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June 17, 1972
Big Software Merchandisers
Wait For More 'Q' Hardware
By JOHN SIPPEL
LOS ANGELES -
The classic complaint about not stocking blades because of the unavailability of razors is manifest in a survey of mass users of records and tapes in the early stages of quadrasonic.
John Kaplan, vice president and director of marketing for the Handelman Co., Detroit, summed it all up with: "It's under one percent of our total volume. The CES show next week could turn it all around if our people see that manufacturers of software and hardware are getting it together." Kaplan said that Handelman is stocking 4-channel records and tape primarily as a concession to some of their mass merchandise customers who need the software to back up early inventorying of hardware in their stores.
Al Franklin and Tony Birelli of the four Franklin Music stores operated by Raymond Rosen Co., Philadelphia, said they are "demonstrating quadrasonic, but finding it difficult.”
They noted the lack of standardization has stymied their hardware buying. "It's difficult to demonstrate because of the need for greater space for the four speaker placement. We've had only limited success. We are stocking mostly Panasonic.”
Edward Yalowitz of All-Tapes, Chicago the national wholesaler who is slowly going into free standing stores, said they do not and will probably not handle quadrasonic playback, but will continue to pio-
Software Merchandisers Wait
neer software. He said the firm is attempting to create 4-channel sections in their stores and manned departments. He decried the lack of point-of-purchase display and sign material available from hardware and software makers which would help a store manager pinpoint the 4-channel activity in a particular area. "We'll take all the merchandising graphic material we can get right now," he stated.
Phil Shannon, general manager, Stark Record Service, N. Canton, O., which operates 14 Camelot stores and mans 30 departments, will not handle hardware and is not handling much 4-channel tape or record inventory. "There's too little product and what is available is not selling much. We're making our own signs. We color code our cassette and 8-track, but there's not enough volume for us to consider the expense of coding Blister-Pak 4-channel right now,” he added.
Stuart Schwartz of Harmony Huts, the six-store chain of full-line records/tape/playback inven-tory, pointed to the store in Seven Corners shopping center, Falls Church, Va., as an example of what can be done. "Manager Mike Stepp there has convinced us that the early quadrasonic fan has an almost insatiable appetite for music. The more inventory of different titles we put in, the more we sell. The industry needs a whole lot more playback equipment to choose from." Bert Schwartz, his brother, noted that District Records, the brothers' rack operation in a seven-state area, was not racking much 4-channel software because of small demand. "The larger the department we are serving, greater demand for 4-channel, especially tape," he pointed out.
Forty percent of the accounts in the five-state area being handled by ABC Records & Tape, Seattle, are handling some 4-channel software, according to Bob Bianchi.
"Our chains want software to help the sale of hardware in the maior appliance departments. We have been publishing a special list of available 4-channel tapes and records on a monthly basis for the past three months. Our sales people demanded it because of the many questions they were getting from their accounts. We are forced to make our own in-store displays and signs for quadrasonic."
Bianchi said that he and a buyer from the Des Moines ABC branch will attend the CES show to appraise new playback equipment.
Bianchi too felt that the show must provide the springboard to make national retailing excited about 4-channel fall prospects.
Big Software Merchandisers
Wait For More 'Q' Hardware
By JOHN SIPPEL
LOS ANGELES -
The classic complaint about not stocking blades because of the unavailability of razors is manifest in a survey of mass users of records and tapes in the early stages of quadrasonic.
John Kaplan, vice president and director of marketing for the Handelman Co., Detroit, summed it all up with: "It's under one percent of our total volume. The CES show next week could turn it all around if our people see that manufacturers of software and hardware are getting it together." Kaplan said that Handelman is stocking 4-channel records and tape primarily as a concession to some of their mass merchandise customers who need the software to back up early inventorying of hardware in their stores.
Al Franklin and Tony Birelli of the four Franklin Music stores operated by Raymond Rosen Co., Philadelphia, said they are "demonstrating quadrasonic, but finding it difficult.”
They noted the lack of standardization has stymied their hardware buying. "It's difficult to demonstrate because of the need for greater space for the four speaker placement. We've had only limited success. We are stocking mostly Panasonic.”
Edward Yalowitz of All-Tapes, Chicago the national wholesaler who is slowly going into free standing stores, said they do not and will probably not handle quadrasonic playback, but will continue to pio-
Software Merchandisers Wait
neer software. He said the firm is attempting to create 4-channel sections in their stores and manned departments. He decried the lack of point-of-purchase display and sign material available from hardware and software makers which would help a store manager pinpoint the 4-channel activity in a particular area. "We'll take all the merchandising graphic material we can get right now," he stated.
Phil Shannon, general manager, Stark Record Service, N. Canton, O., which operates 14 Camelot stores and mans 30 departments, will not handle hardware and is not handling much 4-channel tape or record inventory. "There's too little product and what is available is not selling much. We're making our own signs. We color code our cassette and 8-track, but there's not enough volume for us to consider the expense of coding Blister-Pak 4-channel right now,” he added.
Stuart Schwartz of Harmony Huts, the six-store chain of full-line records/tape/playback inven-tory, pointed to the store in Seven Corners shopping center, Falls Church, Va., as an example of what can be done. "Manager Mike Stepp there has convinced us that the early quadrasonic fan has an almost insatiable appetite for music. The more inventory of different titles we put in, the more we sell. The industry needs a whole lot more playback equipment to choose from." Bert Schwartz, his brother, noted that District Records, the brothers' rack operation in a seven-state area, was not racking much 4-channel software because of small demand. "The larger the department we are serving, greater demand for 4-channel, especially tape," he pointed out.
Forty percent of the accounts in the five-state area being handled by ABC Records & Tape, Seattle, are handling some 4-channel software, according to Bob Bianchi.
"Our chains want software to help the sale of hardware in the maior appliance departments. We have been publishing a special list of available 4-channel tapes and records on a monthly basis for the past three months. Our sales people demanded it because of the many questions they were getting from their accounts. We are forced to make our own in-store displays and signs for quadrasonic."
Bianchi said that he and a buyer from the Des Moines ABC branch will attend the CES show to appraise new playback equipment.
Bianchi too felt that the show must provide the springboard to make national retailing excited about 4-channel fall prospects.
March 18, 1972
Japan's Attention Now Focuses on Columbia's SQ
LOS ANGELES -
Columbia's Stereo/Quadraphonic (SQ) compatible 4-channel system is suddenly the talk of equipment manufacturers in Japan.
In all fairness, the CBS SQ system can be labeled the industry’s front-runner. In Japan, in fact, more and more companies are lining up behind the matrixing disk concept.
Sony, which is tied to the CBS system through the joint operation that distributes Columbia recordings in Japan, offers component-style SQ equipment being marketed in the U.S. and Japan.
The latest Japanese manufacturer to sign a licensing agreement with Columbia is Kenwood Electronics, a factor in the U.S. high fidelity market. (Billboard. March
11.) A third company, Sanyo Electric, is investigating the licensing contract and is expected to sign, although it already boasts that its 4-channel equipment is "compatible to SQ disks."
As more and more industry talk centers on Columbia's system, and CBS has an impressive list of licensing agreements to support its cry of, "We're No. 1,” there is, the talk has it, a revolution in the making. (Billboard, March 11.)
The "revolution" comes in the form of companies that have expressed an interest in making SQ equipment. as well as the number of record producers releasing 4-channel SQ titles.
And Stanley J. Kavan, Columbia's vice president of planning and diversification, vows to have a rash of licensing agreements to announce, many of them concerning Japanese manufacturers, before the
Consumer Electronics
Show in June. Kenwood, which markets in Japan under the Trio banner, is launching a sales promotion in the Japanese market of SQ 4-channel console models under Trio.
