The Sony PCM-1 was the first consumer PCM processor introduced to the Japanese market by Sony in September 1977. Although only about three hundred units were sold worldwide, this limited circulation was sufficient for the project to be deemed a success in the realm of consumer digital audio recording devices.
The technical specifications of the PCM-1 laid the groundwork for the EIAJ STC-007 standard, which set the requirements for consumer PCM processors.
Like all early digital audio processors, the Sony PCM-1 recorded onto a video tape recorder as it had no internal recording mechanism. It utilised a 13-bit bit rate and a sampling frequency of 44.056kHz, which is incompatible with the later CD standard of 16-bit/44.1kHz.
The Sony PCM-1’s appearance was more aligned with Sony’s consumer products than their professional audio gear, making it a stylish addition to any home sound system of the time with its brushed aluminium facia and controls.
However, the rear panel indicated a blend of professional and consumer features, with both XLR and RCA connectors for inputs and outputs, signalling Sony’s intention to target the high-end consumer audio market. The device’s extremely high price, however, meant that only the most affluent audiophiles could afford it.
The Sony PCM-1 was Sony’s first product of its kind, laying the groundwork for the subsequent explosion of digital audio in both the consumer and professional audio markets.
