Exploring Billboard for Quadraphonic Information

[Old Quad Guy]

December 16, 1972

'SQ’ Invades
German Mart

By CLAUDE HALL

NEW YORK
SQ, the quadrasonic matrix system backed by Sony and CBS Records, invaded the European continent last week as EMI Records affiliate, Electrola Gesellschaft, unveiled 15 releases in Germany. Pierre Bourdain, director of product management for the SQ system, and Joe Dash, director of SQ hardware licensing for the CBS Group, pointed out that EMI, not counting its product through Capitol Records, has released 30 titles. The label had earlier released 15 titles in the United Kingdom.
Through Capitol, EMI has seven releases in quadra-sonic in the U.S. CBS itself is planning almost 30 new SQ releases, classical and popular, within the next three months and is striving for simultaneous release in stereo and quadrasonic. In classical music, Bourdain said, CBS is issuing product almost simultaneously in stereo and SQ "or quadrasonic within 30 days after the stereo album comes out."
In classical music, quadrasonic represents 25 percent of the sales, Bourdain said, and in October, for example. the ratio was as high as 50-80 percent on some releases.

Catalog ‘Q' Hot

In popular music, such as albums by Santana or Ray Conniff, especially product that has been out a while, the 4-channel version is either outselling or approaching the stereo sales of specific items, Bourdain said. "On a reorder basis of older stuff that long ago reached its peak in stereo sales, orders are running four or five to one in
favor of the quadrasonic version.
Dash said that what intrigued him was that the consumer today had many product forms- disk, cassette, 8-track cartridge and even reel-to-reel, "but what's fascinating is that he's going out of his way at the retail level to choose the quadrasonic disk." Part of the reason, he felt, was that two manufacturers already have SQ hardware units out with full logic applications; meaning, better definition of direction on sounds. And an integrated chip (IC) logic unit will begin filtering down to equipment manufacturers in January.
"I expect the Consumer Electronics Show in June 10 be swamped with SQ hardware from various manufacturers," Dash said.
The two firms that have already marketed matrix units with fuil logic SQ are Lafayette with its LR 1000 and Sony with its SQD 2000 and SQD 2020. Dash said that the LR 1000 is the most expensive unit
Lafayette has at "around $500* and
"it's selling like hotcakes." The SOD 2000 is sold out at $299 and Sony's SQD 2020 will be about $250.
"Based on production plans, I expect a dozen or more manufacturers will have full logic units on the market in 1973." Dash said The winter CBS 1972-73 record catalog features almost 200 titles on 16 international labels. Bourdain and Dash said that quadrasonic, including SQ disks and cartridges, has accounted for more than $4 million in business for CBS in the U.S.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

December 16, 1972

Mass Retailers
Joins ‘Q’ Push

By BOB KIRSCH

LOS ANGELES-
If newspaper advertising is any indication of popularity or manufacturer and dealer confidence, then 4-channel hardware should be getting set for its most profitable holiday season yet in Southern California.
While audio specialty shops have been advertising the configuration for two years now, this Christmas season finds a greater variety of merchandise being offered than in the two previous years.
Perhaps of greater significance is the fact that it is not only the audio specialists showing their wares to the average reader; it is the traditional department store as well as the giant mass merchandising outlets such as K-Mart.
Ads this year also cover a wide range of 4-channel product, including all matrix disk systems, cartridges for discrete hardware, matrix 8-track decks, a variety of 4-channel receivers, 4-channel reel-to-reel tape decks, demodulators and a number of other products including 8-track and disk software.
Perhaps the most ambitious retailer in this field is Federated Electronics. The four store group, recently took a center spread in a daily edition of the Los Angeles Times headlined
"Federated, the Quadfather." The ad offered two 4-channel receivers from Pioneer, the QX-4000 at $349.95 and the QX-8000A at $549.95, both with AM-FM, SQ, matrix, discrete and
standard stereo controls.
Other products in the spread included: the Sony SQD 400, touted as "the 4 channel compact system that does it all," handling both matrix and discrete at $349.95; the Sony SOR 6650 4-channel receiver at $399.95 with "SQ," a matrix decoder system Sony helped invent; and two Sanyo 4-channel 8-track car units, the FT 864 at $99.95 and the FT 888 at $59.95.

