Discover memorable developments in hi-fi history

Although audio technology has only been through a relatively short time, it has achieved many remarkable achievements. That is not only about sound quality and usability but also about physical design. To understand more about the development process and memorable milestones in this technology, let’s join Dynaudio experts “back to the source” through the following article, briefly scrolling through the notable highlights in the history of hi-fi audio.

Initiation: sound on wax

The history of mechanical playing began in 1877 when Thomas Edison invented the first hand-crank-sounding machine. Sound waveforms are “carved” into grooves onto revolving cylinders covered with thin tin foil or later wax to record sound. To listen again, these cylinders will be rotated but with an additional stylus placed in the grooves to create vibrations (according to the groove’s morphology) and produce sound. The sound from the probe will be very small but will be amplified many times so that it can be heard thanks to the horn. That was a familiar design for the first home theater machines.

Audio technology after world war 2

The idea of playing hi-fi music didn’t exist in the early 20th century. The options for listening to music at home were only 78rpm phonographs and AM radios with poor sound quality. Listeners are also very easygoing; they accept the “bup bup” or “tack tack” sound when listening to music on the phonograph.

However, after World War II, new technological innovations such as the 33rpm LP disc made of low-noise vinyl or low-noise FM radio changed the face of the audio industry rapidly. Magnetic tape is also a remarkable invention that further enhances the sound quality of home audio systems.

The first “fashionable” system

Many of the early hi-fi players invested in a radiogram, an all-in-one music player system. This system combines a radio receiver, gramophone, amplifier, and speakers in the same chassis designed as living room furniture. Radiogram systems were mass-produced and supplied from the 1940s to the 1970s until more compact audio system designs officially replaced them and made them a thing of the past.

Possessing an FM radio receiver and turntable to play both 33rpm and 45rpm discs, the radiogram system can deliver decently but not the outstanding sound quality, but true hi-fi enthusiasts always demand more than that.

Multi-component HiFi systems take the throne.

When you set up an audio system with all of your favorite components – turntables, radio receivers, pre-amps, amplifiers, speakers, and other accessories – users can create a system that is just right for the size of the room. Purse or each musical taste. This practice continues with more and more options, from cassettes, CDs, and DATs to MiniDisc players, stream players, and hard drives.

Separate components for audio systems manufactured by the UK, the US, or Japan began to appear on the market around 1950, known as the “Golden Age of Hi-Fi.” The market also began to appear stereo recordings (before it was only mono). There were more tube amp models with warmer and more emotional sound quality, such as Quad II.

Speaker bookshelf

A separate sound system (explained above) suffers from a rather important problem: too large. The discrete speaker models will occupy a whole part of the room and are proportional to the sound quality they provide. That is where bookshelf speakers come in.

Bookshelf speakers such as the Acoustic Research AR-2 (1957) impressed users with their modest size but provided excellent sound quality due to their more modern acoustic technology. New audio technology uses the gas inside the cabinet to produce bass that’s much more powerful than previous larger models.

The birth of music centers

In 1970, music center systems were officially born as the first form of mini-systems. The music center is like a bolder concept of the radiogram system, focusing on providing hi-fi sound quality with stronger performance. The music center is still equipped with a 12-inch turntable, so it’s not too neat in general; in return, it has both a radio receiver and a cassette compartment that will provide the widest possible compatibility. The speakers that come with the device are either built-in or designed to work best with the system.

Digital music revolution

The increasing demand for portable music also causes home music systems to change to suit the trend. Young users began to use less physical forms of music playing but instead download or streaming formats. This movement started with the legendary Apple iPod and then the smartphone or tablet as it is today. These devices can be easily connected to wireless speakers and serve you anywhere.

While the true audiophile always focuses on the highest sound quality settings, the convenience of a compact box speaker that can be taken anywhere is still an irresistible idea.

Smart sound systems

Dynaudio has just launched the Music smart hi-fi system with four versions, Music 1, Music 3, Music 5, and Music 7, possessing a unique luxurious design that can be placed anywhere in your home. The most notable smart feature of the Music system is RoomAdapt, which allows it to adjust and optimize performance to best suit its surroundings automatically. Another feature is NoiseAdapt, which automatically adjusts the system’s volume based on ambient noise levels.

The Music system owns the music. Now algorithm learns and remembers the user’s listening preferences, thereby automatically creating a random playlist according to those preferences with just one simple keystroke. The system is also compatible with various sources such as Wi-Fi, TIDAL, Apple AirPlay, DLNA/UPnP, Bluetooth, USB, 3.5mm, and HDMI. Music can also connect to smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, home cinema systems, or most hi-fi devices with standard stereo output.