stereophonic sound system: Quick Facts

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The stereophonic high-fidelity record player was the high point in electromechanical sound reproduction. As shown at right and upper left, it employed a vinyl long-playing disc rotated at 3313 revolutions per minute on a turntable by a belt connected to an electric motor. The pickup cartridge contained a diamond-tipped stylus and a magnetic or piezoelectric system for converting the stylus's motions into electric impulses. The electric signal was processed in a separate amplifier module (not shown) and split between two loudspeakers, which reproduced with great realism the spatial arrangement of the original sound source. The unique stereophonic groove traced by the stylus is shown in the movie, lower left.

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sound recording music recording Auto-Tune phonograph iPod amplifier digital sound recording microphone loudspeaker tape recorder headphone

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William P. Lear

American engineer and industrialist