JVC's research into recording systems using a supersonic modulated carrier started in 1963. Since then there has been intensive research which has resulted in the CD-4 discrete 4-channel record system. Major milestones in its recent development are:

• 1970 Sept. - JVC announced the CD-4 system in Japan and demonstrated it.
• 1970 Oct. - At the 39th AES Convention in New York JVC gave a report "A Discrete 4-Channel Disc and its Reproducing System" and demonstrated the CD-4 system.
• 1971 March - At the 1st Central European AES Meeting JVC read a report "The 4-Channel Disc, CD-4" and demonstrated the CD-4 system.
• 1971 April - At the 40th AES Convention in Los Angeles JVC reported on a number of engineering improvements in the CD-4 system.
• 1971 June - The Shibata stylus, specially designed for the CD-4 system, was announced.
• 1971 June - CD-4 records and playback equipment were released on the Japanese market.
• 1971 July - JVC submitted a technical report "A Discrete 4-Channel Disc and its Reproducing System (CD-4)" to the Journal of the AES.
• 1971 Oct. - At the 41st AES Convention in New York JVC gave a report on "Further Improvements of the Discrete 4-Channel Disc System"
• 1971 Nov. - An announcement was made in New York by JVC, Panasonic and RCA that RCA Records would adopt the CD-4 system.
• 1971 Dec. - The Engineering Committee of the Japan Phonograph Record Association issued standards for the manufacture of CD-4 records.
• 1972 Feb. - A demodulator was developed with a better performance and improved compatibility because of its use of a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) IC.

• 1972 March At the 2nd Central European AES Meeting JVC reported on "Further Improvements in the Discrete 4-Channel System (CD-4)".
• 1972 March The 4DD-10 Demodulator was put on sale in export markets.
• 1972 May RCA Records released CD-4 re­cords in the U.S.A.
• 1972 May At the 42nd AES Convention in Los Angeles JVC reported "On the Reproduction of Discrete 4-Channel Disc, CD-4"
• 1972 June The 4DD-5 fully compatible De­modulator was put on sale in the Japanese and export markets.
• 1972 June JVC submitted a report on "Fur­ther Improvements in CD-4" to the Journal of the AES.
• 1972 July The Engineering Committee of the Electronic Industries Associa­tion of Japan issued a set of standards for CD-4 hardware.
• 1972 July The number of CD-4 albums re­leased in Japan exceeded 100.
• 1972 July CD-4 record cutting started at RCA's New York studio.
• 1972 Aug. A CD-4 patent was issued in the U.S.A.
• 1972 Sept. At the 43rd AES Convention in New York, JVC gave a paper on "The Technical Requirements of Phono Cartridges for Proper Play­back of CD-4 Discrete 4-Channel Records".
• 1972 Nov. A 4-channel receiver 4VR-1006 with a built-in CD-4 demodulator was put on sale.
• 1972 Nov. Teichiku Records and Nippon Phonogram Records released CD-4 records.
• 1972 Dec. The number of CD-4 albums released in Japan exceeded 150.
• 1973 Feb. The WEA Group of companies signed a licensing agreement to produce CD-4 records.

As of March 1973, the hardware companies other than JVC which are committed to the CD-4 system are:

1. Panasonic,
2. Pioneer,
3. Hitachi,
4. Mitsubishi,
5. Sanyo,
6. Onkyo,
7. Sharp,
8. Trio Kenwood,
9. Akai and
10. Sansui.

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CD-4 was first sold in Japan in the middle of 1971 and has had unrivalled success since then. Over 60% of the 4-channel re­cords sold are CD-4. This is because CD-4 is the only system which satisfies all the conditions necessary to be really market­able. JVC's prediction which was made early in the develop­ment of the CD-4 system, that CD-4 would be the industry­wide standard in the years to come, is coming true. Several record companies have already released CD-4 records and several more have stated their intention to do so in the months to come.

