Electronics World

Updated 6 January 2024

Electronics World was an American electronics magazine published in 1970 that covers both electronics and high fidelity audio reproduction. Of particular note in this issue is the quality article on 4-channel surround sound written by Acoustic Research (AR). There are also two detailed product reviews of vintage Hi-Fi equipment manufactured by Marantz and Dual. These articles are of interest to the technical historian.

Electronics World magazine cover, February 1970

Product Reviews

Marantz Model 16 Power Amplifier tested
Dual 1219 Turntable tested
Eico Model 443 Semiconductor Curve Tracer
Honeywell Digitest 500 digital voltmeter

Articles

News - nuclear power on the moon
News - Television in the classroom
4-Channel Stereo, Acoustic Research Inc.
Electronics and the heart, Fred W. Holder
Design of regulated power supplies, Richard H. Dutton
Air traffic control Transponder, D.J. Holford
Hyrbid Technology regains IC Spotlight, Lothar Stern
Forroresonant Transformer Improves Colour TV

Projects

Electronic dice
Portable Dual-Range IC frequency standard

Nuclear power on the moon

Gazing back at the 70s, we saw the Apollo-12 mission etch history by deploying the first nuclear electric power system on the lunar surface&mdashSNAP-27, This wasn't just any normal battery; it was a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, compact at 18-inches high, fueled by plutonium-238. Designed to churn out in excess of 72 watts electricity for a full year, this powered the scientific instruments the astronauts entrusted to the moon's silent expanse. With no moving parts, the generator harnessed the heat from plutonium's decay inside a graphite cask, with 442 lead telluride elements turning a fiery 1450 thermal watts directly into 63 watts of electric power. It was an era of colossal leaps, and that little unit, with its fins and ribbon cables sprawling across the dust, was engineered by the brilliant minds at G.E. What a time to be alive in tech. Although, I am cautious about the proliferation of nuclear waste on the moon.

Four-Channel Surround Sound

The 70s brought us the 4-channel stereo, hailed at the Los Angeles Hi-Fi Show as the new surround sound. Robert Berkovitz from Acoustic Research introduced this tech as a way to envelop listeners in sound, mimicking a concert hall's ambiance right at home. While not quite matching the ear's full resolution, this quadraphonic system could project sound from any horizontal direction, creating a convincing aural illusion. This leap wasn't about the tech's novelty; multichannel recording was old news. The buzz was about bringing professional-grade sound to the average Joe's living room, thanks to the era's advanced electronics. The true magic? It made two-channel recordings, once limited to the space between speakers, now spread to every corner of your shag-carpeted sanctuary. This system didn't just play music; it sculpted sonic landscapes, making every listening spot the best seat in the house.

References & Further Reading

Electronics World, February 1970, Archive.org
General Electric SNAP 27, National Air and Space Museum
History of Spatial Coding, Mark F. Davis, AES E-Library