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HTPCs are hot among home theater cognoscenti. Using a personal computer to anchor an audio/video system has boomed in recent years due to the availability of high quality video processing software, Dolby Digital and DTS decoding support, and DVD transports. HTPCs (home theater personal computers) also thrive in part because of the tinkering gene shared by many enthusiasts.

The same is not true for high resolution digital audio. Apple's new OSX supports 96/24, and there are a few sound cards out there to decode DVD-A. But tinkering PC audiophiles are out of luck with SACD's DSD format and must head to the pro audio market to equip their PCs with state-of-the-art high-resolution PCM.

Progress is being made, however. Intel's next generation "High Definition Audio" standards, which were announced at the Spring 2003 Intel Developers Forum in San Jose last week and code named "Azalia," are scheduled for launch and implementation in 2004. As a significant upgrade and replacement of current AC'97 technologies, the new specification will, according to Intel, enable increased functionality of audio as well as enhanced modem and communication support, targeting mainstream PCs as well as PC-based consumer electronics such as digital video/audio set-top devices.

High-resolution audio support has been a long time coming from Intel, which had joined the DVD WG-4 Audio Working Group, responsible for developing DVD-Audio, at the beginning of 1998. Azalia is said to support Dolby Digital sound, DVD-Audio and SACD playback, improved speech recognition algorithms, and "multistreaming" audio which reportedly allows users to listen to two separate audio streams playing through two separate audio outputs. According to Intel, actual details about Azalia will be revealed later this year.

SigmaTel, which provides AC'97 audio codecs to the PC market, was quick to announce that its C-Major audio codec product line will conform to the Azalia specification. The company reports that compatible products include the STAC9460 codec, "supporting high-quality DVD-Audio functionality for consumer and PC products."

In a statement, SigmaTel says, "A main theme behind next-generation audio is the convergence of computer and consumer devices within the home. Digital video recorders and set-top boxes are even now blurring this line. The features of Intel's High Definition Audio standard will be an integral part of this program." The company's Alan Hansford adds, "Intel's announcement signals the birth of an official audio standard designed to enable common functionality throughout the home."