Who remembers audio from the time when ...


... I recall hurrying home with the newest vinyl, placing it on the rek-o-kut  belt turntable (arm and cartridge beyond recall) then turning on the HeathKit preamp (with all sorts of equalizing circuits) and amp, then watching the tubes warm up.  The anticipation of hearing the new music through a decent system built up with the warming rube glow from orange to red and dimming into the infra red.  Gently grasping the arm and rotating it to place the needle’s crystal  perfectly into the first cut.  The Heathkit 2way speaker was placed forward from center wall to mimic a mono transducer at center stage.  Switching the turntable motor on while gradually increasing gain at the preamp required a soft touch.  Then stereo,  Reel to Reel.  The Dolby cassette deck, tubeless amps and preamps. Digital ...

  i continue to be amazed at the continuing tidal wave of efforts directed to achieve more accurate sound reproduction and more pleasing perception utilizing our incredible ability to hear sound in the spectrum of musical experience.  The sounds of nature: A drip of water on the wet surface of a broadleaf in the rainforest. The startling gasping wheeze of the change in air flow through the mountain pass.  The sizzle of receding waves through the pebbles on shore.  And the sounds made by humans.

  Old timer’s reminiscences of early audiophile recollections are welcome.  




davesandbag

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

In the early/mid 60's, Mono LPs cost $2.00 while Stereo version cost $3.00.

So, get a part time job, payday, down to the record store. $6.00 was my weekly budget: 3 mono or 2 stereo was the struggle before buying and skipping on home for a listen.

Most of us teenagers had crap equipment, so, it didn't make much difference, but, I had heard some decent stuff elsewhere, so I knew in the future I would want the Stereo versions,

but, every week, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Animals, Zombies, eventually Beatles moved out of lovey dovey stuff, OMG, .....

SQ Quadraphonic

I just found an album liner with promotion of many Columbia recordings, and one section discussed the 'new at that time' SQ Quadraphonic system.

"startling, miraculous engineering, total realism, flexible, imaginative, complete, compatible, amazingly simple, in short, the most natural sound ever designed for records".

"the finishing touch to the revolution in home audio that Columbia began in 1948"

They issued both Quad LP's and Q8 4 channel tape cartridges. (I never saw or heard one of them). A list of 15 early issues, all big name artists was included.

 My friend jumped in, certain things were interesting. It died.