Discrete Disk

Other products in the ad included a section titled "The world of JVC discrete 4 channel sound, the purest yet," featuring the subcaption, "The JVC discrete 4-channal system. The perfect 4-channel system is now available and Federated has it, the pure sound of CD-4 discrete Quadraphonic sound. Come in and ask for a demonstration." In the section are featured the JVC 4-channel receiver with S.E.A. at $499.95; a 4-channel/ 2-channel 8-track deck at $199.95; a 4-channel/2-channel stereo cartridge at $69.95 "designed to pick up the discrete message in the record grooves"; and the JVC disk demodulator at $99.95, telling the consumer that this is needed in the CD-4 discrete system.
Other products include the Akai 1800 DSS reel-to-reel 4-channel deck at $399.95, the Akai CR80 8-track 4-channel/2-channel deck at $199.95, two Sansui 4-channel receivers, the six at $389.95 and the seven at $459.95, the EV 2 and EV III systems in compact combinations at $429 and $649 as well as the EV I.
The ad is not only complete in its descriptions of each model, such as what is matrix, discrete, SQ matrix and whether it is compatible, it features a statement reading,
"We wouldn't offer the above quadrasonic equipment without L.A.'s largest selection of 4 channel records and tapes. See it all. Columbia SQ, RCA Q8, Project 3, and so on."
In the Sunday edition of the Times, in a software ad, Federated captioned the "Tommy" LP on Ode with, "Ask for a 4-channel demonstration of this album, we'll be happy to oblige."
Other audio specialty shops are also pushing 4-channel. Pacific Stereo with 11 locations in the area ran a spread in the Sunday paper offering among other items the Masterwork SQ440 4-channel receiver with 8-track deck along with the Masterwork SQ40 decoder and four Masterwork speakers at $199.95. The ad invites the consumer to "Come in right away and hear SQ-encoded demonstration records.”
Dow Sound City, with five locations in the Southern California area, advertised the Marantz Quadradial 4 AM-FM receiver for $399.95, saying that "Everyone knew when Marantz jumped into four channel it would be a receiver that really cooked."
University Stereo, with seven locations in the area, offered the Sanyo DCA 1500X decoder,
"The music source can be a 2 or 4-channel stereo tape, SQ 4 channel record or FM stereo broadcast," at $87.

Mass Outlets

Robinson's, a traditional department store, is advertising the Panasonic line of 4-channel equipment, including the "Whitney" receiver at $199.95, the "Anandale" 4-channel 8-track
"home entertainment center” at $399.95 and the "Laderdale” 4-channel deck at $144.95.
The language in this ad is less technical than that in specialty shop ads and not quite as detailed, but 4-channel is mentioned constantly and the sound is described as "surround."
The giant K Mart chain is also pushing the configuration in the L.A. area, headlining a full page, "K Mart presents matrix Quad!"
The ad refers to the Claricon 4-channel deck with 8-track at $169.88, refers to 4-channel as "the new dimension in sound" and offers a brief, layman's description of how 4-channel is recorded, as well as listing the features of the unit and the 32 K Mart locations in the area. "Just in time for Christmas" is a side caption to the ad.
Two other discount department chains, White Front and odys also displayed quadrasonic in the Sunday Times. White Front advertised the Sanyo DCX2500K receiver as "an expandable receiver. . . in that it is designed for simple upgrading to a 4-channel stereo system." Zodys presented the Sansui OR 1500 receiver with built-in decoder for matrixed 4-channel broadcasts and records, synthesizer for converting standard stereo broadcasts, records and tapes to 4-channel” There are 27 Zodys in the area.
Wallichs Music City, which combines software and hardware, both in wide varieties, offered the Panasonic Series 44, saying, "If it's 4-channel, this system can play it. It's the newest thing in home listening. Four channels of sound. Played through four separate speakers. A whole new experience in sound reproduction. But before you buy a new 4-channel system, find out what it can play." The ad goes on to say these systems can play all 4-channel material plus stereo software.
Four-channel was heavily advertised last year, of course, and throughout this year, but there appears to be more of an attempt to gain mass appeal than in previous years. While ads differ according to store, with specialty shops going into more technical detail and mass merchants and department stores more likely to offer basic information, all offer pictures and the swing to 4-channel is still present.
Not to be overlooked, of course is the fact that an ad for 4-channel may well draw consumers into the store who, even if they don't purchase a quadrasonic system may buy another product. This also holds true for outlets advertising 4-channel software, and there is also more 4-channel disk and tape software available.
In any case, stores are now treating the configuration as a mass consumer item, and this step has been a long time coming for quadrasonic.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

December 23, 1972

Vox to Bow New Series;
Plans First 'Q' Product

NEW YORK-
Vox Productions, long established classical record firm, will initiate a new series and enter the quadrasonic market in March.
The new series, consisting of an initial kickoff of a five-LP set, will be a variation of the Vox packages but will contain representative repertoire accenting the composer and will be titled,
"The World of. . .”
Selections will differ from the "Best of" concept, according to Vox president George Mendelsohn.
A booklet is included reflecting the material of the album and its accent on the composer as an artist.
E.J. Korvette, Mendelsohn said, has been testing the series, and is currently running the package in its stores. The set has no suggested
list.
The bowing of quadrasonic product will either be on Turnabout or on Candide and will consist initially of four albums. These include works by Chopin, Tchaikowsky and Debussy.
The LP's will be in compatible matrix and will carry a list price of $1 over the regular price.
Vox had a 15 percent increase in sales this year, compared to last. year's figures, Mendelsohn said.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