The firm will introduce its SQ
4-channel line of receivers, encoder-decoders, and encoder-decoder-amplifiers in early summer under the Kenwood brand in the U.S.
The consensus among manufacturers in Japan is that Columbia's concept is the "only system which maintains its faithfulness to the original 4-channel recording,” and
has a lofty reputation "because of its complete compatibility with existing stereo disk systems.”
While the SQ system bubbles upward in Japan, several U.S.
companies, notably Lafayette Radio, are getting ready to boast of their quadrasonic capabilities.
Lafayette, for example, already has samples of its SQ equipment, and Columbia's own Masterwork brand has SQ models in its mass market line.
Already on the CBS bandwagon are Radio Shack, Sherwood Electronics Laboratories, Harman-Kardon, Instruteck and three new members to the SQ squad: Soundesign Corp. Jersey City , N.J., Metrotec, Long Island, N.Y., Connaught Equipment Co., London.
Supporting the SQ equipment are several record companies, notably Vanguard, EMI (Capitol) and, of course, Columbia/ Epic.
Others include Ampex, Monument and Stan Kenton's Creative World.
STANLEY KAVAN guides Columbia's 4-channel SQ system, which is receiving more attention in Japan and can now be considered the industry's disk front-runner.
Japan's Attention Now Focuses on Columbia's SQ
LOS ANGELES -
Columbia's Stereo/Quadraphonic (SQ) compatible 4-channel system is suddenly the talk of equipment manufacturers in Japan.
In all fairness, the CBS SQ system can be labeled the industry’s front-runner. In Japan, in fact, more and more companies are lining up behind the matrixing disk concept.
Sony, which is tied to the CBS system through the joint operation that distributes Columbia recordings in Japan, offers component-style SQ equipment being marketed in the U.S. and Japan.
The latest Japanese manufacturer to sign a licensing agreement with Columbia is Kenwood Electronics, a factor in the U.S. high fidelity market. (Billboard. March
11.) A third company, Sanyo Electric, is investigating the licensing contract and is expected to sign, although it already boasts that its 4-channel equipment is "compatible to SQ disks."
As more and more industry talk centers on Columbia's system, and CBS has an impressive list of licensing agreements to support its cry of, "We're No. 1,” there is, the talk has it, a revolution in the making. (Billboard, March 11.)
The "revolution" comes in the form of companies that have expressed an interest in making SQ equipment. as well as the number of record producers releasing 4-channel SQ titles.
And Stanley J. Kavan, Columbia's vice president of planning and diversification, vows to have a rash of licensing agreements to announce, many of them concerning Japanese manufacturers, before the
Consumer Electronics
Show in June. Kenwood, which markets in Japan under the Trio banner, is launching a sales promotion in the Japanese market of SQ 4-channel console models under Trio.
The firm will introduce its SQ
4-channel line of receivers, encoder-decoders, and encoder-decoder-amplifiers in early summer under the Kenwood brand in the U.S.
The consensus among manufacturers in Japan is that Columbia's concept is the "only system which maintains its faithfulness to the original 4-channel recording,” and
has a lofty reputation "because of its complete compatibility with existing stereo disk systems.”
While the SQ system bubbles upward in Japan, several U.S.
companies, notably Lafayette Radio, are getting ready to boast of their quadrasonic capabilities.
Lafayette, for example, already has samples of its SQ equipment, and Columbia's own Masterwork brand has SQ models in its mass market line.
Already on the CBS bandwagon are Radio Shack, Sherwood Electronics Laboratories, Harman-Kardon, Instruteck and three new members to the SQ squad: Soundesign Corp. Jersey City , N.J., Metrotec, Long Island, N.Y., Connaught Equipment Co., London.
Supporting the SQ equipment are several record companies, notably Vanguard, EMI (Capitol) and, of course, Columbia/ Epic.
Others include Ampex, Monument and Stan Kenton's Creative World.
STANLEY KAVAN guides Columbia's 4-channel SQ system, which is receiving more attention in Japan and can now be considered the industry's disk front-runner.
June 10, 1972
EYES CARTRIDGE TV
Mo. Store Moves
Easily Into 'Q' Units
By EARL PAIGE
SPRINGFIELD. Mo.-
Jim and Ben Hurd started House of Sound, Inc. here with a few 8-track car stereo players and some tapes.
They weren't, of course, pioneers and now speak only vaguely of 4-track. But today they are pioneers in four-channel and ready for cartridge television.
Tracing the early history of the firm, the older brother said Craig is the only line that remains from the beginning. Some of the early brands are gone now.
"We went through a lot of different ones."
In car stereo, the firm carries Craig, Sanyo and Car Tapes Inc. Best sellers are in the general area of $39 to $69. "We step up from $39 in increments of $10 to $79," he said.
Of course, four-channel will be slightly higher and he intends to start a promotion involving a liberal trade-in on a two-channel car unit to switch people to four-channel.
Compacts consist of Sanyo and Electrophonic mainly, with the best selling units in the $100 to $200 range. AM/FM/FM and 8-track combinations being most popular.
The store's component lineup includes brands such as Sony,
Sansui, JVC and a smattering of Sanyo."
Hurd also carries Teac and Akai straight control amplifiers. "At least 50 percent of our component sales are amplifiers without receivers. The reason is that we're in a predominantly FM country radio market and the young people just don't dig country.”
In speakers, the store stocks Epicure Products, Inc. (EPI), Allec Lansing and a private label model. This is the only instance of private label use.
Promotions are a regular thing (Billboard, June 3). Recently, the Hurds drew 3,000 people to kick off the EPI line and had Win Burhoe, the president of EPI, here for the event.
Other aspects of the promotion, however, included a Playboy centerfold playmate, a remote broadcast over KICK (local top 40) and the first showing of Electro Voice's four-channel amplifier, which has a logic selection for adapting to any of the various matrix systems.
How does Hurd feel about hardware in general?
"There are good and crudy models in every line and you have to be damned shrewd about cherry picking the good units. Warranty is a problem, parts availability is a problem. We just don't believe the manufacturers' advertisements.
We check everything out."
He said the store's routine on evaluating new models is for he and his brother to take the units home and plug them up. "I have to say we end up not stocking 70 percent of the models we try out, regardless of the specifications claimed. The manufacturers don't mind lying to you.”
He said the store sticks by the legitimate warranties of its lines and stocks parts, offering the usual 90 days free labor and parts guarantee.
"We have built up our business by establishing a reputation of fixing things quickly. One disadvantage of this is that customers will bring in units with minor defects they would overlook if they had bought them at a discount house. But we go ahead and work on everything.
One key aspect of the firm's hardware philosophy, though not unique, is that the Hurds try to bring the service technicians onto the sales floor. The men rotate from the three service benches to sales.
This is part of the internal expansion of House of Sound. Hurd said recently he was in Chicago for a JVC product unveiling and sat around with others, including officials of Custom Music Corp., St. Louis. Custom Music has steadily expanded into many markets. Hurd, who saw one CMC outlet close here, said: "We just haven't felt we could think about expanding to other cities while we were growing here at 100 percent a year. We want to control our market. We have developed a personal touch in selling and draw from 100 miles around."
He doesn't rule out further expansion, though the firm has already expanded in the sense of developing a wholesale operation.
Hurd has seen nearly every type of hardware gain in popularity.
One exception, portables.
"The market has been soft. It could be a psychological thing with us in that the portables have given us the most service problems. People treat them roughly," he said, not throwing all the blame on the manufacturers.
"We like the Weltron that's styled like a space helmet. That suction cup bottom will hold it anyplace."
Actually, the firm has made all kinds of installations. This runs from boats (the market embraces one of the country's greatest fishing areas in Table Rock and other lakes) to airplanes, school buses to motorcycles and stock cars to bicycles. In the latter case, the bicyclist went for a cassette with headphones.
