The Evolution of Car Audio Systems
Listening to your favorite music is freeing as you crank the music and gaze out at the open road. However, the option to customize your car stereo system is a relatively recent phenomenon. There were no alternatives for music listening while driving for almost 20 years. According to Statista reports, the global volume of audio systems is expected to reach 14.7 million units by 2023. With the development of digital technology and the widespread iPod use, listening to music in cars evolved from the dashboard to your pocket and, eventually, your phone. So, where did it all start? The Beginning The first early vehicle radios were introduced in 1930 by Paul and Joseph Galvin, two successful brothers. Later, a German company named Blaupunkt introduced the first FM radio that could be used in a car in 1952. An AM/FM radio would be introduced a year later by Becker’s Mexico, and it would soon become the industry standard for many years. Trial and Error period: 1950s and 1960s Chrysler released the first (and only) in-car phonograph in 1956 under the moniker Highway Hi-Fi. Then, Chrysler produced 7-inch records that could be played by flipping a switch. All of these records were produced under a unique contract with Columbia Records. Later on, Earl “Madman” Muntz invented a new system based on the 4-track technology used in audio recordings, and this innovation set the standard for audio-car systems for the following 25 years. 1970s and 1980s: Cassette Tape Era After being introduced in 1964 by Phillips, smaller cassette tapes’ quality gradually increased and eventually replaced the bigger 8-track. Cassette tapes became the norm after the Sony Walkman, which was introduced in 1979 and allowed for the creation of personalized playlists, became popular. Automobile manufacturers started providing better speakers that drivers could install themselves,