DNA launches Android TV box with Dolby Atmos

DNA is the first Nordic company to launch an entertainment box with Dolby Atmos immersive sound – “Sound is particularly important to entertainment consumers”

On 6 November 2023, DNA will launch the DNA Entertainment Box, a video soundbox featuring Dolby Atmos® immersive sound, first in the Nordic countries. The device also combines the Android TV-based open ecosystem used in the company’s previous set-top boxes with Google voice control and enables best-in-class ultra vivid picture with Dolby Vision®. The new Entertainment Box will better meet consumers’ entertainment needs.

The annual Digital Life surveys commissioned by DNA indicate that entertainment consumption is increasingly shifting from regular TV viewing towards more diverse consumption of entertainment. The survey, which follows trends and changes in the use of digital devices in Finland, shows that, in addition to increased consumption of video-based streaming services, the consumption of audio-based content (such as music, podcasts and audiobooks) has increasingly become a part of everyday life in Finland.

“Sound is particularly important to entertainment consumers. Our customer survey shows that good sound quality is the second most important aspect of the viewing experience after good picture quality and is even more important than picture size. Device manufacturers have also woken up to this, and audio technology has rapidly shifted from ordinary stereo sound to three-dimensional immersive sound. This phenomenon is already visible in the film and music industry’s output – Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, Apple and Universal already produce a significant proportion of their output in Dolby Atmos immersive sound,” says Mikko Saarentaus, Director, Entertainment Business at DNA.

The DNA Entertainment Box’s Android TV-based open ecosystem combines regular television with streaming services, channel packages and thousands of apps from the app store. In terms of picture quality, the device supports 4K resolutions and Dolby Vision HDR, and is equipped with a broad range of connection and integration options. Technical development has been carried out in cooperation with major equipment manufacturers: the device is manufactured by Sagemcom with speakers delivering Dolby Atmos immersive sound, with audio tuned by Bang & Olufsen. The Entertainment Box can also be used with Google Assistant voice control.

”We collaborate with DNA since 2017 with deployments of several 4K Android TV STB models, and we are proud to pursue our partnership with the launch of our latest Video Soundbox model: the DNA Entertainment Box. This product is a true differentiator, that allows DNA to further increase customer satisfaction.” says Olivier Taravel, Senior Executive Vice-President, Audio Video Solutions Business Unit, Sagemcom.

The Entertainment Box aims to better meet consumers’ current entertainment needs by launching a brandnew kind of compact device that enables the latest in high-quality audio-visual playback.

“In addition to enabling better picture quality, we also wanted to challenge the current soundbar and home theatre audio solutions. Finland is not as prepared as it could be for the transition to immersive sound, which may make it difficult or expensive for consumers to adopt this new technology. The Entertainment Box will provide DNA customers with a compact and effortless solution by offering access to all entertainment formats in a single device. The box will also allow customers to use these services at a competitive price without making unreasonably large investments in order to enjoy high-quality audio-visual entertainment in their own homes,” says Saarentaus.

“As we are working towards enabling more immersive experiences for consumers, we are extremely pleased to see DNA being the first operator launching a Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision video soundbox in the Nordics. Dolby’s promise is to bring home the content in the quality intended by its creator. DNA’s customers will be able to experience the impact and emotion of immersive audio in Dolby Atmos, along with a life-like picture in Dolby Vision”, says Anaïs Libolt, Director of Audiovisual services and Content, Dolby Europe.

The DNA Entertainment Box will be available for pre-order on 25 October, with sales beginning on 6 November 2023.