Cassette is almost a bad word with Hurd. "We had such poor quality in the beginning. However, this is changing. The new cassette machines, even without dolby systems considered, are a whole new ball game. The problem is convincing people that they can't go cheap. They can't be
satisfied with a $100 deck--there's no compromising. You have to sell them the best."
In terms of four-channel, Hurd said: "The quad deck is the way to lead people to four-channel. We've been stocking the JVC player only model for $99.95. However, we've just not been able to get enough. Sansui is supposed to be shipping a deck very soon."
As for the future, he believes the consumer will continue to be confused.
He sees some of the mis-spent energy found in the early 8-track vs. cassette days. "I always said if the manufacturers would just spend one-fourth of the r&d money on 8-track they were spending on cassette, we would have been better off.
They shoved cassette down our throats.
"We're selling more 8-track recorders than cassette machines," he said, "and I mean real cassette machines, not the $19.95 to $29.95 models that make cassette look so good in industry figures."
Discrete? He said: "There's no comparison between discrete and matrix."
He admitted discrete
would entail two software inventories. "That's true, but it's inevitable. Discrete is coming and we might as well be here ready for it."
As for matrix, he feels the various companies offering competitive systems are "blowing in the wind."
He said: "We stock the SQ, Sansui and Electro-Voice systems. But these brands shouldn't be concerned so much with the idea of selling the audiophiles. It's not the audiophiles who will be buying the units, it's going to be the young people with money to spend.
"They should stress that the matrix brings out the performance of regular two-channel too. This would be better than Columbia claiming that they have the only really best system.”
For the moment, Hurd is plugging matrix and just promoted it via a radio broadcast over KTXR-FM, a local basically EL station.
He said: "The level of sophistication in hi fi components today is so above the level of broadcast standards that I decided to supply the station with a manual turntable and Shure cartridge. I also had them use a Sansui four-channel monitor in the studio.
During the four years they have been in business, the Hurds have seen many brands come and go.
Sometimes, it has been difficult to replace a brand.
"We found that Belle Wood became a very dependable brand and then they fell apart (Belle Wood was sold). It took us a year or more to find a replacement for the brand.
CTV? Well, the Hurd brothers bought one Akai portable to try out. They feel that their type of outlet will be ideal, once rental of software gets rolling.
"The appliance-TV dealer can sell the units but won't know how to handle software—we will."
So at Consumer Electronics
Show, the two men will be looking for four-channel car stereo, good quality 8-track units (includ-ing recorders) and not much else.
"We're pretty well inventoried and feel we can move any way the market moves.”
TAPE-RECORD dealer Jim Hurd (left) with Playboy Playmate Crystl Smith and Ben Hurd during recent promotion at the Springfield, Mo., House of Sound, Inc., store opened by the brothers with capitalization of under $100 and a $5,000 inventory. Miss Smith appeared in conjunction with the EPI speaker promotion. The store's hours: 10-10 p.m., Mon. through Sat.; service department: 10-6 p.m. (closed Monday). The Hurds' H.O.S Dist subsidiary services mom 'n' pop, Otasco and Western Auto stores and truck stops in the region.
EYES CARTRIDGE TV
Mo. Store Moves
Easily Into 'Q' Units
By EARL PAIGE
SPRINGFIELD. Mo.-
Jim and Ben Hurd started House of Sound, Inc. here with a few 8-track car stereo players and some tapes.
They weren't, of course, pioneers and now speak only vaguely of 4-track. But today they are pioneers in four-channel and ready for cartridge television.
Tracing the early history of the firm, the older brother said Craig is the only line that remains from the beginning. Some of the early brands are gone now.
"We went through a lot of different ones."
In car stereo, the firm carries Craig, Sanyo and Car Tapes Inc. Best sellers are in the general area of $39 to $69. "We step up from $39 in increments of $10 to $79," he said.
Of course, four-channel will be slightly higher and he intends to start a promotion involving a liberal trade-in on a two-channel car unit to switch people to four-channel.
Compacts consist of Sanyo and Electrophonic mainly, with the best selling units in the $100 to $200 range. AM/FM/FM and 8-track combinations being most popular.
The store's component lineup includes brands such as Sony,
Sansui, JVC and a smattering of Sanyo."
Hurd also carries Teac and Akai straight control amplifiers. "At least 50 percent of our component sales are amplifiers without receivers. The reason is that we're in a predominantly FM country radio market and the young people just don't dig country.”
In speakers, the store stocks Epicure Products, Inc. (EPI), Allec Lansing and a private label model. This is the only instance of private label use.
Promotions are a regular thing (Billboard, June 3). Recently, the Hurds drew 3,000 people to kick off the EPI line and had Win Burhoe, the president of EPI, here for the event.
Other aspects of the promotion, however, included a Playboy centerfold playmate, a remote broadcast over KICK (local top 40) and the first showing of Electro Voice's four-channel amplifier, which has a logic selection for adapting to any of the various matrix systems.
How does Hurd feel about hardware in general?
"There are good and crudy models in every line and you have to be damned shrewd about cherry picking the good units. Warranty is a problem, parts availability is a problem. We just don't believe the manufacturers' advertisements.
We check everything out."
He said the store's routine on evaluating new models is for he and his brother to take the units home and plug them up. "I have to say we end up not stocking 70 percent of the models we try out, regardless of the specifications claimed. The manufacturers don't mind lying to you.”
He said the store sticks by the legitimate warranties of its lines and stocks parts, offering the usual 90 days free labor and parts guarantee.
"We have built up our business by establishing a reputation of fixing things quickly. One disadvantage of this is that customers will bring in units with minor defects they would overlook if they had bought them at a discount house. But we go ahead and work on everything.
One key aspect of the firm's hardware philosophy, though not unique, is that the Hurds try to bring the service technicians onto the sales floor. The men rotate from the three service benches to sales.
This is part of the internal expansion of House of Sound. Hurd said recently he was in Chicago for a JVC product unveiling and sat around with others, including officials of Custom Music Corp., St. Louis. Custom Music has steadily expanded into many markets. Hurd, who saw one CMC outlet close here, said: "We just haven't felt we could think about expanding to other cities while we were growing here at 100 percent a year. We want to control our market. We have developed a personal touch in selling and draw from 100 miles around."
He doesn't rule out further expansion, though the firm has already expanded in the sense of developing a wholesale operation.
Hurd has seen nearly every type of hardware gain in popularity.
One exception, portables.
"The market has been soft. It could be a psychological thing with us in that the portables have given us the most service problems. People treat them roughly," he said, not throwing all the blame on the manufacturers.
"We like the Weltron that's styled like a space helmet. That suction cup bottom will hold it anyplace."
Actually, the firm has made all kinds of installations. This runs from boats (the market embraces one of the country's greatest fishing areas in Table Rock and other lakes) to airplanes, school buses to motorcycles and stock cars to bicycles. In the latter case, the bicyclist went for a cassette with headphones.
Cassette is almost a bad word with Hurd. "We had such poor quality in the beginning. However, this is changing. The new cassette machines, even without dolby systems considered, are a whole new ball game. The problem is convincing people that they can't go cheap. They can't be
satisfied with a $100 deck--there's no compromising. You have to sell them the best."
In terms of four-channel, Hurd said: "The quad deck is the way to lead people to four-channel. We've been stocking the JVC player only model for $99.95. However, we've just not been able to get enough. Sansui is supposed to be shipping a deck very soon."
As for the future, he believes the consumer will continue to be confused.
He sees some of the mis-spent energy found in the early 8-track vs. cassette days. "I always said if the manufacturers would just spend one-fourth of the r&d money on 8-track they were spending on cassette, we would have been better off.
They shoved cassette down our throats.
"We're selling more 8-track recorders than cassette machines," he said, "and I mean real cassette machines, not the $19.95 to $29.95 models that make cassette look so good in industry figures."
