Welcome to Hell, here's your 8-Track


Neil Postman once said, 

"Anyone who has studied the history of technology knows that technological change is always a Faustian bargain: Technology giveth and technology taketh away, and not always in equal measure. A new technology sometimes creates more than it destroys. Sometimes, it destroys more than it creates. But it is never one-sided."

I'm pretty sure that we know that the 8-track was more bad than good.

Question for audiophiles here who might know -- was there anything good about 8-track technology that was lost when it went extinct? And what was that good, audio-wise, specifically?

 

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Showing 1 response by asvjerry

8 track was a brief step up for my brother, who started out with a car LP player.

As long as the road was smooth (recently re-paved preferable), it almost worked.  You could almost see the vinyl being carved out of the grooves...

The 'reverb unit' that was previously attached to the Chevys' dash radio was absolutely hilarious, tho'...

Hit any bump, manhole cover, or debris rewarded you with a loud "BOIIIINNNGGggg" that would make me laugh like a hyena while he'd get pissed.

The follow-up 8 track was a great respite to all that....until the tape would stretch and I'd get relegated to digging it out of the player.

After losing a few carts, he'd moved on to the 396 Chevelle, whose engine and exhaust made more pleasant noises..... ;)