Records: Spinning Out

The question is no longer whether stereo sound is here to stay, but how long monaural sound can last. Today, three out of five phonographs sold are stereo, as are about half of all new LP records. Even the new monaural phonographs are now equipped to play stereo records without damaging them. So it seemed a natural step last week when Columbia, RCA Victor and Capitol Records announced they were eliminating the only competitive advantage that mono LPs have by raising their price $1, making them as costly as stereo.

The move will undoubtedly spark some static in the pop LP market, where the biggest buyers are teenagers, who care more about money than modulation. But it will hardly ruffle classical buffs, who have long ago switched to dual channels. The long-term trend is unmistakable: like the 78-r.p.m. disk and the 10-in. LP before it, the mono LP appears to be headed for its final spin.