Exploring Billboard for Quadraphonic Information

[Old Quad Guy]

March 31, 1973

Sansui Forging
U.S. QS Link

By CLAUDE HALL

PARIS-
Sansui is launching a major campaign to swing the U.S. hardware and software industry to its QS matrix system. The first step began last week with the arrival from Japan of a licensing representative, Jack Muroi of Sansui, who will be signing up equipment manufacturers.
Starting in May, the second phase gets underway as Sansui starts a vast educational program.
John Mosely, consultant engineer to Sansui and owner of Ferber Studios in Paris, said that Sansui already has a book on quadrasonic available for sound engineers, "but the firm is now preparing two more manuals one of a semi-technical nature for salesmen in record and hardware stores and the other for the general public to inform them of what's available in regards to quadrasonic sound." These two additional manuals will be out by May and distributed by Sansui.
Also in May, Sansui will launch a series of educational meetings and demonstrations in key cities. Dealers from both hardware and software will be invited to hear the Sansui QS system and ask questions. The first meeting will be held in Los Angeles right after the annual convention of the Audio Engineering Society.
"But, within the year we expect to have meetings in every major city in the U.S. and Europe,” Mosely said. "Representatives of Sansui in Japan will be holding similar meetings there.
"We don't intend to get into a dollar fight with CBS or RCA on our various systems. We plan to spend our money in such a way as to help people the most, especially the record and equipment-buying people who keep us in business."
To illustrate Sansui's commitment to the public, he said, the firm “will modify and/or update early
Sansui equipment.
People will be able to send their early equipment back and get new circuitry put in at very modest charges to bring their units totally up-to-date for quadrasonic. Sansui takes its obligations to the public very seriously."
New Sansui units, Mosely pointed out, have discrete capabilities . . .
"I'm speaking of the X series. You can put sounds anywhere in a 360-degree radius and can also put sounds inside the circle. Thus the Sansui system fulfills everything that I believe is the basic requirement for the 4-channel records.
He said that answer to the current battle between matrix and discrete systems might have lain at one time in the UMX compatible matrix-discrete system developed by Dr. Duane Cooper of the University of Illinois. "I, myself, had succeeded in putting the matrix with a 30 kc carrier, which is much the same as the CD-4 system uses. And I got good matrix reproduction as well as discrete reproduction. This proved to me that the carrier-matrix type of record was practical."
Now, however, with several labels firmly committed to different systems, the answer might lie in a "detector" within the amplifier which would automatically switch from discrete to matrix or matrix to discrete, depending on what type of record was being played. "I don't think the public likes to push a button if the systems must co-exist.”

Movie Project

For himself, he's firmly committed to Sansui matrix and is even working on music for a new movie that will, via the Sansui QS system, feature 12 separate channels of sound in the theater. This will be done by matrixing the music into the six channels currently available on film tracks.
As of the end of January, the major emphasis in quadrasonic still rested with regular matrix (the Sansui system is regular matrix), he said. In a study conducted by Sansui, by the end of January there were 14 hardware manufacturers creating equipment with regular matrix in Japan, another 17 in the U.S. As for records, he said there were 274 regular matrix quadra-sonic records available in Japan, plus more than 100 in the U.S. In comparison, SQ had 10 manufacturers of hardware in production in Japan and six in the U.S., while CD-4 had four in Japan and none in the U.S. As for records, there were 102 SQ records on the market in Japan, he said, and 155 CD-4, while the U.S. had 102 SQ records and 5 CD-4 records available. He admitted that these figures were already out-of-date because the quadrasonic industry was moving so fast. "I spent some while a couple of weeks ago in Japan visiting 56 shops in all . .. and I found that a total of only 35 CD-4 demodulators had been sold in the past month. In Japan, most of the sales have been in the complete consoles. which include both demodulator and matrix units built-in, "But there's no doubt that quadrasonic is here and here to stay.
Kosaku Kikuchi, president of Sansui, told me that as long as people are interested in the best possible sound quality, the Sansui QS system will be with us. Unless, of course, something better is developed .. which excludes any of the present systems."

U.S. Licensees Soon

At any rate, Sansui should be announcing names of hardware licensees soon. “I know at least 10 companies in the Los Angeles area alone that are ready to go Sansui," Mosely said. "It now only costs about $10 to build in a QS matrix unit in an amplifier at the manufacturing stage. And Sansui is the only system that will give you a truly compatible stereo-matrix record, which no other system can honestly claim. The Sansui quadrasonic record features full frequency range at the maximum recording level.
Thus he expects the number of Sansui records to double by the end of this year and, with the labels who are still uncommitted, you'll find toes going into the water soon. They can't stay out much longer. It's either get into quadrasonic, or else. And most of them favor our QS system.”

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[jaybird100]

^^^
RCA Records...shooting down rumors it had adopted the SQ system.


