Test and Measurement News

Prism Sound group acquires business assets of Imerge Ltd.

Cambridge, UK : Prism Sound group is pleased to announce that it has purchased certain assets of Imerge Ltd, the award-winning home media server business formerly affiliated with Linear LLC of Carlsbad, California, USA.

Imerge® brands will continue with current production as well as new product development under the ownership of Prism Sound. Customer support will be maintained for all former customers of Imerge Ltd, including OEM partners Elan, Speakercraft, Xantech and Revox. Prism Sound has retained key members of the former Imerge team in research and development, production, customer support and sales, while finance and marketing will be resourced from the Prism Sound team. Chief Technical Officer at Prism Sound, Ian Dennis, comments "Imerge is a fine example of outstanding technical innovation in the UK and we are proud to take over the baton. We will be concentrating on maintaining the impressive record Imerge has built with innovation in the fast-changing home entertainment market."

Graham Boswell. Director of Sales & Marketing at Prism Sound, adds "Imerge is one of the world's premier brands of movie and music-focussed entertainment servers, making it simple for users to acquire, store and replay their content with maximum fidelity and minimum fuss. Our challenge is to tell the story to a global audience and to make the product accessible to new markets. We will be extending the former distribution structure into new and untapped markets in the coming months."

Products include the MS1-HD Blu-Ray media server, winner of numerous awards beginning with the "Most InAVative Video Processing or Distribution Product for Residential Use" at the Technology InAVation Awards in 2009 and later in 2010 the "Best Media Server" awards from Home Cinema Digest and Sound & Vision Install magazine. The MS1-HD was also selected for "Reference Status" by Home Cinema Choice magazine in July 2010. Completing the server line-up is the MusicM8 (music mate) audio server unit, available though high-street retailers and on-line for connection to home networks.

Imerge-branded server products are complemented by the XIVA on-line music store and a range of hardware and software accessories. The XIVA-Safe high-reliability redundant disk storage array for the MS1-HD unit ensures you will not lose your media to a disk failure, while the iPhone controller app allows full control of your MS1-HD media server using your wireless network.

The acquisition takes the Prism Sound group into the home entertainment sector for the first time with audio and video media distribution products for high-end custom installers and high-street retailers. Prism Sound has over 20 years experience working with clients in audio research & development, manufacturing of audio products, broadcast television and radio, music recording and the public sector.

Grant Rummell Chairman & CEO of Linear LLC commented, "We are delighted at being able to complete this sale to Prism Sound and to ensure on-going support for our former customers. Imerge was part of the Linear family for a number of years and we wish them well for the future."

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About iMerge
Part of what is popularly known as the "Cambridge Phenomenon", Imerge is well-qualified to be the leader in its field. A spin-off from Cambridge-based technology consultancy "Scientific Generics", it developed the world's first hard drive-based audio server, the SoundServer, back in 1990s. In 2007 Imerge launched a multi-terabyte, 1080p-capable music/movies multi-room server - dubbed the MS5000 - which was hailed for setting new standards in usability and reliability, as well as delivering the very highest standards of audio and video performance. In 2008 Imerge launched the state of the art 1080p-capable MP1000 MediaPlayer which, when combined with the MS5000, unlocked a breathtaking range of new installation possibilities. In 2008, Imerge changed the rules by introducing the world's most advanced media server, the MS1, and its associated enterprise grade storage solution, the XiVASafe. Redefining the way we interact with our media, the MS1 has evolved into the MS1-HD, incorporating Blu-ray support, and the revolutionary new XiVA music store.

For more information please visit www.imerge.co.uk or www.xiva.com.