December 23, 1972

Compacts Spark RCA Push;
To Mfr. 8-Tracks Domestically

NEW YORK
RCA has introduced a group of compact stereo systems that include both 8-track and cassette players and a new stereo enhancement feature. At the same time, the firm announced that soon all 8-track units will be manufactured domestically.
The group is part of a full line of audio and television products released by the company as part of a massive first quarter 1973 push on the consumer electronics market.
Also introduced were a portable AC/DC cassette player recorder, a top-of-the-line AM/FM portable radio, and two apartment sized stereo phonograph credenzas with built-in 8-track players.
The enhanced stereo feature is called "Dimensia IV," and RCA has labeled the enhanced stereo effect "Spatial Sound."
According to William H. An-derson, division vice president, marketing, RCA Consumer Elec-tronics, four of the five new compact stereo models, feature "Dimensia IV” enhanced stereo capability. Two of the new four-piece systems have built-in 8-track players, and one has a cassette recorder/player.
Models include the VYC-210 with a pair of 10½×13½ inch speakers, and carries an optional retail price of $169.95. A matching rollabout stand and earphones are optional extras.
The VYC-220 is a step-up phono-tuner model with an optional retail price of $189.95. It features separate bass and treble controls and 10½×19½ inch speakers.
The VYC-520 adds an 8-track tape deck to the quality features of the VYC-220 and carries an optional list price of $229.95 while the VYC-720 with an optional retail price of $279.95 offers the recording and playback capabilities of a built-in cassette unit. Both feature 10½×13½ inch speakers.
RCA's VYC-525 is a four-piece system with AM/FM radio, record changer and 8-track tape player at an optional list price of $179.95.

The new RCA "Dimensia IV" stereo enhancement feature is also incorporated in two new RCA apartment-size stereo credenzas.
They are the Randolph (VTZ-111) and the Ortega (VTZ-112), both units are 40 inches long, and feature a furniture look in cabinets.
Optionally listed at $269.95, both the Early American Randolph, in maple finish, and the Spanish style Ortega, in a choice of pecan or oak, have built-in 8-track players.
Completing the audio products offered are the YZB-527 portable cassette player/recorder which operates on standard house current or four "C" batteries. With an optional retail guide price range of $59.95 to $64.95, the YZB-527 comes with microphone, mike stand, neck cord and blank cassette.
An earphone is also provided for private listening.
The RZC-379 is a new top-of-the-line AM/FM table radio with wood cabinet, sealed speaker, sliding volume and tone controls. Optional retail price is $89.95.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

If you think Earth, Wind & Fire is tough, wait until you hear their
"Mom.”

Earth, Wind & Fire is a powerful mixture of low-down, stretched-out music. And "Mom” is their incredible single that's already picked up major air play in 10 of the largest markets across the country. From New York to Los Angeles. And every big stop in between.
"Mom" It's fast becoming a mother.
On Columbia Records

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[jaybird100]

December 23, 1972

Vox to Bow New Series;
Plans First 'Q' Product

NEW YORK-
Vox Productions, long established classical record firm, will initiate a new series and enter the quadrasonic market in March.
The new series, consisting of an initial kickoff of a five-LP set, will be a variation of the Vox packages but will contain representative repertoire accenting the composer and will be titled,
"The World of. . .”
Selections will differ from the "Best of" concept, according to Vox president George Mendelsohn.
A booklet is included reflecting the material of the album and its accent on the composer as an artist.
E.J. Korvette, Mendelsohn said, has been testing the series, and is currently running the package in its stores. The set has no suggested
list.
The bowing of quadrasonic product will either be on Turnabout or on Candide and will consist initially of four albums. These include works by Chopin, Tchaikowsky and Debussy.
The LP's will be in compatible matrix and will carry a list price of $1 over the regular price.
Vox had a 15 percent increase in sales this year, compared to last. year's figures, Mendelsohn said.