First I've heard of this about RCA Records, also, the matrix proponents like to use the word "discrete" when describing their logic systems:

...SQ matrix logic decoder but also provide "discrete" separation in playing back quadrasonic records.


Kirk Bayne

It would make sense, in a way, since RCA is now under the Sony umbrella, but if this has any truth to it, they released nothing in SQ.

 

[key_wiz]

March 17, 1973
View attachment 96121

Whenever I see one of these old Billboard singles charts I’m always struck by how short the lifespan of a hit single was back then.

 

[par4ken]

Whenever I see one of these old Billboard singles charts I’m always struck by how short the lifespan of a hit single was back then.

I'm struck by how long a lifespan hit's have today. They seem to never change. Not much to choose from anymore I guess!

 

[key_wiz]

I'm struck by how long a lifespan hit's have today. They seem to never change. Not much to choose from anymore I guess!

Well, they've still got 100 songs on the charts every week.

Actually, I think they have MORE to choose from now as there's not really 'singles' anymore and pretty much any track from any album is eligible as long as a radio station is playing it and/or people are streaming/downloading it. And looking at the latest chart, the vast majority of songs have only been on the charts a few weeks but there's a few really big hits that stay around FOREVER. It's not uncommon for a song to be on the Hot 100 for over a year these days.

But it is a bit weird to look back and see that a song like "You're So Vain", which has been played on at least one radio station in every city every day for the last 50 years, was actually on and off the charts in about 4 months.

 

[par4ken]

was actually on and off the charts in about 4 months.

4 months! Was an eternity! Radio today is so boring, the same old, same old!!

 

[kfbkfb]

Recently, I emailed our classic rock FM (KCFX) and asked them to play the quad -> stereo downmix of songs from Paranoid (seems like they play songs from this album at least once a day), just to have something a little different.

They never answered, IMHO, it could make for an interesting listener contest - guess where the downmix version came from.


Kirk Bayne

 

[key_wiz]

Recently, I emailed our classic rock FM (KCFX) and asked them to play the quad -> stereo downmix of songs from Paranoid (seems like they play songs from this album at least once a day), just to have something a little different.

They never answered, IMHO, it could make for an interesting listener contest - guess where the downmix version came from.


Kirk Bayne

99.9% of the listeners probably wouldn’t notice the difference

 

[Old Quad Guy]

April 21, 1973

Recreation Vehicle Boom Boost for Tape, ‘Q’ Units

By EARL PAIGE

CHICAGO-
The multibillion-dollar recreational vehicle market represents special opportunities and challenges to the tape playback and accessory manyfacturer and retailer and land vehicles particularly offer an ideal growth area for quadrasonic sound, according to Phil Costanzo, Motorola. One of the chief challenges is to identify the market, another to realize that installations may represent problems not encountered in normal car stereo setups and yet another is that many land vehicles are homes on wheels with "no end in sight" as far as playback applications (i.e., tape, phonographs, stereo radio, regular TV and cartridge TV).
Motorola, though it has just set up a sales entity in the RV field, is not the only manufacturer by any means to recognize the burgeoning growth in the area, and Motorola started identifying the market as long ago as 1956, said Costanzo, head of commercial sales, RV/ marine. Medallion, the automotive products arm of Midland, Kansas City, Mo., has brought out a TV housing for tape and FM radio, according to Roy Johnson, vice president, and has one rep, Arnold Leanse, based here, who works with RV accounts.
Car Tapes, Inc., Craig and many more manufacturers are stepping up their RV involvement.
Costanzo agrees that the Recreational Vehicle Institute (RVI) 1972 sales figure of 740.000 units is accurate, but points out that this is probably an 80 percent OEM market target (see separate stories).
The picture is brighter for retailers in van conversion models and pickup campers, where Costanzo sees a 50 percent aftermarket potential. Boats represent at least a 60 percent aftermarket potential, Costanzo helieves. However, even in the larger RV's, the 4-channel aftermarket is bright because many are already equipped with four speakers.

RV Booms Tapes

Costanzo identifies RV as motor home (conventional, van conversion and chopped van), pickup camper, trailer camper (conventional and 5th wheel) and camper trailer (these are the fold-up tent types).
One reason the OEM business is so dominant is that much of the wiring must he done at the factory and vehicle entertainment centers must be oriented to special designs.
As for aftermarket challenges, he said, "Car stereo installers may whip out an automobile installation in 20 minutes. With an RV it may be a half day."
He also stresses quality installations. "If there's a $300 amplifier involved, we figure $100 for speakers."
Costanzo feels the whole car stereo industry has been guilty of pushing underrated speakers and that this cannot happen in RV if the market is to mature. Dealers must think in terms of total entertainment packages and installations where speakers if not players are entirely concealed. Paul Dupre of RVI likes the idea of the player concealed in an upper cabinet in the living area. Car stereo retailers will also be working closely with RV dealers, believes Carmen Magurno, installation expert at Stereo City here in Melrose Park, who said he is gearing for a decided increase in RV installations.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

