Question for the boomers: what was it like to live through major improvements in audio fidelity?

[alvigg]

I forgot to mention the transition from AM to FM. In 1970, only hippies and dentists offices had FM. Once the FM radios started being standard equipment in cars, it was remarkable how quickly everyone moved from AM to FM. By 1975, almost everyone was listening to FM instead of AM. Less noise, frequency response to 15k, and stereo, were the big changes in fidelity. This was a big one.

Don't forget the type of music. Album oriented stations were so much better than AM.

 

[Frank Dernie]

I forgot to mention the transition from AM to FM. In 1970, only hippies and dentists offices had FM. Once the FM radios started being standard equipment in cars, it was remarkable how quickly everyone moved from AM to FM. By 1975, almost everyone was listening to FM instead of AM. Less noise, frequency response to 15k, and stereo, were the big changes in fidelity. This was a big one.

Radio was a lot different here in the UK, few stations either AM or FM were licensed and I was certainly listening to FM at home with a good tuner. I learned most about the music I still enjoy listening to now since the BBC broadcast a live concert every evening on what is now Radio 3.
I lived in London back then so didn't bother with a car.

 

[Ropeburn]

By 1975, almost everyone was listening to FM instead of AM. Less noise, frequency response to 15k, and stereo, were the big changes in fidelity. This was a big one.

Yamaha back then, probably: "This FM stuff sounds really good. What if we used it for synthesizers?" - the rest is history.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Don't forget the type of music. Album oriented stations were so much better than AM.

Yes, that was a big part of it. Maybe more than the increased sound quality.

A turning point in the US was when the FCC decreed that licensees that had both AM and FM stations had to provide different programming for each. At the time, few people listened to FM, so there was no money to be made there and the stations hired young people who were willing to work cheap who brought the "album oriented" approach with them.

Of course, the "no money to be made" era didn't last long.

 

[RDoc]

In the late 1950's my father bought a stereo system that included 2 separate mono FM tuners and 2 mono amps. At the time a very few stations, such as WCRB in Boston, broadcast the left and right channels on separate frequencies so we listened to the BSO in stereo by tuning into two stations.

I'm still using the Altec Lansing speakers from that system, although modified.

 

[Snarfie]

Radio was a lot different here in the UK, few stations either AM or FM were licensed and I was certainly listening to FM at home with a good tuner. I learned most about the music I still enjoy listening to now since the BBC broadcast a live concert every evening on what is now Radio 3.
I lived in London back then so didn't bother with a car.

The audio/music I listen to most at home is still radio via a Bose Wave Music System III, about 14 years old. Often KCSM via Bluetooth, and Dutch stations via DAB+. Even FM sounds surprisingly good, using the power cord as its antenna by design. Listening to radio still surprises me, especially the music choices on KCSM, where I regularly hear jazz I’ve never heard before. The now an than added background information about the tracks makes the experience even richer something algorithm driven playlists usually lack and that sense of discovery is a relief these days.