It's interesting that say the records will be in "compatible matrix", when the records were labeled as QS-encoded. Since the recordings are front-direct, rear ambient, it would seem they would sound fairly good through SQ systems, too, but MMG, Vox's parent company, opted for QS.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 13, 1973

General News

Compatible 'Q' Sparks
15-LP Bluesway Revival

By NAT FREEDLAND

LOS ANGELES
ABC-Dunhill is reactivating its Bluesway label with a 15-album January release, featuring such artists as B.B. King, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed and T-Bone Walker.
Fifteen more Bluesway releases are planned for June or July.
The new Bluesway line has very few direct reissues of previous albums. Rather, the current albums concentrate on highlights of an artist's entire Bluesway output. The label was founded in 1966 by Bob Thiele and taken over in 1970 by Ed Michel, shortly before ABC deactivated it. Masters for some 45 LPs are currently available in the Bluesway catalog.
However, all new Bluesway releases are entirely remixed from the original masters, with every contemporary studio technique available used to clean up the tape sound. In fact, Michel, who is also chief producer of ABC's Impulse jazz line, has remixed five of the 15 new releases in compatible quadrasonic disk sound. This follows Michel's Impulse policy of releasing all applicable new jazz disks in four-channel without raising the list price.
The entire revamped Bluesway line is to list for $4.98.
"The new mixes, using Dolby and all the other filters, simply sound better than the original releases,” said Michel. "If a master was done on as few as four tracks and the artist had sufficient commercial potential, I would make a quadrasonic mix. I would not mislead the buyer by attempting to encode a two-track master onto four channels.”

ABC's decision to revive Bluesway was made in November and followed the company's surprise success with its budget classical line, Westminster Gold. ABC-Dunhill president Jay Laker believed a low-priced blues line could do equally well.
Michel hopes that response to the line will be strong enough to support 20 remixed repackaged albums annually plus 10 entirely new Bluesway albums. This program of course involves signing active blues artists as well as leases or purchases of masters from other labels.
Steve Backer, national promotion and merchandising director for Impulse and Bluesway, said that a sampler album with complete songs from most of the first 15 label albums will also be released in January, probably listed in retail stores at $1.98.
This Bluesway sampler will, in addition, be offered to progressive stations in some 15 key markets, as a promotional disk. The sampler is to be sold direct-mail via radio spots for $1 or $1.25, with all profits going to a local charity picked by the broadcaster. A similar campaign with an Impulse avant-garde jazz sampler proved quite successful.
Also in consideration is a Bluesway night at this summer's Montreux Jazz Festival, in conjunction with the Impulse Night already set. Backer stated that Bluesway will support public appearances at festivals and elsewhere by its artists to the greatest extent feasible.

 

[jaybird100]

January 13, 1973

General News

Compatible 'Q' Sparks
15-LP Bluesway Revival

By NAT FREEDLAND

LOS ANGELES
ABC-Dunhill is reactivating its Bluesway label with a 15-album January release, featuring such artists as B.B. King, Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed and T-Bone Walker.
Fifteen more Bluesway releases are planned for June or July.
The new Bluesway line has very few direct reissues of previous albums. Rather, the current albums concentrate on highlights of an artist's entire Bluesway output. The label was founded in 1966 by Bob Thiele and taken over in 1970 by Ed Michel, shortly before ABC deactivated it. Masters for some 45 LPs are currently available in the Bluesway catalog.
However, all new Bluesway releases are entirely remixed from the original masters, with every contemporary studio technique available used to clean up the tape sound. In fact, Michel, who is also chief producer of ABC's Impulse jazz line, has remixed five of the 15 new releases in compatible quadrasonic disk sound. This follows Michel's Impulse policy of releasing all applicable new jazz disks in four-channel without raising the list price.
The entire revamped Bluesway line is to list for $4.98.
"The new mixes, using Dolby and all the other filters, simply sound better than the original releases,” said Michel. "If a master was done on as few as four tracks and the artist had sufficient commercial potential, I would make a quadrasonic mix. I would not mislead the buyer by attempting to encode a two-track master onto four channels.”

ABC's decision to revive Bluesway was made in November and followed the company's surprise success with its budget classical line, Westminster Gold. ABC-Dunhill president Jay Laker believed a low-priced blues line could do equally well.
Michel hopes that response to the line will be strong enough to support 20 remixed repackaged albums annually plus 10 entirely new Bluesway albums. This program of course involves signing active blues artists as well as leases or purchases of masters from other labels.
Steve Backer, national promotion and merchandising director for Impulse and Bluesway, said that a sampler album with complete songs from most of the first 15 label albums will also be released in January, probably listed in retail stores at $1.98.
This Bluesway sampler will, in addition, be offered to progressive stations in some 15 key markets, as a promotional disk. The sampler is to be sold direct-mail via radio spots for $1 or $1.25, with all profits going to a local charity picked by the broadcaster. A similar campaign with an Impulse avant-garde jazz sampler proved quite successful.
Also in consideration is a Bluesway night at this summer's Montreux Jazz Festival, in conjunction with the Impulse Night already set. Backer stated that Bluesway will support public appearances at festivals and elsewhere by its artists to the greatest extent feasible.