April 27, 1973

JVC '73-74 Line
Emphasizes 'Q'

LOS ANGELES-
JVC America, Inc. has bowed its 1973-1974 product line, including a reel-to-reel stereo deck, two cassette decks, four speaker systems, a stereo receiver, two 4-channel receivers, seven stereo systems, four cassette units and two complete quadrasonic systems.
The stereo reel-to-reel deck, the RD-1555, carries a suggested list of $499.95 and features auto reverse, three motors and four heads.
The two cassette decks are the
CD-1665 at $429.95 featuring automatic noise reduction system, two VU meters and automatic stop and the CD-1655 at $119.95 with slide controls and two VU meters.
The speaker systems are: the VS-5333 at $189.95 per unit with 4-speaker, 4-way acoustic suspension system; the VS-5398 at $99.95 per pair with 2-speaker, 2-way acoustic suspension system; the VS-5397 at $99.95 per pair with air sealed enclosure; and the VS-5392 at $79.95 with 2-way 2-speaker acoustic suspension system; and the SX-3 at $159.95.
The seven stereo systems in-clude: the MF-4451-6 at $299.95 and the MF-4451-8 at $319.95, both including 4-channel speaker matrix and IC and FET circuitry with the latter model including eight inch woofer; the 9470-6 at $299.95 and the 9470-8 at $319.95, the latter with an eight inch woofer and both featuring cassette tape decks; the NR-1020 at $129.95 with automatic noise reduction system and calibration reel-to-reel and cassette tapes; the ECA-102 at $129.95 with four inputs and outputs and 4-channel indicator lights; and the SMA-10 at $109.95 which operates in both recording and output modes and is a S-position SEA tone control unit.
The portable cassettes are the
CP1646, a mini cassette at $89.95 with 2-way condenser mike; the CD-1655 at $99.95 with low noise output switch; the 9403 unit with AM-FM radio at $99.95; and the 9406 at $79.95 with AM-FM radio and automatic shut-off system.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

May 5, 1973

Col Greatest Hits
Series Now in ‘Q’

NEW YORK
Columbia Records this week will introduce its first batch of quadraphonic classical "greatest hits" in a move that may eventually see a substantial portion of its back catalog converted to the new format. Chosen for the initial release are a half-dozen "greatest" packages that were long among the label's best sellers. Included are sets featuring the works of Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Johann Strauss.
Although recorded some years ago, all were multi-track productions and so lent themselves to effective four-channel remixing, it was said.
Some 60 albums now comprise Columbia's classical
"greatest hits" series. No new titles have been released during the past year: It was learned, however, that the program will be resumed in the fall with types of music featured, rather than composers or artists.
Among the musical categories to be offered will be "greatest" overtures, ballet, marches and waltzes.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[Old Quad Guy]

