Page "Vehicle audio" Paragraph 12

The introduction of semiconductors ( transistors ) allowed the output stage to change to a transistor, which soon lead to the elimination of the vibrator, and the use of " space charge " tubes that only required 6 or 12 volts on their plates without a high voltage plate power supply ( typical examples were the 6DR8 / EBF83, 6GM8 / ECC86, 6DS8 / ECH83, 6ES6 / EF97 and 6ET6 / EF98 ).

Advances in electronics allowed additions to the basic radio and Motorola offered 16 2 / 3 rpm disc players fitted to some Chryslers known as Highway Hi-Fi from as early as 1956 and ran through 1958.

Records were produced under license by Columbia " Special Products " division and sold exclusively through Chrysler dealers.

The 45 rpm record player was introduced in 1959 and ran through the early 60 " s under the RCA and ARC brand.

Earl " Madman " Muntz introduced the " 4-track " tape player in the early ' 60s using a continuous loop cartidge and was the first commercially available " car stereo ".

Tape players using reel to reel equipment followed, but their bulk ensured limited popularity.

This changed in 1964 when Philips launched the Compact Cassette.

During the ' 60s Lear invented and introduced the 8-track cartridge in competition with the cassette system.

Other early manufacturers and enthusiasts began building extra audio amplifiers to run on 12 volts ( the standard voltage in automotive electrical systems ).

Jim Fosgate, later to become the founder of Rockford Fosgate, was one such pioneer.

The company a / d / s also brought an amplifier to market in 1978.