Discrete? He said: "There's no comparison between discrete and matrix."
He admitted discrete
would entail two software inventories. "That's true, but it's inevitable. Discrete is coming and we might as well be here ready for it."
As for matrix, he feels the various companies offering competitive systems are "blowing in the wind."
He said: "We stock the SQ, Sansui and Electro-Voice systems. But these brands shouldn't be concerned so much with the idea of selling the audiophiles. It's not the audiophiles who will be buying the units, it's going to be the young people with money to spend.
"They should stress that the matrix brings out the performance of regular two-channel too. This would be better than Columbia claiming that they have the only really best system.”
For the moment, Hurd is plugging matrix and just promoted it via a radio broadcast over KTXR-FM, a local basically EL station.
He said: "The level of sophistication in hi fi components today is so above the level of broadcast standards that I decided to supply the station with a manual turntable and Shure cartridge. I also had them use a Sansui four-channel monitor in the studio.
During the four years they have been in business, the Hurds have seen many brands come and go.
Sometimes, it has been difficult to replace a brand.
"We found that Belle Wood became a very dependable brand and then they fell apart (Belle Wood was sold). It took us a year or more to find a replacement for the brand.
CTV? Well, the Hurd brothers bought one Akai portable to try out. They feel that their type of outlet will be ideal, once rental of software gets rolling.
"The appliance-TV dealer can sell the units but won't know how to handle software—we will."
So at Consumer Electronics
Show, the two men will be looking for four-channel car stereo, good quality 8-track units (includ-ing recorders) and not much else.
"We're pretty well inventoried and feel we can move any way the market moves.”
TAPE-RECORD dealer Jim Hurd (left) with Playboy Playmate Crystl Smith and Ben Hurd during recent promotion at the Springfield, Mo., House of Sound, Inc., store opened by the brothers with capitalization of under $100 and a $5,000 inventory. Miss Smith appeared in conjunction with the EPI speaker promotion. The store's hours: 10-10 p.m., Mon. through Sat.; service department: 10-6 p.m. (closed Monday). The Hurds' H.O.S Dist subsidiary services mom 'n' pop, Otasco and Western Auto stores and truck stops in the region.
June 24, 1972
Live Quad
Broadcast
NEW YORK -
On Monday (12), a concert by Mandrill, Polydor Records' seven-piece group, will be broadcast live and in quadraphonic from the Village Gate by WCBS-FM.
The concert will be simultaneously recorded and broadcast through 21 microphones, using the "SQ' matrixing system. Sony Corporation of America will sponsor the broadcast.
Live Quad
Broadcast
NEW YORK -
On Monday (12), a concert by Mandrill, Polydor Records' seven-piece group, will be broadcast live and in quadraphonic from the Village Gate by WCBS-FM.
The concert will be simultaneously recorded and broadcast through 21 microphones, using the "SQ' matrixing system. Sony Corporation of America will sponsor the broadcast.
June 24, 1972
Arvin Named
SQ Licensee
NEW YORK
Arvin Industries Inc. a manufacturer of consumer and industrial products has become a Columbia Records SQ licensee and will manufacture SQ products for their own branded home entertainment products and for their private label customers.
Arvin Named
SQ Licensee
NEW YORK
Arvin Industries Inc. a manufacturer of consumer and industrial products has become a Columbia Records SQ licensee and will manufacture SQ products for their own branded home entertainment products and for their private label customers.
Please Note: This article strangely ends, and the rest of this article could not be found in this issue.
June 24, 1972
Johnny Cash Opens 16-Track 'Q' Studios in Hendersonville
NASHVILLE
Johnny Cash formally opened his new 16-track quadrasonic sound recording studio here with an invitation-only party for the music industry.
The ornate and yet utilitarian studio is equipped with a crystal chandelier and antique furnishings, among other things.
The new studio, in suburban
Hendersonville, is housed in two-story structure which originally was center-stage theater. The building also contains the House of Cash, which includes his various enterprises, including publishing.
Ex-Columbia Staffers
Charlie Bragg will act as chief engineer, and his staff includes Roger Tucker and Joe Simpkins. Bragg and Tucker formerly worked for Columbia here. General manager of the studio is producer Larry Butler, also formerly with Columbia.
The control room contains Ampex machines, with all tracks from 16 to mono. It has a Flickinger console, Sony microphones, EMT for reverberations and two echo chambers. The studio contains a Yamaha piano. a Hammond organ, plus drums and Fender amplifiers. There are two ‘Q' circuits for separate mixes.
There is a JBL monitoring system in both the studio and control room. The large, sunken studio can handle 30 musicians comfortably, according to Bragg.
The studio will handle custom work as well as all of the Cash recording. Three Cash albums are nearing completion already. The singer said that, with this setup. he now could record whenever he was ready. Among other things, he has cut a children's album.
There are large offices in the structure for Reba Hancock. who manages the overall House of Cash operation, and for Larry Lee, who manages the publishing firms.
Butler and Cash also have their
June 24, 1972
Johnny Cash Opens 16-Track 'Q' Studios in Hendersonville
NASHVILLE
Johnny Cash formally opened his new 16-track quadrasonic sound recording studio here with an invitation-only party for the music industry.
The ornate and yet utilitarian studio is equipped with a crystal chandelier and antique furnishings, among other things.
The new studio, in suburban
Hendersonville, is housed in two-story structure which originally was center-stage theater. The building also contains the House of Cash, which includes his various enterprises, including publishing.
Ex-Columbia Staffers
Charlie Bragg will act as chief engineer, and his staff includes Roger Tucker and Joe Simpkins. Bragg and Tucker formerly worked for Columbia here. General manager of the studio is producer Larry Butler, also formerly with Columbia.
The control room contains Ampex machines, with all tracks from 16 to mono. It has a Flickinger console, Sony microphones, EMT for reverberations and two echo chambers. The studio contains a Yamaha piano. a Hammond organ, plus drums and Fender amplifiers. There are two ‘Q' circuits for separate mixes.
There is a JBL monitoring system in both the studio and control room. The large, sunken studio can handle 30 musicians comfortably, according to Bragg.
The studio will handle custom work as well as all of the Cash recording. Three Cash albums are nearing completion already. The singer said that, with this setup. he now could record whenever he was ready. Among other things, he has cut a children's album.
There are large offices in the structure for Reba Hancock. who manages the overall House of Cash operation, and for Larry Lee, who manages the publishing firms.
Butler and Cash also have their
June 24, 1972
Non Compatible 'Q' Not a Deterrent: CES
By EARL PAIGE
CHICAGO-
Non-compatibility in 4-channel hardware and non-standardization in television cartridge equipment did not discourage retail buyers at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which tallied a record 22,000 opening day registration. Retail sales of 4-channel units will jump 25 to 30 percent by year end, predicted Minneapolis retailer and seminar panelist Richard Schaak.
All the same, there was considerable grumbling about the two rival matrix and discrete disk systems and local chain store owner Sol Polk called lack of standardization in television cartridge "disgraceful." (See full coverage of CES in the Tape/ Audio/Video section this issue.)
On the software front, buyers heard nearly side-by-side demonstrations of the Columbia, Electro-Voice and Sansui matrix disk and RCA, JVC and Panasonic discrete "Quadradisc."
Blank tape exhibits were more elaborate than ever as this area of software caught buyers' attention as never before. There were also scores of new accessory marketers exhibiting.
While less in number, there were several exhibitors
Retailers Prophesy 25% Climb in 4-Channel Equipment Sales
of budget and cut-out tapes, and as well, some alleged bootleggers.
A temporary restraining order was brought against three firms (see separate story).
During the seminar on 4-channel sound, delegates heard matrix disk advocate Stanley J. Kavan of CBS and discrete disk proponent John Pudwell of RCA exchange polite jibes and explain the rival philosophies of quad systems.