April 21, 1973

'Q’ Sales Top Stereo: Kavan

By CLAUDE HALL

NEW YORK
CBS Records is racking up half a million dollars a month in quadrasonic records and tapes in the U.S. alone, according to Stanley J. Kavan, vice president of planning and diversification for the record label.
And, in many cases, the quadrasonic SQ record has created a whole new market for an album that had just about peaked in sales. An example is the "Abraxas" album by Santana, which was released September, 1970, and had already peaked in sales when the quadrasonic SQ album version was released in November, 1971. The LP has sold more than 60,000 copies in quadrasonic and this past January sold 1,933. Of course, the LP is still doing quite well in stereo sales. The LP sold 11,105 in January in stereo.
In some cases, the quadrasonic version of an album is outselling the stereo version.
For example, Leonard Bernstein's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" album sold 347 copies in stereo in January while the quadrasonic version sold 641 copies. In total sales of this album through January 15,198
stereo copies had been sold, 15,369 copies in SQ had been sold. Bernstein's "Le Sacre du Printemps" is more than double in quadrasonic sales in January over stereo sales and total quadrasonic sales are fast catching up to stereo (4,569 stereo; 3,929 quadrasonic).
Total quadrasonic sales in February in records and tapes were close to
$750,000, Kavan said.
"We feel that there's an expanding market in records via quadrasonic,” Kavan said. "SQ sales are especially strong in classical music and middle-of-the-road music."
Percy Faith's "Day by Day" album sold 1,135 copies in SQ in January and only 972 copies in stereo. His "Joy" album had 564 SQ sales compared to 227 sales in stereo.
Some albums, of course, continue to do much better in stereo than in quadrasonic, but even in these cases the SQ sales are all plus business, Kavan felt, and the SQ sales are growing. Ten Years After's "A Space in Time" album sold 1,591 stereo copies in January and only 1,156 copies in SQ, but January SQ sales were higher than last December's 1,076 SQ sales. In a progress report to distributors and other record companies that CBS is trying to interest in the SQ matrix quadrasonic system, the label voiced the opinion that quadrasonic "is the most important development for the recording industry, both from a creative and marketing point of view, since the introduction of stereo in the mid- '50's.
In terms of software and hardware availability, he said, "SQ is the only way to go." But he also said he had no intent of getting into a contest of systems ... that, in his opinion, the discrete system had a handicap because discrete product could not be cycled into the broadcast routine, while matrix product can be played on the air without any problems.
Ben Bauer, head of the CBS Laboratories that developed the SQ system, visited Los Angeles along with a couple of his technicians and Kavan about three weeks ago to present the latest state of the art to record company executives.
“The SQ quadrasonic system is the only system that retains full separation on stereo and monaural," he said.
And this is vitally important still; "in Germany, 86 percent of the record players are still monaural players; in Europe overall, 75 percent of the players are monaural. This is one of the reasons why EMI Records adopted the SQ system."
Kavan felt that only slight sales of records in SQ were to people who presently owned only stereo units and were buying the SQ records in anticipation of later buying quadrasonic equipment. He pointed out that at least 60 firms are now manufacturing playback equipment with the SQ system built in. "Sony and Lafayette are probably the most active, but you also hive Kenwood and Marantz as well as budget lines such as Morse, GE, Philco, and Lloyds.
Korvettes has a quadrasonic amplifier and turntable and four speakers selling for about $100, so quadrasonic is available even to the budget buyers."
Here are some other sales examples:
Morton Subotnick's "Touch" —7,140 stereo, 6,855 SQ;
E. Power Biggs' "Bach Organ Favorites, Vol. 5" —6.378 stereo, 5,115 SQ; Leonard Bernstein's "Verdi-Requiem" (2 LP set) —8,798 stereo, 5,230 SQ; E. Power Biggs’ "Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion" —11,713 stereo, 8,240 SQ; "Stravinsky: Petrouchka” —7,136 stereo, 6,192 SQ; "Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles. Live" (January only) —2.009 stereo, 1,678 SQ; "Jeff Beck Group" (January only) —1,251 stereo, 767 SQ; Barbra Streisand's "Stoney End” (January only) —3,437 stereo, 837 SQ; and Ray Conniff's "Love Story" (January only) —2,318 stereo, 1,153 SQ.

 

[fizzywiggs41]

February 17, 1973

Kusisto Views Discrete Rule;
Car 3-Channel

By EARL PAIGE

CHICAGO
Oscar Kusisto has reinforced his prediction that there will be a standard soon on 4-channel and that it will be discrete in tape, disks and FM broadcasting. On the eve of the 3rd annual International Tape Association (ITA) seminar the ITA board chairman and president of Motorola's automotive products division said he believes government standards will reflect 3-channel FM in car radios. He also issued a criticism against U.S. trade shows not being open to the public as they are in Japan and Europe (see separate story on upcoming Japan fair).
At the same time, Kusisto announced major expansion of the automotive sound division to encompass the growing recreational vehicle, marine, automotive private label, direct sales and small original equipment manufacturer markets (see Executive Turntable).
Why does he think there will be a government standard and it will be 4-channel discrete? "Because discrete is more or less the base line reference in terms of channel separation and discrete provides artists the greatest spectrum of latitude to work with."
As for the inroads made by the CBS "SQ" matrix system and the rival Sansui "QS” concept, he said: "I think what this proves is that there can be about as many matrix system concepts as there are engineers to conceive them.”
And on the future of matrix: "Matrix does enhance stereo, no question about it. But the question is can you justify the premium cost of playback equipment, which is in effect 4-channel playback, just to enjoy improved 2-channel material?"

That's Arthur Kusisto of Motorola automotive players, taking a swipe at all things matrix....which he continued to do at every opportunity , as you will find in any of his comments in Billboard.

He definitely seeded more damage to acceptance of anything quadraphonic ,
while both CBS and Sansui participated in support of quadraphonic period.
His small mindedness continues of course in contrast to others , and whereby in Japan and a little later Europe and North America..all the audio manufacturers, adopted the latest in matrix , SQ, QS and CD-4 in ALL their new lines of Quad Receivers.


