Stereophonic sound or, more commonly, stereo, is a system of sound reproduction using two speakers that creates an illusion of multi-directional audible perspective.
London-born engineer Alan Blumlein (1903-1942) invented stereo sound recording in 1931, after getting frustrated that the sound from a single speaker at the cinema did not match the action on screen.
Blumlein was notable for his many inventions in telecommunications, sound recording, stereophonic sound, television and radar. He died on June 7, 1942 at 38 in an aircraft accident, testing the H2S airborne radar system in World War II.
Walt Disney's animated film Fantasia was the first commercial movie released in stereo in 1940. It used Fantasound, a stereophonic sound reproduction system developed by engineers of Walt Disney studios and RCA.
Until the 1950s all music recordings were monophonic. They used one channel, which reduced the sound-even the sound of a large musical group--to a single point in space.
The first commercial stereo recording was a $10.00 seven-inch reel tape released in May 1954 of Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" and Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia." The stereo process was developed by Magnecord, Chicago, for General Motors to meet a need to analyze engine noise.
Launched in 1957 The JBL Paragon, was the world's first domestic stereo loudspeaker system. It was 106 inches (270 cm) wide and resembled a sideboard. It was also the most expensive speaker at the time, costing $1,830 (£650).
The small Audio Fidelity Records label released the first mass-produced stereophonic record in late 1957. Side 1 featured the Dukes of Dixieland, and Side 2 featured railroad and other sound effects designed to engage and envelop the listener.
Sidney Frey founder and president of Audio Fidelity advertised on December 16, 1957 in the trade magazine Billboard that he would send a free copy to anyone in the industry who wrote to him on company letterhead. That move generated a great deal of publicity for the new sound system and Frey became known as "Mr. Stereo" during that era.
Though stereo discs produce better-defined sounds, with a greater sense of space and dimension, when RCA released 55 albums in stereo in May of 1958, executives at other record companies declared stereo was a passing fad and predicted that mono would always be around.
A 1961 Federal Communications Commission ruling made it possible for certain FM stations to send stereophonic signals. and the following year several manufacturers of FM receiving sets started offering new stereo units on some 1962 models. Special stereo adapters for sets already in use were also made available.
The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson became the first network program to be telecast in stereo in 1984.
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London-born engineer Alan Blumlein (1903-1942) invented stereo sound recording in 1931, after getting frustrated that the sound from a single speaker at the cinema did not match the action on screen.
Blumlein was notable for his many inventions in telecommunications, sound recording, stereophonic sound, television and radar. He died on June 7, 1942 at 38 in an aircraft accident, testing the H2S airborne radar system in World War II.
Walt Disney's animated film Fantasia was the first commercial movie released in stereo in 1940. It used Fantasound, a stereophonic sound reproduction system developed by engineers of Walt Disney studios and RCA.
Until the 1950s all music recordings were monophonic. They used one channel, which reduced the sound-even the sound of a large musical group--to a single point in space.
The first commercial stereo recording was a $10.00 seven-inch reel tape released in May 1954 of Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" and Jean Sibelius' "Finlandia." The stereo process was developed by Magnecord, Chicago, for General Motors to meet a need to analyze engine noise.
Launched in 1957 The JBL Paragon, was the world's first domestic stereo loudspeaker system. It was 106 inches (270 cm) wide and resembled a sideboard. It was also the most expensive speaker at the time, costing $1,830 (£650).
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| The JBL Paragon By Michael W. Pretzer - Flickr, |
The small Audio Fidelity Records label released the first mass-produced stereophonic record in late 1957. Side 1 featured the Dukes of Dixieland, and Side 2 featured railroad and other sound effects designed to engage and envelop the listener.
Sidney Frey founder and president of Audio Fidelity advertised on December 16, 1957 in the trade magazine Billboard that he would send a free copy to anyone in the industry who wrote to him on company letterhead. That move generated a great deal of publicity for the new sound system and Frey became known as "Mr. Stereo" during that era.
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| Audio Fidelity Records' second stereo demonstration record, ca. 1958 |
Though stereo discs produce better-defined sounds, with a greater sense of space and dimension, when RCA released 55 albums in stereo in May of 1958, executives at other record companies declared stereo was a passing fad and predicted that mono would always be around.
A 1961 Federal Communications Commission ruling made it possible for certain FM stations to send stereophonic signals. and the following year several manufacturers of FM receiving sets started offering new stereo units on some 1962 models. Special stereo adapters for sets already in use were also made available.
The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson became the first network program to be telecast in stereo in 1984.
Audiophile Ken Fritz (February 20, 1942 – April 21, 2022) was known for his dedication to audio quality and his development of a high-end home sound system. His system included a large number of powerful speakers and a large turntable, and was considered by some to be among the best in the world. The system was known for its high-quality sound and its ability to accurately reproduce music. The fact that he spent almost 30 years developing this system is a testament to his passion for audio and his dedication to achieving the highest level of sound quality.
Source Compton's Encyclopedia
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