Kavan promised a catalog of 100 titles year end and Pushwell said RCA will have 15 available.
Meanwhile, out on the exhibit floor, manufacturers were not blatantly touting 4-channel, apparently to keep from adding, to the confusion of non-compatibility.
But buyers were openly enthusiastic. In predicting the 25 to 30 percent jump in 4-channel sales.
Schaak added: (We’ll be lucky)
"if everyone isn't sold out by
Christmas.”
Retailers are equally optimistic over how 4-channel will increase volume. Schaak and Harold Weinberg, the latter from Lafayette Radio, both average unit sales in
4-channel run around $500 (this in contrast to an average sale of $250-$300 in 2-channel).
It was not a show for product innovations. However, Sanyo Electric Inc. did show a prototype of a ½-in. Videotape recorder/playback unit fully compatible with EIAJ (Electronics Industries Association of Japan) ½-in. standard (an example, Panasonic's recently introduced unit),
More revolutionary was Sanyo's recorder/playback "Stillvision" unit that utilizes thin viny magnetic disks that can store up to 36 still frames in B&W or color at a cost of less than 30 cents a disk, a spokesman said.
The unit will sell for $300-$400 when available next year.
Also for the first time, retailers saw a rewinder unit at the Cartridge Television Inc. booth, for rewinding rental television cartridges.
While there was no concrete evidence of growing agreement between Kavan's and Pudwell's firms, the two men did agree on the artist's importance in 4-channel.
Kavan said members
4-channel releases is "misleading."
"It's not the amount of product, but whose product. The artist is so important."
Pudwell approached this viewpoint differently, admitting that RCA released too many 4-channel 8-track cartridges.
“We admit it, not all (of the 68 released in 1969) should have been released." As for why only 15 to 20 discrete disk IP's promised by 1973, he said,
"We're concentrating on new material, on hits."
Pudwell also said that first quarter ('72) gross in 4-channel was more than all of 1971 (4-channel).
As for the importance of artists, Pudwell said one of RCA's prime reasons for going discrete “was to give artists more creativity." The other reason: one inventory.
Columbia's advocacy of matrix was in no way compromised by its decision to go with discrete 4-channel 8-track, said Kavan.
"Q-8 was on the market when we introduced matrix disks. We
wanted to make a market, not divide one, and decided that Q-8 was best kept stable, though he said some would have preferred
CBS go matrix in 8-track too.
Kavan said the largest catalog in the world (Columbia's) and now EMI's is committed to matrix disks.
Non Compatible 'Q' Not a Deterrent: CES
By EARL PAIGE
CHICAGO-
Non-compatibility in 4-channel hardware and non-standardization in television cartridge equipment did not discourage retail buyers at Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which tallied a record 22,000 opening day registration. Retail sales of 4-channel units will jump 25 to 30 percent by year end, predicted Minneapolis retailer and seminar panelist Richard Schaak.
All the same, there was considerable grumbling about the two rival matrix and discrete disk systems and local chain store owner Sol Polk called lack of standardization in television cartridge "disgraceful." (See full coverage of CES in the Tape/ Audio/Video section this issue.)
On the software front, buyers heard nearly side-by-side demonstrations of the Columbia, Electro-Voice and Sansui matrix disk and RCA, JVC and Panasonic discrete "Quadradisc."
Blank tape exhibits were more elaborate than ever as this area of software caught buyers' attention as never before. There were also scores of new accessory marketers exhibiting.
While less in number, there were several exhibitors
Retailers Prophesy 25% Climb in 4-Channel Equipment Sales
of budget and cut-out tapes, and as well, some alleged bootleggers.
A temporary restraining order was brought against three firms (see separate story).
During the seminar on 4-channel sound, delegates heard matrix disk advocate Stanley J. Kavan of CBS and discrete disk proponent John Pudwell of RCA exchange polite jibes and explain the rival philosophies of quad systems.
Kavan promised a catalog of 100 titles year end and Pushwell said RCA will have 15 available.
Meanwhile, out on the exhibit floor, manufacturers were not blatantly touting 4-channel, apparently to keep from adding, to the confusion of non-compatibility.
But buyers were openly enthusiastic. In predicting the 25 to 30 percent jump in 4-channel sales.
Schaak added: (We’ll be lucky)
"if everyone isn't sold out by
Christmas.”
Retailers are equally optimistic over how 4-channel will increase volume. Schaak and Harold Weinberg, the latter from Lafayette Radio, both average unit sales in
4-channel run around $500 (this in contrast to an average sale of $250-$300 in 2-channel).
It was not a show for product innovations. However, Sanyo Electric Inc. did show a prototype of a ½-in. Videotape recorder/playback unit fully compatible with EIAJ (Electronics Industries Association of Japan) ½-in. standard (an example, Panasonic's recently introduced unit),
More revolutionary was Sanyo's recorder/playback "Stillvision" unit that utilizes thin viny magnetic disks that can store up to 36 still frames in B&W or color at a cost of less than 30 cents a disk, a spokesman said.
The unit will sell for $300-$400 when available next year.
Also for the first time, retailers saw a rewinder unit at the Cartridge Television Inc. booth, for rewinding rental television cartridges.
While there was no concrete evidence of growing agreement between Kavan's and Pudwell's firms, the two men did agree on the artist's importance in 4-channel.
Kavan said members
4-channel releases is "misleading."
"It's not the amount of product, but whose product. The artist is so important."
Pudwell approached this viewpoint differently, admitting that RCA released too many 4-channel 8-track cartridges.
“We admit it, not all (of the 68 released in 1969) should have been released." As for why only 15 to 20 discrete disk IP's promised by 1973, he said,
"We're concentrating on new material, on hits."
Pudwell also said that first quarter ('72) gross in 4-channel was more than all of 1971 (4-channel).
As for the importance of artists, Pudwell said one of RCA's prime reasons for going discrete “was to give artists more creativity." The other reason: one inventory.
Columbia's advocacy of matrix was in no way compromised by its decision to go with discrete 4-channel 8-track, said Kavan.
"Q-8 was on the market when we introduced matrix disks. We
wanted to make a market, not divide one, and decided that Q-8 was best kept stable, though he said some would have preferred
CBS go matrix in 8-track too.
Kavan said the largest catalog in the world (Columbia's) and now EMI's is committed to matrix disks.
June 24, 1972
Dolby, 4-Channel
Boost Tape Mart
CHICAGO -
Attendees to the Consumer Electronics Show seminar on "New Trends In Tape Equipment" heard a panel of industry experts assure the market that the advent of quadrasonic sound will serve to stimulate the 8-track cartridge and open reel markets; while cassette, after being slowed for a while by its 8-track counterpart, will move forward to audiophile and other areas on a wave of supplemental innovations including Dolby noise reduction systems, new ferrite heads, new tape formulations and automatic shut-off devices.
The panel, moderated by Lee Zhito, editor in chief of Billboard magazine, featured such industry expert as, Jeff Berkowitz, Panasonic/Matsushita, John Traynor, the 3M Co., George R. Simkowski. the Bell & Howell Co., Gersh Thalberg, Superscope, Inc., and Oscar Kusisto, Motorola Automotive Products.
Kusisto predicted that by the fourth quarter of this year, 8-track equipment sales will show another significant increase as a whole wave of new manufacturers make their presence felt on the consumer market. He further promised that the new interest in four channel sound will push Q-8 sales.
Kusisto felt, and his colleagues agreed, that the best way to merchandise 8-track and other tape equipment was through demonstrations, and meaningful point-of-pur-chase displays. He felt too that the automobile provided the ideal acoustical environment for 8-track demonstrations.
Kusisto, who is also chairman of the Board of the International Tape Association, assured anxious listeners that his industry watchdog organization was making significant steps forward in its quest to establish meaningful standards for the tape hardware and software industry.