--Fizzy

Kusisto believes several factors have combined to hold back the progress of 4-channel, even in the automotive area where tape has not been affected by the so-called discrete vs. matrix "battle." He had earlier predicted 100,000 auto 8-track 4-channel units would be installed during 1972, but this fell off to between 60,000 and 70,000, according to estimates.
One chief drawback was the availability of the pop music software aimed at the age group most excited about 4-channel, the college-age to 30-year-olds, he claimed. He said his son, a senior at Arizona State Univ., who has a 4-channel unit in his car, picked up on the lack of popular titles.
Kusisto said he could appreciate the labels problem. "Some of the hottest items are also the most perishable," he said, adding that record manufacturers hnd to think in terms of product that would "age well" so inventories would last a little longer.
Yet another problem has been the "nearsightedness" of 4-channel promotion. “It was rather unfortunate that the public was led to assume that all you could play on 4-channel equipment was 4-channel." He said in the promotion of 4-channel, one of the key elements was overlooked—its "forward compatibility," that is, the fact that it enhances 2-channel and does not obsolete libraries. He said in Motorola automotive products advertising this year—for the first time in years going into such consumer books as Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated—he has made sure this point of forward compatibility is not overlooked.
Also holding back 4-channel releases, he believes, is the continuing nonrealization on the part of producers over the "magnitude” of 4-channel. "I still hold to my prediction that a number of artists will bolt their labels and switch to labels and producers who come up with the ultimate mix for 4-channel so that in effect they can create what the artists desire. Labels' and producers' total expertise will gain emphasis with time.

“Q” Disk

Also, he said the disk confusion has probably held back tape releases. Disk problems in discrete "are resolved or will be resolved very soon," he said, adding that he was very enthusiastic about the Warner, Elektra, Atlantic
announcement for discrete disks. “I cannot in my wildest imagination see how the matrix disk can survive when it is priced at a premium and requires dual inventories when you have as an alternate the discrete, disk format offering monaural, 2-channel and 4-channel compatibility at the same price as regular 2-channel disks."
He does see the problems of discrete broadcasting as also holding up the concept, but reaffirmed his belief that FM broadcasting is on the way. "There will be increasing pressures on the Federal Communications Commission and pressures on the industry. to get standards evolved." Referring to “preliminary
evaluation stages" in industry efforts, he said he expects standards for 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-channel. He said he has input from the industry committee working on standards.
He sees 3-channel as a way to possibly overcome the sacrifice of quadrasonic broadcasting for car radio reception under fringe conditions. He said a system is under development for either automatically or manually switching to 3-channel, combining the two rear signals, so that the noise factor and the service range is improved.
Kusisto sees store casting as less and less significant and that therefore the stations worried about dropping this capability when going to discrete broadcasting have less to fear. "The question is how many stations do you need for store casting? You need enough to provide competition. But in many markets there is an overabundance of this (store cast) service.
Meanwhile, he sees 4-channel car equipment becoming greatly improved, and even parried a question about the possibility of auto reverse in 4-channel 8-track. He did say that designs are in progress for “faster forward than we have ever considered up to this point." He predicts a reduction in the size of units, more favorable pricing though not dramatic, and shared controls, further reducing size.
Other trends include the continuing popularity of in-dash installations and the move to the radio/tape player entertainment center concept, for reasons of convenience, esthetics, theft-reduction and elimi nation of redundance in equipment.
As for car cassette, he sees a continuation of "some demand" for it. Mostly this comes from doctors and other professionals who want cassette to hear audio digests and sales materials. "I don't believe car cassette will ever die.”
Finally, he believes that involving the public more in trade shows could have spurred 4-channel here as it has in Japan. "I'd like to criticize U.S. trade associations on the basis that displays of new material is restricted to the trade only." He said 4-channel demonstrations have been "fantastically” significant in getting 4-channel started in Japan.
"I think the displays there (in Japan) reflect more imagination and consideration that is so with the U.S. counterparts. Attendants at two doors (in Japan) meter and control the number of people allowed in the demonstration areas. Where there are so many people, absorption of highs and the dispersion of sound is affected."

 

[Old Quad Guy]

 

[fizzywiggs41]