They omitted the fact that these new Bluesway titles were QS-encoded. Somehow, I think that would have been important.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 6, 1973

Chicago Retailers, Stations
Push Sansui 'Q'

CHICAGO
An unprecedented amount of 4-channel broadcasting backed up by an equally unprecedented sponsorship from audio retailers is set for this market. At least five stations have either started programming or have announced plans and on two nights each week two stations will beam quadrasonic at the same hour. Most of the programming is rock and all of it utilizes Sansui equipment.
“We thought it was better to hold off until after Christmas," said Allan Marcus, of Sansui's New York office, “because Christmas has a momentum of its own. The problem is keeping that momentum going.”
WFMT-FM, the classical station and generally regarded as the pioneer in 4-channel locally, has been broadcasting regularly on Wednesday nights a two-hour program featuring the Boston Symphony. The symphony furnishes WFM-FM with Sansui encoded material, a station spokesman said. Sansui sponsored the 8 p.m. program for much of 1972.
Starting Dec. 27 for 14 weeks, WGLD-FM, progressive rocker in Oak Park, bowed an 8-9 p.m. show sponsored by Musicraft, a four-unit audio chain. WGLD-FM spokesmen said material has been transferred from RCA discrete 8-track tapes and other sources onto Sansui encoded tapes. He said the station has few Sansui encoded disks.
Two other head-on 8 p.m. broadcasts both on progressive rock outlets are the Sansui and Tech Hi-Fi show Thursday night over WXFM-FM, or Triad radio, and the Playback show starting Jan. 4 over WBBM-FM (see photo). It was noted that Thursday night is ideal because audio stores are open then. Tech has four outlets here.
One of the most energetic efforts occurred Dec. 14 when Downers Grove Tech Hi-Fi manager Bruce Twickler attempted a comparison of live vs broadcast 4-channel only to have the group set to appear in the store fail to show up. The broadcast, Twickler, noted, came off beautifully.
Ovation Records president Dick Schory said that the current schedules would likely be expanded to "several hours" and that he expects at least one station here, perhaps more, to go full-time with quadrasonic broadcasting. "We will have more product in the first two months of this year than in all of last year," he said, mentioning three sound effects disks, four albums on Black Jazz, three double-pocket LP's and five more new Ovation packages. All are 4-channel Sansui encoded product.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 6, 1973

Buyer Focus on 'Q'
During Jan. Shows

By BOB KIRSCH

LOS ANGELES -
While product introduction at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show and the Independent Home Entertainment show may not be as heavy as play given equipment at the June CES, major retailers will be paying extra attention to 4-channel, looking particularly for mode compatibility and additional software.
Retailers will also be watching for other relatively new, higher-end merchandise, such as cassette decks with noise reduction systems and 8-track decks with record capability, as well as compatible stereo-4-channel components.
Four-channel is probably the greatest interest point for most dealers visiting the shows. It is becoming increasingly important for units to feature compatibility of discrete and matrix and as well to handle the different matrix modes, CBS' SQ and Sansui's QS, principally. There is little or no problem in tape, since this is a discrete form. The trouble, if that is the word, is in 4-channel disks.
At the moment, matrix has the edge in disk software in the U.S. market, with SQ enjoying a long lead in having product in the marketplace. A recent announcement from CBS stated there are 200 titles on 16 international labels.
Sansui encoded labels, however, have been adding titles steadily.
A spokesman said that as of Dec. 1, 1972, here were 70 titles encoded for QS on six labels (11 labels if subsidiary lines are counted).
Discrete disks are still the rarest form, at least in the U.S. In Japan, there is a more solid move to discrete, with a recent study showing 119 available (see separate story). More discrete disks from RCA are promised for the U.S.
For the present, though, with the disk systems still in a state of flux, dealers feel it is important that a 4-channel unit be able to handle at least two and preferably all of the 4-channel models. Another important reason behind this is 4-channel, FM broadcasting.
Should discrete FM broadcasting begin on a large scale basis, the discrete capability in receivers becomes doubly important.
Another important point, perhaps the most important from the dealer's angle, is the consumer.
The dealer does not want to confuse the consumer nor does he want to chance selling a system that may soon become obsolete.
The average consumer has become more knowledgeable in 4-channel during the past year, and he has heard about discrete, matrix and SQ. He also wants stereo, since this will still be a prime source for some time. Dealers also feel that the consumer wants 4-channel at a reasonable price, and will be looking for a price point as well as the above mentioned features.