The Motorola executives also had some bouquets for those tape hardware and software manufacturers who voluntarily become part of "Operation Bootstrap" and improved the quality of their products without waiting on legislation and other drastic measures.
Dolby, 4-Channel
Boost Tape Mart
CHICAGO -
Attendees to the Consumer Electronics Show seminar on "New Trends In Tape Equipment" heard a panel of industry experts assure the market that the advent of quadrasonic sound will serve to stimulate the 8-track cartridge and open reel markets; while cassette, after being slowed for a while by its 8-track counterpart, will move forward to audiophile and other areas on a wave of supplemental innovations including Dolby noise reduction systems, new ferrite heads, new tape formulations and automatic shut-off devices.
The panel, moderated by Lee Zhito, editor in chief of Billboard magazine, featured such industry expert as, Jeff Berkowitz, Panasonic/Matsushita, John Traynor, the 3M Co., George R. Simkowski. the Bell & Howell Co., Gersh Thalberg, Superscope, Inc., and Oscar Kusisto, Motorola Automotive Products.
Kusisto predicted that by the fourth quarter of this year, 8-track equipment sales will show another significant increase as a whole wave of new manufacturers make their presence felt on the consumer market. He further promised that the new interest in four channel sound will push Q-8 sales.
Kusisto felt, and his colleagues agreed, that the best way to merchandise 8-track and other tape equipment was through demonstrations, and meaningful point-of-pur-chase displays. He felt too that the automobile provided the ideal acoustical environment for 8-track demonstrations.
Kusisto, who is also chairman of the Board of the International Tape Association, assured anxious listeners that his industry watchdog organization was making significant steps forward in its quest to establish meaningful standards for the tape hardware and software industry.
The Motorola executives also had some bouquets for those tape hardware and software manufacturers who voluntarily become part of "Operation Bootstrap" and improved the quality of their products without waiting on legislation and other drastic measures.
^^^
...though he said some would have preferred CBS go matrix in 8-track too.
First time I've heard about such a thing, anyone here have a stereo 8-track recorder - have you tried recording SQ encoded content on a stereo 8-track blank tape and playing it through an SQ decoder to see if the 8-track format has enough phase stability to work for (SQ) matrix quad?
Kirk Bayne
...though he said some would have preferred CBS go matrix in 8-track too.
First time I've heard about such a thing, anyone here have a stereo 8-track recorder - have you tried recording SQ encoded content on a stereo 8-track blank tape and playing it through an SQ decoder to see if the 8-track format has enough phase stability to work for (SQ) matrix quad?
Kirk Bayne
August 5, 1972
June 24, 1972
4-Channel Grabs Sales
As Systems' War Cools
By BOB KIRSCH
CHICAGO
Four-channel took much of the play at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here, but it was the buyers who made most of the noise.
While 4-channel equipment of some kind was in evidence at virtually every booth and buying appeared fairly strong, there was a noticeable lack of manufacturers
"blowing their horns" about the various systems.
The explanation for this attitude seems to be one of not adding more confusion to an already confused situation. Several manufacturers admitted that since no progress has really made in the area of standardization they felt it better to show their product but hold the continuous demonstrations that characterized the previous two shows.
Retailers, while buying, felt confused and in some cases angry. Many left with no better understanding of 4-channel than when they arrived.
There were, however, other configurations which were on display and received strong play from manufacturers.
Most prominent among these were high quality cassette and 8-track units, compo-nents, prepackaged components and standard stereo systems.
Will Carry Both
As with last year's show, the so-called "frilly" features were not as much in evidence as the features retailers and consumers have demanded to make these products more reliable, saleable and desirable to the more quality conscious consumer of today.
In the 4-channel confusion, many retailers displayed strong preferences toward a particular mode, but admitted they will have to carry both until some of the standardization problems are cleared.
“I like discrete," said C. Conn Jr. of Conn Appliances in Beaumont, Tex, “but I'm going to carry both discrete and matrix. As for price points, I'm not really
looking for anything special. What I will probably do in the near future is build a sound room for 4-channel." Conn added that while he feels the sound on discrete units is purer, the software is the major problem for him.
Manny Nathan of Arrow Electronics in New York agreed "I lean to discrete," he said, "but there's no software. As far as price points go, the high-end goods seem to move well for us and this is what I'II be looking at."
Clarification Needed
Nathan brought out another point concerning 4-channel which he feels is affecting other product categories.
I think the manufacturers are afraid of obsolescence due to 4-channel, afraid that their present 2-channel systems may be useless in the near future. I think this is the reason we're seeing so many drop-ins rather than complete new lines.
“What we really need is someone to clearly explain all 4-chan-nel systems to everyone. It's a big business but it's confusing."
With regard to other items at the show, Nathan said he was primarily interested in cassette with Dolby and bias switch, 8-track units with record feature and fast forward and standard stereo components that will be compatible with 4-channel.
Bart Miller, president of Denver's Howard Sound, said he has decided to go to 4-channel after staying away from it for several years.
Seeks Reliability
"We'll go the matrix route because of the software available, Miller said, “and we're going to design some form of display in our main store. We'll also carry some discrete, however."
In standard stereo, Miller is looking for reliability, 4-channel compatibility
and design. "We don’t want to sell anything that will be obsolete,” he added.
Sol Polk of Polk Bros. in Chicago will handle both modes but said he would "like some sort of standardization and I'd like to see this feud ended. This is not an ordinary product. You have to give the salesman and the consumer a complete education."
Trade-In Business
Polk added that he feels the tape/audio business is headed in the direction of a trade-in business, and he will set up such sections in many of his stores. As for other products, he's looking for cassettes with innovations and said he wants diversification and expects to grow rapidly in tape and audio.
“Four-channel is utter confusion here," said Saul Gresky, merchandising manager of Allied Radio.
“I've noticed the manufacturers playing it down and I'm sure it's because of this, but I am buying and I'lI be buying both types of units."
Other retailers also had comments concerning their buying at the show.
"I'm a bit more confused about 4-channel than I was before the show," said Jack Oakley of Arlan's in Galesberg, Ill. "But I am leaning to matrix and I would like to market in the $250 to $300 price range for the average consumer, Ira Fishbein of Mr. Dependable TV in San Diego said he found last year's "popular" price up in tape/audio and he was looking for goods with price tags as high as $500 in prepackaged components, a significant jump from his former range of $149 to $300. He added he will be taking on the Fisher line.
Compatibility Sought Gordon Wilf, Jr. of W. Palm Beach, Fla., a retailer and distributor, said he was at the show mainly to look at 4-channel but was also very interested in four and 5-piece components and compacts. He cited tape as a must.
Marshall Miller of Sound, Inc. in Greenbelt, Md. said he likes the price on 4-channel systems but finds it confusing and thinks the customer will, too. But he was buying.
In other categories, buyers looked for 4-channel compatibility, better frequency response and more design in standard stereo components; lower-end compacts with tape capability; cassette units in several configurations, including portables with AM-FM, decks with Dolby and blas switches and miniature units for business purposes; in 8-track, car stereo played an important role as did decks with fast forward, record capability and portable units that can also be converted for the home and car; in adaptive devices, most dealers feel that there will be a market for these for some time, as consumers step softly into the 4-channel market, and most were looking for such items at around the $50 level; reel-to-reel did not get a great deal of attention, but some dealers feel it will make somewhat of a comeback due to a more sophisticated youth market and 4-channel; and many dealers were in the market for middle range speakers and receivers to be used with adaptive devices in 4-channel.
Many retailers shopped tape for education as well as entertainment—particularly the cassette.
Dealers said that promoting the configuration as a multi-use item will stimulate sales and will bring many new consumers into this market.