January 20, 1973

More 'Q' Hardware;
Broad Price Range

By ANNE DUSTON

CHICAGO
Four-channel equipment is more in evidence at the winter shows here, according to pre-show spot checks with various manufacturers, principally in the Midwest.
Units range from the
$349.95 Arvin model 90L88 compact system to well below a $149.95 model by Packard Bell.
The preponderance of new produets are seen in component and compact categories.
Some companies are showing only promotional items or drop-in models, while planning new lines for showing at the June 10-13 Consumer Electronics Show here at McCormick Place.
Admiral and VM Corp., for example, planned no new entries for the winter events.
Components: Bigston, a subsidi-ary of Bigston Corp. of Japan, which opened its U.S. warehouses and offices in Rosemont, Ill., last year, will add 10 new models to its U.S. line of four. The company manufactures cassette recorders, 8-track recorders, players, and auto units too. A new component system, model BHS 140, features AM/FM/FM multiplex receiver, with automatic shut-off, two microphones, slide tone and volume controls; list, $169.
Wollensak's only item at the CES will be a prototype cassette/ Dolby record/play deck with noise reduction circuitry for FM-Dolby broadcasts. Model 4765, available in June, lists at approximately $300.
Motorola is offering FH 203JW stereo receiver and speakers with stereo headphone jacks, brushed aluminum and smoked plastic control panel as $109.95 list; and, FH213JW stereo receiver with built-in 8-track and record changer for $229.95 list.
An automatic changer tape deck that plays three tape cartridges automatically, and can replay any selection or tape, will be shown by MGA. The TD-83 lists at $99.95.
A 300-watt stereo amplifier for top of the line is being featured by Kenwood.
Sophisticated features include hiss filter, negative-feed-back, two-position bass and treble tone controls, rumble filter, two terminals for phone, aux. and tape record/play, and accommodations for three sets of stereo speak-ers. List, $399.95.
Consoles: RCA offers credenza styling in Early American or Spanish in two models, the Randoph VZT 111 or Ortega VZT 112, both for $269.
They incorporate the
Dimensia IV sound feature, or enhanced stereo, for 4-channel discrete and matrix disks and tapes.
Packard Bell is introducing a $229.95 priced console 4-channel.
Zenith is styling its DT930W on a white base at a price of $399.95.
Morse is yet another firm that plans several console offerings.
Other evidence of popular pricing in consoles is Olympic's T-29601 at less than $230.
Compacts: RCA will introduce five new compact stereo systems with "Spatial Sound," an extended concert hall sound with optional extra speakers. The AM/FM/FM stereo radio, record players, speakers and amplifier units range in price from $169.96 to $279.95.
Model VYC 520 offers built-in
8-track deck, while the VYC 720 has a built-in cassette record and play unit.
A 4-channel SQ and discrete
AM/FM/ FM stereo multiplex with full changer and built-in 8-track, featuring slant front and push-button slide controls, model 90L88, is offered by Arvin for a list of $349.95. Arvin also will show two less deluxe models, with AM/FM/ FM multiplex, 8-track and changer. The 80L89 lists at $199.95 and the 80L82 at $159.95.

"Dimension IV" matrix also mentioned here in relation to consoles ^

So as early as January 1973 , RCA had a quad matrix.


-fizzle

Prepackaged ensembles including cart and stereo headphones are being introduced by Motorola. Model FS 202JW lists at $199.80; FS 209JW with built-in 8-track will retail at $269.80.
Sharp Electronics is introducing its first 4-channel system. It will accommodate both discrete and matrix material.
Arvin is introducing nine new items, from small portable phonographs to 4-channel discrete svs-tems, ranging in price from $19.95 to $349.95.
Model 90L88 is a 4-channel SQ discrete AM/FM/FM stereo multiplex with built-in 8-track and full changer.
New styling includes
slant front and pushbutton and slide controls.
Other compact units with radio, tape player and changer are the 80L89 listing at $199.95 and the less deluxe 80L82 at $159.95 list.
Bigston is showing the GRE1020, an AM/FM/FM radio with 8-track play/record and two mikes. List is $189.95 without speakers.

B & B Import-Export's AM/ FM/FM multiplex with 8-track recorder/player and twu large matching speakers, the B-377 Alaron, will list at $139.95. The same unit with 11-inch changer, th B-378, retails for $174.95.
Also included in B & B's new items are a promotionally priced radio - 8-track unit, and a multiplex 8-track with clock radio combination.
Automotive: Two of the most significant trends in car players are the emphasis on automotive cassette by numerous firms and the surge of in-dash mount units.
Craig, among those pushing car cassette, even has
Dolbized car units (see story on West Coast hardware firms),
Many firms are into dash mounts, including Tenna Corp., which showed five prototypes of such units at the recent automotive parts show.
Motorola's auto products division did not plan to be at CES, although a model introduced in October may be shown through the home products division. The TF852 AX with AM/FM/FM radio and
8-track features in-dash installation and a flip-up tuning dial for tape insertion.
The model has a local/distance switch and 14 tuned circuits, and retails without speakers for $199.95.
Inland Dynatronics has a low cost cassette with fast-forward and eject, model C110, at $49. A second model is the AXT 838 stereo AM/FM, 8-track, with universal face plate and in-dash installation, listing at $114. Inland has a new speaker line of ten models planned for the June CES.
A remote control channel selector distinguishes B & B's 8-track model B-899RH. The unit also has headphone jack, fast forward, and 4-channel indicator lights, and retails for $39.95. A cassette car unit with fast forward and pilot light, the B-700, lists for $39.95.
Automatic Radio recently introduced six new auto units including a 4-channel player with AM/FM stereo. SPE-5004, QME-2445 and SPF-5005 were previewed earlier (Billboard, Jan. 6).
Model SPA-5000, is an 8-track automotive cartridge tape player designated the Sprite 100. It features instant response slide-bar controls, push-button channel selector with lights, easy access
control panel, push-button cartridge ejector, and slimline styling which, according to Lyall, adds to the interior decor of any car. The unit measures 5½ inches wide by eight inches deep by two inches high and is designed by Automatic
Radio for the economy-minded sound enthusiast.
SPB-5001 is Automatic Radio's
"Rover 101," another 8-track automotive stereo sound system that comes complete with a "Theft-Control" slipout bracket and fine tuning. Lyall explained that by utilizing the "Theft Control" bracket, operators of the unit can secure the player in the car while using it, yet safely remove the unit for safe storage.
Additional features in the SPB-5001 include a push-button cartridge ejector, easy access control panel, exclusive program repeat circuit, push-button channel selector with lights, and instant response slide bar controls.
Next in the “100 Series" line is
SPC-5002, yet another 8-track
auto stereo unit that comes with fine tuning, a fast forward control and the “Theft Control" bracket featured in Model SPB-5001.
Designated the “Boss-102” the unit also features an easy access control panel that eliminates unnecessary groping for programs while the car is in motion. There is also a digital channel indicator, exclusive program repeat circuit, push-button cartridge ejector and instant response slide bar controls.
Model SPD-5003 is designated the "Opus 103" and provides FM Multiplex radio sound in addition to 8-track cartridge entertainment.
According to Lyall, the extensive list of features built into this unit include FM Iocal-distant, reception controls, an FM stereo indicator, illuminated slide rule dial scale, push-button channel selector with lights, and easy access control panel. The unit, designated Model PPX-2389 also features solid state circuitry with 14 transistors, six IC's, three filters and 14 diodes. The unit also has illuminated tape program indicators, automatic and manual channel selection, tape program repeat button, stereo balance control, FM stereo indicator, FM local-distant control and comes with mounting hardware.
The PPX-2389 is operable on a
12-volt negative ground electrical system, and can be combined with anv 8 or 4 ohm stereo speaker kit.
Portables: Bigston added seven portable models, including the
"smallest in the world" KRM 1020 cassette recorder with AM/FM, VU meter, counter, and automatic shutoff and eject. The unit measures 3 inches high, 8 inches long, and 2 inches deep, retailing for $99.95.
The other models list from $39.95 to $84.95. B & B will feature the RY 270 cassette tape recorder with built-in condenser mike at $27.95 list.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

