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*- n ^ • > ' * > . • O ' ' ? ' . > • / • ; . : . r ; > ; / ~ v • ' 1 " " V PAGE 28-PLAINDEALER - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20,IW» • -1 • mf Want to simplify your Christ­ mas shopping and give a single gift the entire family can enjoy? Consider a quality stereo system. ' According to John C. Koss, chairman of Koss Corporation, a world leading manufacturer of high fidelity stereophones and loudspeakers, a careful shopper can assemble a first-rate starter system for only a few hundred dollars. "The basic unit in a modern component stereo system is the receiver," Koss says. "This consists of an FM tuner, preamplifier and power amplifier on a single chassis. Add a pair of speakers and a turntable for playing records, and you're in business." A component system-; Koss explains, takes a "building- block" approach to stereo. Indi­ vidual components can be purchased separately and can be added, replaced or upgraded at any time without scrapping the entire system. In this respect, it differs from a "compact" or "one-piece" stereo system. Amplifier power "Because pieces can be bought separately, the buyer can take advantage of bargains on different components," Koss points out. * "He or she can also tailor the system to individual needs. This is important in a starter system 1 because the key to saving money is to be realistic about amplifier power. "When you buy a receiver separately from speakers and turntable, you can buy exactly the power you need." Amplifier power is expressed, in watts, Koss explains, and more watts mean more money. If you plan to play your system at normal volume in an average- sized roonvyou don't need a great deal of power, he advises. Koss feels a 15-or 20-watt receiver, retailing for about $250, is perfectly adequate if it is coupled with a set of efficient loudspeakers. Gilt ol CROSS SINCE 10-36 Writing Instruments in Lu»trou*C^rom« II Or choose from sets by Porker, Poper Mote, Pentel or Hallmark. Browse through our new display showroom featuring full line of Attache and Underarm Cases, Desk Lamps and other practical gift ideas for the business person on your Christmas List. CHRISTMAS GIFT SHOPPERS CAN STRIKE A MUSICAL CHORD and please everyone at once by giving a hi ft component system that the entire family will enjoy. A first-rate starter system of stereo receiver, turntable, loudspeakers and stereophones can be purchased for a very moder­ ate price, according to John C. Koss, chairman of Koss Corporation, a world leading stereo- phone and loudspeaker manufacturer. A component system, he explains, takes a "building block" approach to stereo. Individual components can be purchased separately and can be added, replaced'or upgraded at any time without scrapping the entire system. "Often," Koss observes, "the FM section of that $250 receiver is virtually identical to that in a receiver from the same manufacturer selling for two or three times as much. What you're paying for in the more expensive model is amplifier power." Turntable savings Money can also be saved on turntables, Koss advises if you're willing to forgo fancy ex­ tras and settle for a single-play manual or semiautomatic unit. With a manual player, you must lift the arm at the end of the record and shut off the motor; a semiautomatic lifts the arm by itself, \yith both, you must •^change thSWords manually. "The basic jdb of a high fidelity turntable is to spin the record at a constant speed and do it quietly," Koss says. "Virtually every manufac­ turer of quality turntables has a no-frills model that fulfills those requirements and sells for around $150." In a component high fidelity system, the phonograph needle of days-gone-by has been replaced by a sophisticated removable cartridge which is usually sold separately. Nevertheless, Koss says many audio stores will include a cartridge with the turntable, either free or at nominal cost. Some of these "freebies" are high-quality cartridges that have been discontinued by manufac­ turers, he notes, and conse­ quently represent a real added value. • Speakers the key The most important elements in any home stereo system-- especially a starter system--are the speakers, Koss feels. He advises that about half the expenditure for a first stereo system be spent on the loud­ speakers. "Your speakers determine the quality of your sound more than any other component," he explains. ^ "If you have good speakers right from the start, you'll have a 'yardstick' with which to measure the effect of any changes you might make in your other components as you upgrade your system ifi the future." Thanks to modern speaker technology, Koss says, quality speakers are now available in manageable sizes at manageable prices. The Koss CM/530, for exam­ ple, is a bookshelf-size speaker that handles the deepest bass and highest highs, is efficient enough to match with the low­ est-powered (and hence lowest- priced) receivers on the market, and sells for $230. Stereophones for privacy One final component that . * might be added to your Christ­ mas stereo system^ Koss sug­ gests, is a set of quality stereo­ phones. "With stereophones, one member of the family can enjoy the music of his choice without disturbing the others--even if they're in the same room. That can be a godsend when one of the kids is playing disco music." And a good set of stereo­ phones is surprisingly inexpen­ sive, Koss notes, pointing to the Koss K/6A, at $29.95, as an • example. f In fact, Koss feels that stereo equipment in general constitutes one of the better values in today's inflationary world. "When you consider the overall high quality of today 's stereo components, the flexibil­ ity of the component approach, and the years of pleasure a stereo system can provide," he declares, "a Christmas invest­ ment in a quality music system is just that--an investment." Ifilgsu Calculators by •Texas Instruments •Casio •Sharp starting at II. CORONAMATIC CARTRIDGE ELECTRIC TYPEWRITER SMITH-CORONA Coronamatic 2200 knuth' P.O. KNUTH CO. INC. McHenry County's Leading Sporting Goods & Office Supply Center 228 MAIN ST. 338-3535 WOODSTOCK,ILL. Great listening anytime ' i : MUSIC LOYERS EYERYWHERE will rejoice on Christina* morning if one of their gifts is an exciting new stereo cassette racorder. These music machines can be carried to the ski slopes in winter or the beach in summer for great listening anytime, anywhere. Pick a unit with options galore, such as one of the full feature stereo radio cassette recorders from General Electric. You and your music lover can record live, or directly from fa­ vorite stereo FM or AM stations. If you have tape cassettes of your favorite singer or group, just load them into the machine and enjoy great music anytime. On cold winter evenings, use the cassette recorder indoors with the plug-in power cord. Make your someone happy on Christmas morning with a stereo cassette recorder itVa gift that gives good music all year long.