Need Disks

"We're looking forward to the opportunity of seeing what is happening in 4-channel equipment," said David Rothfeld, Korvette vice president, divisional merchandise manager.
“A lot of the 4-channel future hinges on software. There is a good selection of quadrasonic material on tape now, but we need more disk. This could be a very important factor in giving 4-channel more exposure, especially to the youth market. But I sec 4-channel as a very lucrative market.”
Rothfeld pointed out that Korvette's has displays in its record and tape departments inviting people to hear and see 4-channel, the new sound system, but also added that “lack of standardization is confusing the consumer. We need compatibility and one price on all records.”
As for other equipment, he sees the Dolby System helping cassette sales and said he will be looking for this as well as more 8-track decks with record capability.
Sol Polk of Polk Bros. in Chicago will be looking at "4-channel" with some form of compatibility or standardization included. We will be evaluating all of the systems, but we will be looking for more mid-range priced units. We expect to see competitive prices because of the great competition in
4-channel now, and we'll also be looking for more ways to display 4-channel.”
In other areas of tape and audio, Polk will be looking at cassette decks with noise reduction systems, component systems in both 4-channel and stereo, cassettes with automatic reverse, wireless speakers and new display materials.
Another West Coast buyer said, "There is a lot happening in 4-channel now, and I'm glad we have these shows to get an idea of what will be coming up. I'm going to be looking primarily at units that combine discrete and matrix." In other areas of tape and audio, stereo compacts, cassettes with noise reduction and units with condenser mikes will be important to this buyer.
The most noticeable trend among buyers attending the two shows is that stereo, for the first time, actually taking a back seat to 4-channel in buying priority. In June,
4-channel was important, but most buyers said they were looking for stereo with 4-channel capability.
Now, the situation is reversed.
Buyers are looking at 4-channel equipment that can handle discrete and matrix systems. Buyers do not want to see a consumer buy a unit that will soon become obsolete, so they do feel that 4-channel is important and strictly stereo material is not the priority. On the other hand, they recognize that the majority of consumers still own stereo systems and the majority of their software is stereo. Thus, they will want 4-channel units that handle and enhance regular stereo.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 6, 1973

Big Automatic
Radio Drive

By RADCLIFFE JOE

MELROSE, Mass. -
Automatic Radio has launched a major promotion campaign on its recently released 100 Series of stereo sound systems for the car. Six advance units are in the line, which is being pushed under the theme,
Family of Stereo Sound Products.
The firm has also released a quadrasonic tape player, a stereo tape player with AM-FM-MPX radio, and an AM-FM stereo radio, all designed for use in the auto-mobile.
According to George Lyall, Automatic Radio's marketing director, the 100 Series, which can be installed under the dash of most include Model SPA-5000, Model SPB-5001, Model SPC-5002, Model SPD-5003, Model SPE-5004, Model SPF-5005.
Automatic Radio's "Grand Boss 104” is Model SPE-5004, and Lyall pointed out that it was the top of the line and featured 8-track player with built-in FM Multiplex radio and "Theft-Control" mounting bracket.
Said Lyall, "We have incorporated the latest state of the art advances into the SPE-5004 using ultramodern circuitry, phantom slide-rule dial, easy access control panel, a stereo headphone jack, push-button channel selector, program repeat circuit, fine tuning and fast forward controls, a push-button cartridge ejector, instant response slide-bar controls, and an FM stereo program indicator.
Final in the Series 100 line is Model SPF-5005, designated the
"Stock 105.” This unit, according to Lyall incorporates an 8-track auto stereo tape player with AM radio. Like its counterparts in the series, it features instant response slide bar controls, an illuminated slide rule dial scale, thumb wheel radio tuning, new easy access control panel and a push-button channel selector with lights.
Automatic Radio is building its promotional push for the series around the theme, "Family of Stereo Sound Products,” which will be used on all media ads, point-of-purchase displays, posters and other promotional aids being developed to merchandise the products.
Automatic Radio's quadrasonic tape player for the car is also new to the firm's catalog. This Model QME-2445 is a discrete unit featuring instant response slide bar controls, a tape program repeat button, a fine tuning control for the elimination of crosstalk, a program selector with lights and four individual speaker balance controls.
The unit, the first 4-channel system to join Automatic Radio's family of automotive tape player systems, measures 7¾ inches deep by 8½ inches wide by 27 inches high. It is being supplied complete with mounting speakers, and can be operated in most cars on a 12-volt negative ground power supply.
Also new from Automatic Radio is its Universal auto stereo tape player with AM/FM/MPX radio which can be installed in the dash of most cars. Lyall explained that adjustable shafts facilitate custom installation, and a universal trim-plate provides a decorative touch.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 20, 1972