March 10, 1973

NARM Told: 'Sell 'Q,’ Not Systems'

LOS ANGELES
Stress the quadrasonic concept to the retailer and the public, not a particular system. This was the message conveyed by Jac Holzman president of Elektra Records, and a member of the Warner Communications policy committee, John Pudwell, director of the new products division for RCA Records and Walter Dean, executive vice president, CBS Records at the NARM panel on 4-channel and video here. Bruce Weber, director of corporate affairs, Audio Magnetics Corp. acted as moderator.
The panel also touched on the question of dual inventories as disk manufacturers move into the quadrasonic field, the importance of 4-channel as a true innovation, the need to educate the retailer and the viability of video systems as a consumer item.
"At the moment it is not important that there are different systems,” Dean said. "The important thing is the presence of quadrasonic now and the fact that it is probably the most important development in our industry since stereo.
“Walter is right," Holzman added. “I recently visited five or six record stores and I was dismayed at the lack of knowledge concerning 4-channel. NARM members have to sell the concept, not a system.” Holzman also stressed the importance of placing quadrasonic material in a prominent display spot, employing knowledgeable salespeople, packaging the product distinctively and letting the consumer know it's viable.

Inventories

Inventories in 4-channel was one of the more controversial aspects covered by the panel. RCA releases its Quadradises in 4-channel only.
The WEA group plans on dual inventories for several years at least, and Columbia also maintains dual inventory.
“Our main interest all along has been to develop a one inventory system,” Pudwell said. "We could have been on the market a year earlier had it not been for this concern. Our product is compatible with stereo and it's going to build traffic." RCA currently has 13 disks on the market and expects to release seven to ten more during the first quarter. The goal by July is to have every other release in Quadradisc form.
Holzman said a "double inventory is necessary for the time being. It takes the public time to get to know a new system and it's worth it to a dealer to let his public get acquainted a bit more slowly. We may have to charge a dollar more for 4-channel, but this money is necessary to help build a strong marketing program. In any case, the double inventory situation will certainly be less than the one surrounding stereo and mono." Holzman expects 24 quadrasonic releases from the WEA group in May and another 24 in the fall.
Some previous material will be used, but Holzman stressed that much of this was recorded with quadrasonic in mind. RCA will offer only new releases on Quadradisc. CBS will offer some of both.
Speaking from the floor, Dave Rothfeld, vice president, divisional merchandising manager for Korvette's advocated a single inventory and added that he doesn't feel the majority of people can tell the difference between matrix and discrete disks. Rothfeld said he feared a display of the same product in stereo and quadrasonic would convey a feeling of built-in obsolescence for stereo to the consumer.
On the importance of 4-channel at the present time and it's relevancy to NARM members, Holzman said, "It's here, it's necessary and it's normal. The human ear hears from 360 degrees. Also, the configuration has unlimited artistic, creative and musical possibilities.
It's viable and inevitable." Dean and Pudwell agreed. "As for obsoleting stereo, this is not true. This is a forward system."
All three panel members agreed that now is the time for NARM members to become involved if they haven't already.

