Editor's Review (Jul. 1973)

AFTER LAST MONTH'S test reports on quadraphonic headphones, it seemed appropriate to review the latest developments in four-channel decoding hardware as well as in recordings. Ben Bauer leads off this month with a discussion of CBS technology and discs. Next, we have an article recapping the history of quadraphonic equipment by Len Feldman, who finds four distinct phases in that history. Contributing Editor Harry Maynard tells us why four-channel equipment is a good buy now even though there will be further important developments in the field, ones which could well make present equipment obsolete. Finally, we have several reviews of the latest JVC/RCA discs, together with a brief discussion of that system. Some of these records, says our reviewer, are quite impressive.

Cassette & Cartridge Recorders

A nationwide survey of male owners of cassette and cartridge recorders/players reveals that 9.8 million men own cassette recorders and 6.7 million have cartridge tape units. Carried out by Leisure Time Research on a sample of 6,000 males over 15, the survey also showed that discount stores lead in total number of blank cassette purchasers, but that department stores attract most of the heavy users.

Blank cartridge buyers favor hi-fi stores, an outlet which ran a strong third in blank cassette sales. Interestingly, half of the cassette tape customers bought both blank and prerecorded cassettes, but of these who bought only one type, twice as many purchased blank tape. Some 20 per cent of the blank tape buyers preferred chromium dioxide coating, and 64 per cent bought 60-minute cassettes. While the use of stereo cartridge units in automobiles remains important, there are more than twice as many of these units in homes, says the survey.

Musical preferences were as follows: For cassette customers, their favorite music was popular at 30 per cent; rock at 29 per cent, and classical with 20 per cent. Among cartridge tape buyers, 34 per cent preferred rock; 26 per cent popular music, and 20 per cent country-western.

While all the implications of this data are not clear, we do know that high quality (and more expensive) cassette recorders have become a great deal more popular for home use in the past few years. The greatest spurs to this have probably been the noise-reduction systems and better transport systems, though much work has been done on CrO2 and LN tape formulations as well.

It would be interesting to speculate on the possible effects created by the release of huge numbers of four-channel cartridges. Quite a few are already available, according to the Schwann catalog, and many releases are only available on tape, with no four-channel disc version mentioned.

Cartridge machines have not as yet benefitted greatly from the work done on the cassette medium. However, it would be very nice to see some of the cartridge machines incorporate the high quality transports and the noise-reduction systems, such as are used in cassette machines. With this sort of development, the cartridge medium might well move ahead of the cassette in the hi-fi bug's esteem.

"Helping The Handicapped"

Billy G. Brant's article in the May, 1973, issue of Audio, with the above title, sparked a letter from Fred Bruflodt of Michigan State University's news bureau, who says the MSU will soon be starting a service very similar to that at Univ. of Kansas. Called "Radio Talking Book," the program on MSU's WKAR (90.5 MHz) will also use a sub-carrier receiver, fix-tuned to the special subchannel. Programming will consist of readings of current newspapers, magazines, and best-selling books. According to the station's general manager, Richard Estell, there will be an initial distribution of 500 of the special receivers, which are expected to cost about $50.00 each when purchased in quantity. Mrs. Florence Harvath, coordinator of special projects for WKAR, says funds for the programming include $61,000 from the Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare and $50,000 in matching funds from the university. However, Mrs. Harvath points out that an additional $65,000 will be needed for the first year of operation. Community support for the project is strong, she says, noting that more than 125 persons have volunteered to read the materials. "We figure that we need about 100 volunteers each donating about three hours a week," says Mrs. Harvath.

- E. P.

(Source: Audio magazine.)

Also see:

SQ Update--1973 (Jul. 1973)

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