Holzman Throws WEA's
Weight Behind Discrete

By CLAUDE HALL

LOS ANGELES -
The WEA group of labels--Warner Bros., Elektra, and Atlantic Records--is committing itself to the discrete quadrasonic system it has been learned. Jac Holzman, president of Elektra, is the head of a special committee of engineers and executives from three labels which has been researching quadrasonic and last week told distributors and executives at the label's second annual sales convention in Phoenix that a direction would be
аnnounced shortly.
At one point, the WEA group was on the verge of going to the Sansui matrix system and had called a press conference to announce the fact, but then called it suddenly off.
The main concern, according to Holzman, was in providing potential quadrasonic record consumers the very best system possible. Feeling an enormous moral obligation to the public, Holzman and his team spent several months in research. A valid reason, also, for the research was to make sure that his group of labels also had the best system possible. It is known that he was under considerable pressure from all of the various systems, both discrete and matrix, to take the WEA group to quadra-sonic.
Holzman was still refusing to confirm at press time that WEA would go discrete. Much earlier, he had said that because of the weight of the pop hits created and marketed by the WEA group, any system the group chose might have strong effect in the marketplace toward swinging the industry to that particular concept of quadrasonic.
RCA records is the only label with discrete quadrasonic records on the market in the U.S. although there have been test pressing of other labels circulating among various executives in the record industry. RCA has been cutting masters for discrete records a process that currently still has to be done at half speed-and should be releasing a bevy of discrete records in the near future.
Last week at the Elektra convention, Holzman said that quadrasonic "is inevitable. It's coming, but we don't want to be forced to issue records that don't meet our own standards. Unless we get into quadrasonic soon, we won't be able to encourage our artists and producers to move into this new field. Quadrasonic is in your future.”
RCA has a total of seven discrete albums in production. More than a dozen more should be hitting the market soon. At present, there is only one cutting machine in New York. The next cutting machine, an RCA spokesman said, should be operating in the next few months.
In Japan, the JVC company already has about 130 releases available in the marketplace. Normally, these sell for a higher price than ordinary stereo. RCA's main emphasis has been in keeping the discrete price at the same as stereo.
What price line WEA will take is not known.
Further details on the WEA move should be announced shortly.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 27, 1973

RCA Speeds
Elvis' TV LP

NEW YORK
RCA Records is rushing the release of "Elvis: Aloha From Hawaii, via Satellite," recorded during Elvis Presley's television special broadcast via satellite from Honolulu on Jan. 14.
The two-record set was taken from a show viewed throughout the Far East and slated for screening here as an NBC-TV special, as well as in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Canada. The potential audience for the program, following its various broadcasts, has been estimated at one billion people.
The album release will also be a Quadradisc, with compatible stereo/discrete four-channel sound.
With world-wide advanced orders reported by RCA to exceed more than one million units,
Reports on audience shares for the special in the various Far Eastern markets ranged from Nippon Television Network's report of a poll showing 37.8 percent of all television viewers; to a figure of 91.8 percent of the viewing audience, reported by Salvatore Tam. general manager for KBS-TV in Manila, the Philippines, which also broadcast the program.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 27, 1973

