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THE 4-CHANNEL DILEMMA, which puts the purchase of audio equipment in the category of an "Agonizing Decision" (eine qualvolle Entscheidung), was never more evident than in this month 's Off Duty Shopper, our annual survey of receivers, amplifiers and tuners (Oktober 1972).

In past years, the basic decision was between the convenient all-in-one receiver and separate side-by-side components with their added measure of flexibility. Now a giant question, whether to go 4-channel or stay with conventional stereo components, must also be answered before taking the plunge on a new music system.

To help you meet the problem head-on and arrive at a solution, here are some basic facts and guidelines:
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1. Fact - The selection of stereo receivers is much bigger than 4-channel. Most manufacturers offer stereo models in every price class but have only just started to broaden the price range of 4-channei equipment.
2. Fact - A 4-channel receiver costs a lot more than stereo. And no wonder, since discrete 4-channel means four preamps, four power amps, four sets of controls, while stereo has just two of each.

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Now for the agonizing part (die Qual der Wahl). Which is the better buy?

If pinned down, I 'd say that stereo has the edge right now, measured strictly in terms of power and features for the money. To you, the customer, the enormous selection offered in stereo receivers means a hotly competitive market and lower prices.

You pay less for technology, since costly R&D has been amortized over a larger number of models. Parts, too, have been produced in much larger quantities for stereo than for new 4-channel designs, so the per-unit cost of stereo components is likely to be lower.

To help you out of the dilemma, designers have made it easy to convert stereo equipment to 4-channel operation anytime you 're ready. Virtually every stereo receiver (or amplifier) on the market has a rear-panel provision for connecting a rear-channel amplifier with the controls you need to go 4-channel all the way.

Since it's so easy, you can buy a stereo model without fear of early obsolescence, and take advantage of the broad selection of components that stereo offers.

Designers also recognize that new 4-channel models are certain to come on the market in fast-and-furious succession over the next few years. Let's face it, no matter which model you buy right now, it's a sure bet that next year's model will have a new doo-dad on the front panel or a hot new IC inside.
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Meanwhile, you can't afford to wait - these bargain military-discount prices are available only during your overseas tour of duty- - so you have to decide now which way to go.

And you don't have to wait, because the basic performance of the equipment on sale now will not be seriously affected by the refinements on the way. In other words, it's not the amplifiers and tuners that will change as 4-channel is developed, since both these components have already been refined to near-perfection.

It's the decoder circuitry and the method of controlling Surround Sound that designers are fussing over, and their new doo-dads will inevitably be offered in adapter modules that you can add to any combination of current-model stereo or 4-channel components.

So there 's no way the agony of deciding between stereo and 4-channel can dampen the joy of buying late-model audio equipment at military bargain prices. No matter what you buy, there will be a more sophisticated "logic" decoder on the market a year or two hence. Maybe an amazing Quadradisc demodulator will be introduced, claiming to be still better. And an all-new FM unscrambler for discrete quad from the airwaves, if the FCC gives the go-ahead. Or stereophonic TV that you can pipe into your components system. And still more electronic goodies, some already on the drawing boards while others germinate in the brains of audio designers. No matter. With today's crop of top-flight amplifiers, tuners and receivers, you're ready for them.

Walter B. Rios
(er ist der Gründer und Herausgeber der "of duty" magzine seit 1970,)
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