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With the compact cassette at the peak of its popularity,
Philips was ready to unveil yet another groundbreaking
audio innovation.
In 1974, a Philips research team in Eindhoven developed a
20cm optical audio disc with sound quality far superior to
the large yet fragile vinyl record. What we ultimately revealed
to the world in 1979 was an 11.5cm ‘Compact Disc’. The
team’s objectives: music reproduction of an unprecedented
quality sans interference and noise; and resilience to light
ngerprints, dust and scratches – were successfully achieved.
As international standardization was key to its success, Philips
collaborated with Sony to establish the global Red Book
standard for digital audio discs. From 1980, both companies
granted manufacturing rights to several producers, thus
boosting the prospects of this new standard.
1983 saw the Big Bang of the digital audio revolution, as
CD players and discs were widely released in key markets.
CDs became more aordable, revolutionizing the record
industry and how people enjoyed music at home. Improved
sound quality, durable materials and ability to skip whole
tracks instantly, propelled the success of the CD and rmly
established Philips’ reputation as the undisputed global
leader in audio.
Hot on the heels of the compact disc came the Philips
FW-i1000 – the world’s rst integrated audio device
connecting to over a thousand internet radio stations.
Following this was our Streamium MC-i250 – the world’s
rst wireless broadband internet micro Hi-Fi system and
forerunner of the wireless speakers that we enjoy today.
Oering unlimited access to multiple online music services
and streaming of digital music from multiple devices
on a home network, the MC-i250 was the rst of many
Streamium products that provided integrated home
entertainment functions. ‘Don’t dream it, stream it!’ was its
apt and catchy slogan.
CD-100 – The world’s rst CD player, 1982 (Invented by Philips in
cooperation with Sony).
Compact discs at their peak – CD factory in Hannover, 1985. Streamium MC-i250 – The world’s rst wireless broadband internet
micro Hi-Fi system, 2003.
The CD revolution Connecting audio
After World War II, Philips manufactured tape recorders for
magnetic sound and playback. However, the loose reels
made tape-threading a ddly task, restricting them for
professional use only.
In 1963, we presented the world’s rst compact cassette
recorder in Berlin’s International Radio Exhibition. Not only
was this revolutionary product conveniently small, it encased
both tape reels in plastic, overcoming the issue with loose
reels. Although originally conceived for dictation, record
companies recognized its potential. Philips decided to license
the cassette format for free, establishing itself as the founder
of portable audio and a new format that became the world
standard for decades.
In 1966, the rst cassette albums were released under the
Philips-owned Mercury label. Soon after, we launched the
rst car radio/cassette and a portable radio-cassette player.
By the 1970s, the compact cassette was the most popular
format for pre-recorded music.
The world’s rst compact cassette recorder, 1963.Brochure image introducing the rst ‘pocket-sized’ compact cassette tape recorder, 1963.
The birth of portable audio