CBS's Kavan-
‘Q' LP Surge;
Sees TV Link

By BOB KIRSCH

CHICAGO-
The early efforts of CBS in the 4-channel marketplace are paying off, according to Stan Kavan, vice president of planning and diversification for Columbia Records.
Kavan said at the Consumer Electronics Show here that there will soon be simultaneous release of stereo and SQ disks, that catalog items set for conversion are now almost completed and that logic gain application will soon be available for units using the SQ matrix system.
Kavan also noted that he sees a coexistence between discrete and matrix quadrasonic systems for sometime to come, talked of the possible future relationship between SQ and video disk systems and added that it is important to avoid a battle between the different types of 4-channel systems.
In addition, Kavan talked of several promotions involving SQ, some of which are under way and some planned for the near future.
"When cumulative sales of pop records are in," Kavan said, "we are finding that SQ is accounting for between 20 and 25 percent of the total sales." I'm not talking about the initial release, but after several months. We also expect that somewhere in the area of a million hardware units with SQ capability (the firm has 52 licensees) will be sold in 1973, and that a strong market reality for SQ and 4-channel on the whole is appearing.
"Now that our catalog is almost converted," Kavan added, "we are planning simultaneous release of stereo and SQ disks. By this, I refer to simultaneous release of record and tape. There will be some difference in time, but it will be slight.
Talking about the logic gain application in SQ hardware units, Kavan pointed out that this “is available now in some units, such as Sony and Lafayette product, and will soon be available in
others." Columbia demonstrated a unit with this application at its suite during the show.
The coexistence seen by Kavan for the various 4-channel system is
the high-end and also through the fact that many hardware firms are incorporating both SQ matrix and discrete capability into their units now. Coexistence can't be a forever concept," Kavan added, "and in the end, the system that will be favored will be the one to offer the creative and commercial needs of the marketplace best.
In talking about the relationship between SQ and video disk units, Kavan said. "While in a sense unrelated as products now, the looming commercial realities of the video disk could have a meaningful impact on the coexisting growth of 4-channel. Hardware manufacturers will clearly move as soon as the systems are ready. Since some of the video disk concepts can also provide a 4-channel compatibility, how many options will they be able to include? Manufacturers are going to have to be conscious of price points and in my judgment these longer term business considerations will have a favorable effect for the SQ system. It is here now."
Kavan also noted that the dealers who are doing the most successful job with 4-channel are those who have wedded the hardware and the software and those who have been involved and interested in the 4-channel market place from its inception.
"SQ is a viable system," he continued, "because we have it now, we can convert stereo to quadrasonic without quality loss and it is working out well from a technical and dealer standpoint. It is also important, however, to avoid a battle between the systems. This is not what we are looking for, nor are we in adversary of any struggle.”
Kavan pointed out that Capitol will soon release seven or eight more SQ disks and that Vanguard now has more than 30 and is announcing more.
In addition, Columbia and its family of labels have some 100 titles in SQ.
Among several promotions going or ready are a demo SQ record now in the stores, the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra which was recorded in the round and will be issued in March in an SQ cover with a different design than the familiar gold banner and highlights of the Bernstein Mass which will be available in the next few weeks.
Columbia is urging dealers to put the Bernstein and Bartok disks in bins allotted to the composer's as well as in special SQ bins.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

January 27, 1973

Chicago Shows Bright Forecast

By EARL PAIGE and BOB KIRSCH

CHICAGO
The acceptability
of 4-channel as a reality in the hardware marketplace and the solid promise that television cartridge systems are commercially feasible emerged as two dominant themes at the winter consumer electronics shows here.
As will be noted in additional coverage in this issue, the first combination of a winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and the long-established Independent Home Entertainment (HE) brought together over 250 exhibitors and myriad other themes and trends.
• Four-channel: buyers are for the first time really aware of the difference between matrix systems and discrete systems. More and more hardware accommodates both. The feeling, brought out in seminars and on the floor is that the two concepts will develop in parallel, and that what is needed is to sell the total concent of 4-channel rather than confuse the consumer over the differences.
• Video: it was the first time buyers could see two different systems emerging in the potential mass market areas. Cartrivision,
already in the marketplace via Scars, Wards, Admiral and Teledyne Packard-Bell, is now being joined by RCA, which promises a play and record system this year at $7.95. Packard Bell introduced the first 19-in. size TV with Cartrivision feature at under $1,000.
• Blank tape: with the exception of Ampex and possibly a few others, there was a lack of new product but more emphasis than ever on packaging, display and merchandising.
There were less and less cheapie cassettes. Also, more firms are promoting blank 8-track. Too, there is more activity at the audiophile and through introduction of higher density iron oxide bases as alternatives to cobalt-doped and chromium dioxide coatings.
• Car equipment: 4-channel 8-track in the car is more and more recognized as giving a boost to quadrasonic in the home. Car stereo is no longer a price industry, as quality is much more evident.
There were special buys, but overall, less and less $29.95 and $39.95 machines. Also car cassette has reemerged, even to the point where Craig introduced the first auto unit with Dolhy feature.
• Record feature 8-tracks: definitely a trend with firms such as Panasonic and GE both showing awareness of its popularity.
• 8-track changers: MGA and RCA both bowed units as yet another indication of 8-track's growing position in hame enter-tainment.
• Store display: many more firms exhibited, many such as Cesco Mfg. for the first time.
Buyers are still hung-up over tape and seeking compromises between the totally locked security case and one offering some degree of handing by the consumer.
• Budget, cut-out tape: Sution Records exhibited for the first time at both IHE and the Navy Pier shows. Pickwick emphasized bright packaging and merchandising shippers.
• Accessories; probably the
fastest growing segment in the shows. Speakers ranged all the way from the audiophile models of Electrostatic Sound Systems to designs such as Rahm's which are both lamps and speakers. Headphones popped up everywhere with Koss launching a promotion built around a mobile demonstration van that will tour the U.S. Tape carrying cases and storage units were another example of the burgeoning audio equipment scene.
• Buying groups, new organizations: there were more reports of new cooperative buying groups at the shows this year, some organizing in the wake of the Marta Cooperative breakup. Catalog
showroom buying groups were also more active. The newly-organized National Association of Catalog Showroom Merchandisers scheduled a meeting here as did the recently-formed Mass Merchandisers Distributors Association.