Radio broadcast .. (1922-30)

RADIO IWOADCAST. higher, the average at the New York show being $107 and at the Chicago show $80.60. But, with some 60 per cent, of all models at $200 or less, the buying public will have a wide choice of mod- erately priced, well-designed radio sets. 3. Tables, consoles, or combinations ? Consoles quite definitely. Of the 139 models classified, 99 re- ceivers (71 per cent.) were consoles, 14 per cent, were tables, and 14 per cent, were combination radio phonographs. The buyer now gets a "swell" piece of furniture when he buys his radio receiver. Buying the set complete in a cabinet with a loud speaker also has the advantage that the manufacturer will al- ways pick out a loud speaker that will give best results with his particular receiver, a good argument for the dealer when a customer wants to use an old already- owned loud speaker. 4. Dynamic loudspeakers vs. non-dynamic types. Dynamic loud speakers continue to run away with the field. The slight increase (4 per cent.) in receivers using non-dynamic loud speakers at the New York show may or may not be a trend. One fact is certain however—the dynamic is still, by far, the most popu- lar loud speaker. 5. How much power will the September buyer get? At the Chicago show 77 per cent, of all models ana- lyzed used the 245-type power tube. Exactly the same percentage held for the models analyzed at New York. Since the majority of these receivers used two of the new power tubes, the average user will get at least 3.0 watts (if he wants it) from his radio, or about three times that obtainable from sets of a year ago which used a single 171 tube. No wonder New York is considering laws to regu- late the amount of noise (unwanted radio music) which anyone can thrust upon the neighborhood air. Comparison of Chicago and New York Shows TUBES Type of tube No. of models classified trend towards the use of fewer tubes—due possibly to the effect of the screen-grid tube which gives some three times as much amplification as from ordinary tubes. At the New York show. 133 models were classified and 13 used 6 tubes or less, 65 used 7 tubes, 35 used 8 tubes, and 20 used 9 or more tubes. 9. If hat about d.c. and battery-operated sets? Out of 141 models on which data was obtained there were 13 of the d.c. and battery-operated types. The industry has put most emphasis on the a.c. set, but indications are that the d.c. set will soon get more attention—which it certainly deserves. Some consolation may be had from the fact that only 9 such sets were exhibited at the Chicago show whereas 13 were shown at the New York Radio World's Fair. using lube °'o not using tube Screen Grid 245 Power 215 202 161 134 45.5 77 55 77 54.5 23 45 23 PRICES OF RECEIVING SETS No. of models Up to $100 $100-f150 $150-t300 $200-$300 classified No. % No. <" c , No. % No. <" c $300 up NO. c Chicago 212 New York 141 36 17 17. n. 36 27 17. 19. 66 42 31. 30. 45 34 21. 21. 29 22 14. 16. NUMBER OF TUBES USED IN RECEIVERS Number of models 6 tubes 7 lubes classified No. ', No. ', 8 lubes No. < .9 tubes or more No. % Chicago New York 190 133 18 13 10. 9. 44 65 23. 49. 77 35 40. 27. 51 20 27. 15. CABINETS No. models classified Chicago New York 219 139 No. 166 99 Consoles 76. 72. No. 32 20 Table Phono-radio No. 15. II 21 20 9. 14. No. of models classified LOUD SPEAKERS Dvnamics No. % Not dvnamics No. % Chicago New York 215 122 209 114 97 93 No. of models classified Chicago New York 202 134 245'* No. 156 103 POWER TUBE TYPES No. 171'f No. 250's No. H5's No. 77 77 26 1.5 14 13 10 16 1 J 2.0 4.2 No. of models classified ( lllica^o New York 202 129 No. 199 114 PUSH PULL Push pull Not push pull No. 98 88 3 15 2 \ — AVERAGE PRICE OF VARIOUS TYPES Type of receiver Average price Cliirayn /Vra> York Table Model . . Console .... I'honograph-Radio $ 80.69 240.00 $107.00 232.00 395.00 6. How do push-pull and single tubes compare ? Only 1.5 per cent, of the sets analyzed at Chicago used single tubes in the power stage. At New York there was a decrease in percentage of models using push pull (one company alone had some ten models none of which used push pull.) Does this mean that set designers are finding single audio stages are as quiet with single tubes as they are in push pull? Or that (as is true) the average person cannot tell the difference between the output of a single tube compared to that obtainable from push-pull tubes? 7. Have prices changed since June ? There has been no change in the average price of console models, which nearly everyone buys (or sells). Table models seem to be somewhat higher, and phono-radio combinations are as expensive as ever, the average being $395. 8. How many tubes do the sets use ? Sets are using fewer tubes. Models using 7 tubes or less made up 59 per cent, of the exhibits at the New York show and only 33 per cent, at the Chicago show. Here, apparently, is a definite 10. What are the special features? The use of screen-grid tubes must be classed as the major feature which radio receivers boasted at the September show. There were also other features which time will probably bring into even greater pro- minence. These are auto- matic tuning, remote con- trol of tuning, phonograph jacks, automatic control of the voltage into the receiver (line-voltage control), tone- control knobs which enable the listener to remove high or low audio tones if desired —as when static is bad— greater use of local-distance switches, linear and power detection, single stage audio amplifiers, humless ampli- fiers, illuminated tuning dials, and other dials in which the entire scale is always visible. 11. What does the cus- tomer get? If the models exhibited at the show indicate the trend in the public's buy- ing, most of the sales will be consoles—table models are in the minority. An average console model re- ceiver costs $232 and in- cludes, almost invariably, a dynamic loud speaker, push-pull 245-type power tubes or tubes of even more power output, a sensitive and selective tuning system. The table models cost about half as much as a console, i.e., $107, and have everything the consoles have except the special features which go with the latter type of set, such as loud speakers, etc. The table model purchaser buys, or owns, a separate loud speaker. The table set will be more selective and more sensitive than sets of a year or more ago. If the purchaser wants the best of modern radio, he will buy a combination phonograph-radio set which will cost him, on the average, about $400. It will include a dynamic loud speaker, the power output of push-pull 245-type tubes or more power output if desired, and space for records with which to while away the time when there is no (or no good) broadcasting. No matter what type of receiver your customer buys, this year he receives more value for his money than he did last year. Sets are not only generally better, giving improved sensitivity, selec- tivity, and fidelity, but prices on the average are lower than a year ago. Prices vary from a low limit of about $50 to an upper limit of about $2500—there is a radio set to fit every pocketbook. 12 NOVEMBER 1929