More important, other hardware manufacturers, who were or, in some cases, still are involved with matrix pseudo 4-channel systems are incorporating CD-4 demodulators into their latest, top quality amplifiers and receivers. Almost every high quality amplifier being sold in Japan has a built-in CD-4 demodulator. As well as increasing the number of CD-4 users this indicates fcat CD-4 has really been accepted.

Stereo and Hifi have maximum market penetration in the United States. At the moment CD-4 4-channel has had its maxi­mum impact in Japan, but this situation is likely to change. From the start, CD-4 has been accepted by RCA as the only wholly satisfactory 4-channel record system. Their "QUADRA-DISC records are in the CD-4 format. These records are being released every month in increasing numbers and it is RCA's intention to change their entire production to "QUADRA-DISC" records in the near future. The WEA group, the biggest popular record producer in the U.S., has also signed a licensing agreement with JVC to manufacture CD-4 records. JVC has established a wholly owned subsidiary in Los Angeles, JVC Records Inc., to cut CD-4 masters for U.S. record manu­facturers. These developments, together with the sales and publicity campaign planned by JVC, should make the U.S. audio buying public fully aware of the CD-4 system during 1973.

In Europe the situation is slightly different because 4-channel records and CD-4 are relatively unknown. At the end of 1972, JVC entertained a party of American and European audio writers. Their comments, combined with the publicity cam­paign in 1973, should change this situation. JVC's CD-4 equipment will be demonstrated throughout Western Europe in 1973 and JVC's CD-4 records will be available. Very soon, RCA "QUADRADISC" records will be released in Europe, first imported from the U.S.A. and then later cut in Europe.

If a buyer was setting up a CD-4 system as his first venture into the world of audio, he would be able to buy a complete range of components, which have been specially designed to play CD-4 records and get the best out of them. And if an enthusiast with an unlimited budget wanted to set up a CD-4 system, he could do the same. But this is seldom the case. Usually people upgrade their audio systems by adding components to an existing system.

Your record player will probably be completely satisfactory. The main consideration is, that the signal cords, which connect it to the demodulator, should have a sufficiently low capacitance. JVC makes low capacitance signal cords (LSC-1) and these are available from your JVC dealer. Your cartridge and stylus assembly, unless it is very modern, will almost certainly have to be replaced by one with the wide range frequency response necessary to play CD-4 records to their best advantage.

If a cartridge/stylus with a less wide frequency response is used, although the difference (frequency modulated) signal will be detected, it will not be strong enough to produce the optimum channel separation between the front and rear.
The next component in the system is the only truly essential new component. JVC's newly developed demodulator is necessary for playing CD-4 records. You can buy it as a separate component or built-in with a record player, receiver, amplifier or console.

Fully discrete 4-channel amplification is, of course, necessary. Some audiophiles will already have an integrated 4-channel amplifier. Others may chose to buy an add-on amplifier such as JVC's model VN-5101; these can be used to give an existing 2-channel amplifier a 4-channel ability. And still others will chose to buy a 4-channel amplifier or receiver. Four identical speakers are the ideal, but many people will prefer initially to buy only one pair of new speakers. To get the best possible sound from a CD-4 system, it is better, to buy omni-directional speakers for the rear pair of speakers.

JVC manufactures a comprehensive range of discrete 4-channel integrated amplifiers which, connected to a demodulator, give CD-4 4-channel sound.

CD-4 records and playback equipment are now being marketed world-wide. Other manufacturers as well as JVC are involved in both these facets of production. And JVC is continuing in its development. These are three very important facts. The evidence is that JVC has developed a 4-channel recording system which will be used as the world standard for many years to come. The CD-4 system is sufficiently flexible to allow further research to improve many aspects of record production and reproduction techniques without making the playback equipment and records now being marketed obsolete. This is a most powerful recommendation for audio enthusiasts to invest in the CD-4 system.

Das war die Vision . . . . . von 1973 und 1974 . . . . .

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