Well gang, today’s subject takes us to the arena of the great tape versus disc controversy. Which is best? What are the advantages of each? Which offers the most faithful reproductive qualities? Ever since cassettes and cartridges became mass market items — as opposed to open reel tape which has always been a semi-consumer item because of its price tag — the competition between formats has been stiff. Records have become more expensive for more than the obvious reasons: artists have taken the elaborate rhulti-disc productions with complimentary packaging, the cost of which is being passed on to the consumer; also, quadrophonic discs have become available to record manufacutrers which allow a price rise for the extra sound you’re getting even though production costs on quad are similar and will eventually be equal to stereo.

While records are costing more, cheap audio cassettes are becoming part of the tape business with C-60 cassettes (one hour recording time) going for as little as 89 cents. Cassette players have also become less expensive, available now for $39.50 up. Two years ago prices were twice that.