS Audio, Crown International, dbx, DigiTech, JBL Professional, Lexicon, Soundcraft, and Studer. The Group is part of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE: HAR), a leading supplier of high-quality, high fidelity audio products and infotainment systems for the automotive, home and professional markets.