Dolby CAT1796 Reaches End of Sale — LEONIS CINEMA Provides a New Path for Multi-Channel Cinema Audio Conversion
Dolby has announced the withdrawal from sale of the CAT1796 8-Channel D:A Converter, marking the end of a product that has served professional cinema audio installations for many years.
According to Dolby’s announcement, the CAT1796 officially reached its global Withdraw from Sale date on July 31, 2026. Hardware repair, replacement and parts availability are scheduled to end on July 31, 2027, followed by the end of software maintenance and support on July 31, 2029.
For cinema operators, integrators and service companies, however, the end of the CAT1796 does not mean the end of the requirement it was designed to address.
Professional cinemas around the world continue to operate with AES3-based digital audio infrastructure, creating an ongoing need for reliable multi-channel digital-to-analog conversion. At the same time, newer cinema audio systems are increasingly exploring network-based architectures such as AES67.
This creates both a replacement challenge and an opportunity to rethink how cinema audio conversion should evolve for the next generation of installations.
The AES3 Requirement Remains
The CAT1796 has provided an important bridge between AES3 digital audio and professional analog audio infrastructure.
Even as the product reaches the end of its lifecycle, many cinema systems will continue to rely on AES3 sources together with analog amplifiers, processors and other downstream equipment.
Replacing an entire audio system simply because one interface product has reached end of life is neither necessary nor practical in many installations.
Cinema operators and integrators therefore need modern multi-channel conversion solutions that can support existing AES3 infrastructure while offering greater flexibility in channel count and system design.
LEONIS CINEMA Multi-Channel DAC Solutions
LEONIS CINEMA has developed a family of professional multi-channel audio conversion solutions for cinema and professional audio applications.
The platform includes:
Model | Channel Configuration | Digital Audio |
DAC-I8O8 | 8 × 8 | AES3 |
DAC-I12O12 | 12 × 12 | AES3 |
DAC-I16O16 | 16 × 16 | AES3 |
DAC-I32O32 | 32 × 32 | AES67 |
The DAC-I8O8, DAC-I12O12 and DAC-I16O16 support AES3, providing cinema integrators with 8-, 12- and 16-channel options for systems based on established professional digital audio infrastructure.
For larger systems and projects moving toward IP-based audio architectures, the DAC-I32O32 provides a 32-channel AES67 solution, extending the LEONIS CINEMA platform into professional network audio.
From 8-Channel AES3 to Larger Cinema Systems
For existing installations where an 8-channel AES3 digital-to-analog converter is required, the LEONIS DAC-I8O8 provides a solution that can be evaluated for applications previously served by products such as the CAT1796.
But cinema audio requirements do not always stop at eight channels.
The DAC-I12O12 and DAC-I16O16 extend the same AES3-based approach to 12- and 16-channel configurations, giving cinema system designers greater flexibility when upgrading existing installations or designing new systems.
This allows integrators to select the appropriate channel count for the project rather than being restricted to a single 8-channel architecture.
Moving Toward AES67 Network Audio
While AES3 remains important across existing cinema installations, professional audio infrastructure is increasingly moving toward network-based transport.
For larger systems, LEONIS DAC-I32O32 provides a 32-channel platform based on AES67, enabling audio to become part of a scalable IP-based professional audio architecture.
This gives cinema operators and integrators two practical paths:
Maintain and expand existing AES3 infrastructure with DAC-I8O8, DAC-I12O12 and DAC-I16O16 — or move toward 32-channel AES67 network audio with DAC-I32O32.
Rather than treating the end of a legacy product as simply a replacement problem, it can become an opportunity to evaluate which architecture is most appropriate for the next stage of a cinema audio system.
Protecting Existing Investment While Preparing for the Future
Cinema audio infrastructure typically remains in service for many years. A practical upgrade strategy therefore needs to balance new technology with the substantial investment already made in processors, amplifiers, loudspeakers, cabling and other installed equipment.
LEONIS CINEMA’s approach is to provide solutions for both sides of that transition.
For cinemas that need to maintain existing AES3 workflows, the LEONIS AES3 DAC family provides multiple channel-count options.
For projects ready to move toward networked audio, DAC-I32O32 provides a path into AES67-based infrastructure.
Maintain AES3. Scale from 8 to 16 channels. Or move toward 32-channel AES67 network audio.
Supporting the Next Generation of Cinema Audio
The withdrawal of the Dolby CAT1796 represents more than the end of a single product. It is another indication that long-established cinema audio infrastructure is entering a new technology cycle.
As legacy equipment becomes increasingly difficult to source and service, cinema operators, integrators and distributors will need solutions that address immediate replacement requirements while supporting the evolution of future systems.
With DAC-I8O8, DAC-I12O12, DAC-I16O16 and DAC-I32O32, LEONIS CINEMA provides a scalable family of professional multi-channel audio conversion solutions covering both established AES3 applications and next-generation AES67 network audio.
For technical specifications, product evaluation, distribution enquiries or cinema project support, please contact LEONIS CINEMA.
LEONIS CINEMA
Professional Cinema Audio Solutions