TV Cartridge Interest
A surprising number of tape/ audio retailers showed interest in tv cartridge as a consumer item.
C.W. Conn said he feels the item will be a big consumer product by fall and that "by Christmas you won't be able to lay your hands on one."
Sol Polk was particularly enthusiastic over the possibilities of the configuration, but also displayed anger over the lack of standardization.
"There's absolutely no standardization here," Polk said, "and this is a disgrace. This can be a great product but we've got to have standardization. I don't care what it takes we need leadership and standard setting."
Polk offered an example from everyday life of the kind of trouble lack of standardization can cause. "Say you're on the West Coast and your wife has a baby, he said. "You want to send movies to your folks back East, so you use a system to take these movies.
But your parents have a different system and the tape won't fit."
Polk Strong TVC Booster
He added that tv cartridge could be almost a cure-all for everything, relieving boredom at home, educating someone in several hours for a new skill and also as a "keep up with the Jones" type of notion.
Polk will get involved in this market strongly, he said, but he added that he cannot stress the need for standardization enough.
While most retailers were somewhat confused at the show and while most manufacturers seemed to add to the confusion by making no attempt to solve it, dealers still went home happy for the most part. The variety was wide and prices were good, according to retailers, although there was not as much buying at the show as expected. In addition, some dealers felt the show lacked the "cohesiveness" it has enjoyed in recent years.
But the overall reaction was still one of having made a successful trip.
4-Channel Grabs Sales
As Systems' War Cools
By BOB KIRSCH
CHICAGO
Four-channel took much of the play at last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here, but it was the buyers who made most of the noise.
While 4-channel equipment of some kind was in evidence at virtually every booth and buying appeared fairly strong, there was a noticeable lack of manufacturers
"blowing their horns" about the various systems.
The explanation for this attitude seems to be one of not adding more confusion to an already confused situation. Several manufacturers admitted that since no progress has really made in the area of standardization they felt it better to show their product but hold the continuous demonstrations that characterized the previous two shows.
Retailers, while buying, felt confused and in some cases angry. Many left with no better understanding of 4-channel than when they arrived.
There were, however, other configurations which were on display and received strong play from manufacturers.
Most prominent among these were high quality cassette and 8-track units, compo-nents, prepackaged components and standard stereo systems.
Will Carry Both
As with last year's show, the so-called "frilly" features were not as much in evidence as the features retailers and consumers have demanded to make these products more reliable, saleable and desirable to the more quality conscious consumer of today.
In the 4-channel confusion, many retailers displayed strong preferences toward a particular mode, but admitted they will have to carry both until some of the standardization problems are cleared.
“I like discrete," said C. Conn Jr. of Conn Appliances in Beaumont, Tex, “but I'm going to carry both discrete and matrix. As for price points, I'm not really
looking for anything special. What I will probably do in the near future is build a sound room for 4-channel." Conn added that while he feels the sound on discrete units is purer, the software is the major problem for him.
Manny Nathan of Arrow Electronics in New York agreed "I lean to discrete," he said, "but there's no software. As far as price points go, the high-end goods seem to move well for us and this is what I'II be looking at."
Clarification Needed
Nathan brought out another point concerning 4-channel which he feels is affecting other product categories.
I think the manufacturers are afraid of obsolescence due to 4-channel, afraid that their present 2-channel systems may be useless in the near future. I think this is the reason we're seeing so many drop-ins rather than complete new lines.
“What we really need is someone to clearly explain all 4-chan-nel systems to everyone. It's a big business but it's confusing."
With regard to other items at the show, Nathan said he was primarily interested in cassette with Dolby and bias switch, 8-track units with record feature and fast forward and standard stereo components that will be compatible with 4-channel.
Bart Miller, president of Denver's Howard Sound, said he has decided to go to 4-channel after staying away from it for several years.
Seeks Reliability
"We'll go the matrix route because of the software available, Miller said, “and we're going to design some form of display in our main store. We'll also carry some discrete, however."
In standard stereo, Miller is looking for reliability, 4-channel compatibility
and design. "We don’t want to sell anything that will be obsolete,” he added.
Sol Polk of Polk Bros. in Chicago will handle both modes but said he would "like some sort of standardization and I'd like to see this feud ended. This is not an ordinary product. You have to give the salesman and the consumer a complete education."
Trade-In Business
Polk added that he feels the tape/audio business is headed in the direction of a trade-in business, and he will set up such sections in many of his stores. As for other products, he's looking for cassettes with innovations and said he wants diversification and expects to grow rapidly in tape and audio.
“Four-channel is utter confusion here," said Saul Gresky, merchandising manager of Allied Radio.
“I've noticed the manufacturers playing it down and I'm sure it's because of this, but I am buying and I'lI be buying both types of units."
Other retailers also had comments concerning their buying at the show.
"I'm a bit more confused about 4-channel than I was before the show," said Jack Oakley of Arlan's in Galesberg, Ill. "But I am leaning to matrix and I would like to market in the $250 to $300 price range for the average consumer, Ira Fishbein of Mr. Dependable TV in San Diego said he found last year's "popular" price up in tape/audio and he was looking for goods with price tags as high as $500 in prepackaged components, a significant jump from his former range of $149 to $300. He added he will be taking on the Fisher line.
Compatibility Sought Gordon Wilf, Jr. of W. Palm Beach, Fla., a retailer and distributor, said he was at the show mainly to look at 4-channel but was also very interested in four and 5-piece components and compacts. He cited tape as a must.
Marshall Miller of Sound, Inc. in Greenbelt, Md. said he likes the price on 4-channel systems but finds it confusing and thinks the customer will, too. But he was buying.
In other categories, buyers looked for 4-channel compatibility, better frequency response and more design in standard stereo components; lower-end compacts with tape capability; cassette units in several configurations, including portables with AM-FM, decks with Dolby and blas switches and miniature units for business purposes; in 8-track, car stereo played an important role as did decks with fast forward, record capability and portable units that can also be converted for the home and car; in adaptive devices, most dealers feel that there will be a market for these for some time, as consumers step softly into the 4-channel market, and most were looking for such items at around the $50 level; reel-to-reel did not get a great deal of attention, but some dealers feel it will make somewhat of a comeback due to a more sophisticated youth market and 4-channel; and many dealers were in the market for middle range speakers and receivers to be used with adaptive devices in 4-channel.
Many retailers shopped tape for education as well as entertainment—particularly the cassette.
Dealers said that promoting the configuration as a multi-use item will stimulate sales and will bring many new consumers into this market.
TV Cartridge Interest
A surprising number of tape/ audio retailers showed interest in tv cartridge as a consumer item.
C.W. Conn said he feels the item will be a big consumer product by fall and that "by Christmas you won't be able to lay your hands on one."
Sol Polk was particularly enthusiastic over the possibilities of the configuration, but also displayed anger over the lack of standardization.
"There's absolutely no standardization here," Polk said, "and this is a disgrace. This can be a great product but we've got to have standardization. I don't care what it takes we need leadership and standard setting."
Polk offered an example from everyday life of the kind of trouble lack of standardization can cause. "Say you're on the West Coast and your wife has a baby, he said. "You want to send movies to your folks back East, so you use a system to take these movies.
But your parents have a different system and the tape won't fit."
Polk Strong TVC Booster
He added that tv cartridge could be almost a cure-all for everything, relieving boredom at home, educating someone in several hours for a new skill and also as a "keep up with the Jones" type of notion.
Polk will get involved in this market strongly, he said, but he added that he cannot stress the need for standardization enough.
While most retailers were somewhat confused at the show and while most manufacturers seemed to add to the confusion by making no attempt to solve it, dealers still went home happy for the most part. The variety was wide and prices were good, according to retailers, although there was not as much buying at the show as expected. In addition, some dealers felt the show lacked the "cohesiveness" it has enjoyed in recent years.
