Audio in the living room

Compact disk (CD) players have strengthened what was formerly one of the weakest links of audio systems-the mechanical conversion of recorded sound into electric signals. They have almost none of the distortion produced by turntables and vinyl records. Digital information, in the form of small pits, is inscribed onto plastic disks and detected by laser. However, another weak link in audio systems-the conversion of electric signals to sound-remains weak, as advances in speaker technology have been slow, and even the best speakers are highly sensitive to placement. The objections that have been raised to the sound produced by CD players are discussed. It is pointed out that in view of the wide selection of available recordings for turntables, and the large capital investment that many consumers have made in record collections over the years, turntables seem destined to remain in many homes for some time. Some of the electronic synthesizers that are now available for home use are described.