Evening star., 1925-08-30
TONE BETTERMENT
IS RADIOS GOAL
New Trend Is Toward In
proved Reception and
Easy Operation.
RY Carl. n. BUTNA\.

RY CARL II. BUTMAN.
The trend of developments in broad
cast receiving sets for the coming sea
son, based principally upon IN. de-
mands of listeners. is toward tone
quality and faithfulness OF reproduc
ton: simplicity in operation. selec
tivity and appearance follow approx
mately in the order given. Most new
sets guarantee loud-speaker operation,
and some do not require artenna and
batteries. The outside aerial, however.
Is held by many experts the most
ef1cient, while others believe that bat
tery-operated tubes will continue long
in favor with the fans. An analysis
Of 5a1 up-to-date ana new sets pro
duced by 7S manufacturers shows that
the latest complete sets all provide
loud speaker volume. except Is, some
Of which are crystal receivers.
Out of the total 391 sets. all but os
depend upon outside aerials, these 5S
using loops or being adaptable to
either aerials or lops. There Is
pronounced tendency toward loops.
especially in superheterodynes. Al
though 1S9 of the sets listed are three
dial receivers, and 1872 are two-dial
AFFAIRS, 20 receivers operate with q
tendency toward simplicity in manipu-
lation, which appeals especially TO the
non-technicsl operator.
Another tendency is toward the
elimination Of unsishtly horns. the new
cone and cabinet types of reproducers
being favored wood is replacing many
metallic substances in loud-speaker
production One new type is mounted
on an attract pedestal Many new
sets include built-in takers, or are
combined with phonogra phs. A num-
her OF really portable receivers are
now on the market, some Of which are
complete and ready for use. Other
portables are in prospect. which indi-
Gates increased use OF radio in the
Summer time. Apparently few re
radiating sets are being put on the
market.
Operation Better.
All positive indications point to
sets which will operate better and
make for harmony in the living rooms.
Taking the negative side, ii appears
that there is a marked decrease in the
demand by fans for distance, they
seem TO be accepting entertaining pro-
grams from good stations nearer
home, rather than striving for long
distance BY 1925 1t is anticipated
that there will be few DIX fans. com
pared with the great numbers A year
or two ago. The demand for volume
has died down markedly. chiefly be
cause this requirement has been met
in most sets. Fans will be delighted
to know, if they do not already realize
it, that prices are gradually falling of,
this decline began late in 1924 and
still seems TO be dropping apidly.
A survey Of the situation for the
retailers. by no less an authority than
j. Andrew White. verifies those facts
in anticipating the Fall demands on
the manufacturers and dealers broad
cast receiver. He cannot foresee any
thing revolutionary. In this view
many others concur: they fail to see
anything radically new on the horizon
which will eliminate or make the pres
ent type Of receiver obsolete for years
10 come. Although there Is pro
neunced indication Of an, efictent
source Of tube power from the light
supply lines, few believe thai batteries,
storage or dry, will disa ppear. holding
that the battery-type sets will con-
tinue to be popular. Despite the in
terest and probable demand for the
new light or power tubes. the storage
battery tube will still be demanded
and interest in the dry-cen tubes Will
increase.
Sets with multiplicity ef controls
are doomed, Mr.. White predicts, point |
ing out that although most operators
are willing to use two hands. few |
desire to try to manipulate three or
more controls In general, he believes |
the prospective purchaser will con
tinue to use what he has, unless he
can get something better or what he
wants at reasonable price. Cor |
reborating this analysis, most manu- |
lecturers agree in the main. II not in !
all details. A census OF 100 dealers I
shows.
Regenerative Set Going.
A survey based on sales of manu-
factured sets by large retail stores |
I'm New York and Chicago, conducted !
by the retailers. indicates that inter |
est in regenerative sets is practically
gone. The reflex. which was next in /
popularity with the regenerative set
in 1922. began to lose its status early
in 1924 The neutrodyne achieved
an important place in 1924 and held
II until 1925 when it started to slip. |
about the time the superheteredyne
appeared If the survey were based |
upon production instead of sales. the
neutrodyne would be second in popu-
larity today. but the radio frequency
is first now in fan interest. position
gained recently. and the superhetero-
dyne is second. having practically
maintained its position since its ap-
"Supers" are losing their popu-
lsrity among the home made sets. |
following a rapid rise to first place in
preference during 1924; reSenerative
receivers have been on the down.
grade since their inception. except
that they maintained a constant posi-
tion in 1924; neutrodynes are holding
considerable interest, even though
they fell off sharply in 1924. Radio
frequency and reflex sets. however.
show greatly increased popularity
The former appears to be gaining
rapidly on the latter, and to have
passed the popularity of the home
made 'superhet' this Summer. These
figures, however, may not represent
The trend in the country at large, as
they are based upon the number of
part sales made by a large chain
store FIGURES based upon the situ-
ti.u in the New York district. how
ever. are considered as indicative.
aimee this territory represents the
best radio sales territory in the coun
try. The State leads all others. with
Illinois second and PENNSYLVANIA
third in radio sales.
Radio Exports Increase.