But the overall reaction was still one of having made a successful trip.
June 10, 1972
GE Bows New
Quad 8 System
NEW YORK-
General Electric has stepped gingerly aboard the four channel train with the release of two quadrasonic 8-track player systems, and a decoder amplifier component.
Top of the line is the SC4200, a four channel, 8-track tape player with AM/FM multiplex tuner. The system is in the discrete format, and switches automatically from quadrasonic to two channel stereo.
It carries a price tag of $299.95.
GE's Model SC4000 is also a discrete four-channel 8-track player with air suspension speakers, vertical slide controls, and headphone jacks. This unit without the AM/ FM tuner sells for $239.95.
Unit #QA40 is a decoder amplifier with three four channel functions. Used with an additional stereo amplifier, and a discrete quadrasonic equipment source, it functions as a discrete unit. It can also provide matrixed and synthesized four channel sounds. The price tag is $99.95.
Rounding off the four channel offerings is the Model SC7300 free-standing component, with AM/FM tuner, stereo 8 player, and jacks for four channel expan-sion. The price tag is $499.95.
Other units introduced include a three piece 8-track recorder/player with AM/FM multiplex tuner, built-in automatic level control, and other sundry features. It retails for $259.95.
The SC3205 is another three piece multi-mode stereo system with AM/FM tuner, 8-track player and record changer. It is tagged at $249.95.
Also unveiled was the company's Model SC3200, another three piece compact system with 8-track player, AM-FM multiplex tuner and a three-speed record changer. The package sells for $199.95.
Model SC1080 is an 8-track player with AM/FM tuner and matched speaker system. The set has a lighted slide rule dial and channel indicator lights on the tape player. It is fair traded at $129.95.
TA700 is a cassette record/ playback deck with VU meters, bias switch, dual record level controls and two mikes. Its list price is $109.95.
GE Bows New
Quad 8 System
NEW YORK-
General Electric has stepped gingerly aboard the four channel train with the release of two quadrasonic 8-track player systems, and a decoder amplifier component.
Top of the line is the SC4200, a four channel, 8-track tape player with AM/FM multiplex tuner. The system is in the discrete format, and switches automatically from quadrasonic to two channel stereo.
It carries a price tag of $299.95.
GE's Model SC4000 is also a discrete four-channel 8-track player with air suspension speakers, vertical slide controls, and headphone jacks. This unit without the AM/ FM tuner sells for $239.95.
Unit #QA40 is a decoder amplifier with three four channel functions. Used with an additional stereo amplifier, and a discrete quadrasonic equipment source, it functions as a discrete unit. It can also provide matrixed and synthesized four channel sounds. The price tag is $99.95.
Rounding off the four channel offerings is the Model SC7300 free-standing component, with AM/FM tuner, stereo 8 player, and jacks for four channel expan-sion. The price tag is $499.95.
Other units introduced include a three piece 8-track recorder/player with AM/FM multiplex tuner, built-in automatic level control, and other sundry features. It retails for $259.95.
The SC3205 is another three piece multi-mode stereo system with AM/FM tuner, 8-track player and record changer. It is tagged at $249.95.
Also unveiled was the company's Model SC3200, another three piece compact system with 8-track player, AM-FM multiplex tuner and a three-speed record changer. The package sells for $199.95.
Model SC1080 is an 8-track player with AM/FM tuner and matched speaker system. The set has a lighted slide rule dial and channel indicator lights on the tape player. It is fair traded at $129.95.
TA700 is a cassette record/ playback deck with VU meters, bias switch, dual record level controls and two mikes. Its list price is $109.95.
June 10, 1972
More Firms Into Headphones
By ANNE DUSTON
CHICAGO -
More and more firms are entering the headphone business now that retailers have discovered such audio additions mean extra business. Trends include more color, promotionally priced units and even quadrasonic headsets.
One American company has decided to buck the Japanese domination in headphones, and has developed a complete new line, domestically manufactured.
Telex introduced six stereo headsets, ranging in price from $15.95 to $59.95 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Bright colors distinguish the Models 100, 200, 300 and 400. Starting with a basic dynamic element lightweight, plastic headpiece with removable cushions, step-up features include volume control, steel yokes, fully padded headband and automatic type transducer.
Studio 2 has deeper earpiece for added response, 15-foot coil cord, and 3-16 ohm impedance. List is $59.95. Studio 1, listing at $69.95 adds sliding tone and volume con-trols. Both have surgical silicone ear cushions.
An electrostatic stereo headphone, the SE100J by Pioneer, has matching impedance of 4-16 ohms, maximum input power of 10V, and frequency range of 20-35,000 Hz.
Cable is 8 feet. This unit lists for $129.95.
Quadraphonic Headsets
The Rhinelander Sonic IV by
Sonic is adaptable to 2-channel, has snap-on padded head band and plastic casing and lists for $29.95.
A 20-watt stereo model with double volume control lists at $9.95.
A four-channel dynamic earphone having separate control box with slide controls was shown by Audiosonic. Model AS 400 lists for $49.95. The other six stereo models in the line range from $6.98 to $50.
Pickering is entering the headphone business with Model PH-4955, a dynamic stereo set listing for $59.95. Features include individual woofer and tweeter speakers with L-C crossover, foam headband cushions, and frequency of 22-20,000 Hz.
Model PH-4933 with one speaker per ear and 10-foot cord, lists at $39.95.
A knob to control the distance between ear and the driver element has been introduced by AKG on their stereo Model K-180. The cushioned, aluminum cased set retails for $69. Frequency is 16-20,000 Hz. A new featherweight model, K-150, with interchangeable
over-the-ear or doughnut design cushions, retails at $39. Range is from 20-20,000 Hz.
More Firms Into Headphones
By ANNE DUSTON
CHICAGO -
More and more firms are entering the headphone business now that retailers have discovered such audio additions mean extra business. Trends include more color, promotionally priced units and even quadrasonic headsets.
One American company has decided to buck the Japanese domination in headphones, and has developed a complete new line, domestically manufactured.
Telex introduced six stereo headsets, ranging in price from $15.95 to $59.95 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Bright colors distinguish the Models 100, 200, 300 and 400. Starting with a basic dynamic element lightweight, plastic headpiece with removable cushions, step-up features include volume control, steel yokes, fully padded headband and automatic type transducer.
Studio 2 has deeper earpiece for added response, 15-foot coil cord, and 3-16 ohm impedance. List is $59.95. Studio 1, listing at $69.95 adds sliding tone and volume con-trols. Both have surgical silicone ear cushions.
An electrostatic stereo headphone, the SE100J by Pioneer, has matching impedance of 4-16 ohms, maximum input power of 10V, and frequency range of 20-35,000 Hz.
Cable is 8 feet. This unit lists for $129.95.
Quadraphonic Headsets
The Rhinelander Sonic IV by
Sonic is adaptable to 2-channel, has snap-on padded head band and plastic casing and lists for $29.95.
A 20-watt stereo model with double volume control lists at $9.95.
A four-channel dynamic earphone having separate control box with slide controls was shown by Audiosonic. Model AS 400 lists for $49.95. The other six stereo models in the line range from $6.98 to $50.
Pickering is entering the headphone business with Model PH-4955, a dynamic stereo set listing for $59.95. Features include individual woofer and tweeter speakers with L-C crossover, foam headband cushions, and frequency of 22-20,000 Hz.
Model PH-4933 with one speaker per ear and 10-foot cord, lists at $39.95.
A knob to control the distance between ear and the driver element has been introduced by AKG on their stereo Model K-180. The cushioned, aluminum cased set retails for $69. Frequency is 16-20,000 Hz. A new featherweight model, K-150, with interchangeable
over-the-ear or doughnut design cushions, retails at $39. Range is from 20-20,000 Hz.