Video Future

On video, Pudwell said he feels disk and tape are complimentary to each other. "One is for recording, the other is playback-only,” he said.
Holzman said the "video disk is already viable and NARM will be involved just as it is in records, with rental and sales in video tape and disk. Those handling hardware will also sell players, probably in the $300 to $500 range and members should be aware. I think 1975 will probably see a consumer market for the disk at a price under $10."
Dean commented that NARM members "need not reserve space in their stores now for video produet, because there are a lot of hurdles to overcome."
Pudwell said RCA will have a video disk system at around $400, with program material by 1975.
Holzman added, "The systems are cheaper than TV which is important. What we need are programs that motivate people, titles with which they are familiar, and something which may possibly be used to educate their children. As for the record company role in video programming. I think we will play a vital role. WEA has a good marketing wing and access to a large motion picture catalog. Record firms have traditionally shown sensitivity and ability to move with the times."
Pudwell said that "Anyone with viable product is entitled to enter the market, although we have no marketing plans for the disk yet." Dean said CBS is not planning programming at this point.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

March 10, 1973

JVC's Kitano
Sees ‘Q' Modes
In Coexistence

By CLAUDE HALL

LOS ANGELES-
Matrix and discrete will both make it in the marketplace, believes Yoshiro Kitano, president of the Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., Tokyo. He did not expect both types of matrix to survive in the hardware field, but he felt there was room perhaps even need- for both matrix and discrete quadrasonic systems for the public, though he felt the JVC quadrasonic CD-4 system was the best.
Polygram and EMI Records "and some more big ones" are now testing discrete records, he said.
EMI, via its own label and Capitol Records in the U.S., has several matrix SQ albums on the market at present. Kitano pointed out JVC was not currently negotiating with either Polygram or EMI, but there would be "quite a good number of labels" committing to the JVC discrete record system in the next few weeks.
"Several are sitting on the fence," he said. RCA Records already has product on the market in the U.S. in the JVC system, CD-4, which stands for Compatible Discrete 4-channel, and the WEA group of Warner Bros., Elektra, and Atlantie should have product available soon. Kitano admitted to being in very close contact with EMI, "but, of course, it's their decision to make."
In line with this, JVC has at least 10 master cutting lathes in production for the U.S. market and these will be in operation, Kitano felt, by the end of this year.
More will be set up in Europe. In order to speed up the flow of U.S. discrete quadrasonic product to the U.S. market, several WEA masters are now being cut in Japan. The master cutting lathe being set up in Los Angeles won't be in good working order until April.
The electronics that go with the cutting lathes are now being reduced and the modified lathes will be available later this year for any software manufacturer that wants to buy one, Kitano said.

4 Hardware Members

As for hardware, Kitano said that four new equipment manufacturers have signed licensing agreements—Sansui, Brothers, Cybernet and Akai. JVC is now experimenting in Japan with installing a discrete demodulator within its units. About 50 percent of the stereo-type consoles have demodulators installed and 10 percent of the component units. Similar units will be available for the U.S. market in late 1973, he said.
JVC would also like to invade the U.S. market with records. "We have a desire and actually have some few records available in the U.S. for the Japanese. But, as for the music made by us . .. we don't know if they'd be a plus or a minus with the U.S. public. At the present, it's only a matter for consideration." He pointed out that JVC had a very special relationship with RCA Records in the U.S. on licensing product for many decades.
But the quadrasonic world is upon us. Stereo took about 10 years to completely expel monaural, he said. After two years in the U.S., the speed of quadrasonic acceptance and penetration in the marketplace will accelerate and its dominance will probably only take five years. He felt there was a great potential that most record companies would be into a single quadrasonic inventory (WEA is planning to have both stereo and Q product on the market; RCA is planning to eventually go with only a Q inventory because of the compatibility of the product in stereo) within the fourth year. Japan itself, although there are 150 titles in CD-4 on the market, presently has two inventories and two prices, but would be into a single price-inventory sooner than the U.S. He pointed out that the special harder compound for 4-channel was also now being used for expensive stereo albums.

Room for Both Concepts

Although Kitano is quite firm in his opinion that discrete is the better system, he felt that matrix would be around and that there was room for both systems in the marketplace.
The reason is that
many manufacturers of hardware units are now building all three major systems, SQ, QS. and dis-crete, into playback units, he said. "The reason we Japanese manufacturers had to do this was to meet the requirements of the U.S. government PX's on military posts, a very big purchaser of equipment. But he felt it was doubtful the U.S. public would want units with three-way switches and felt that two systems will prevail in the U.S. in hardware. He pointed out that with the Sansui QS matrix system, you could play SQ records "passably." But, in any case, both matrix and discrete systems will prevail in the marketplace.