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Herb Horowitz | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York |
| Died | 1985 |
| Occupations | Audio Engineer and Executive |
| Known for | High Fidelity innovations |
Herb Horowitz (d. 1985) was an American “audio pioneer” who helped shape the modern high-fidelity industry from the 1950s to the 1980s.[1] Horowitz’s career included engineering, product development, manufacturing, and executive roles at several major high fidelity companies.[2] He helped found and later led Empire Scientific Corporation and held executive posts at Harman International, Acoustic Research, and Rotel, and served as the president of the Institute of High Fidelity.[2] According to Fidelity Magazine, he “laid the foundations for much of what we take for granted in hi-fi today.”[1]
Career
editHorowitz began his audio career in 1954 as chief engineer for audio products at CBS Columbia.[2] He worked with Peter Carl Goldmark to develop phonograph equipment and cartridge tape units.[3]
In 1956, he moved to Electrosonic Sound Laboratories (ESL), the U.S. marketer of Ortofon cartridges, where he served as chief engineer.[2] A later history of Empire Scientific, quoting a 1959 Audio magazine item, stated that during his work at CBS/Columbia and ESL he was "responsible for a number of outstanding advances in the design of high fidelity components."[4]
In 1958, Horowitz helped found the Empire Scientific Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of high fidelity equipment.[2] He was appointed president of Empire’s high fidelity division in 1959.[5] Horowitz appeared at a 1961 hi-fi trade show in Philadelphia and set up a display of Empire Troubador turntables playing upside down and suspended from the ceiling to demonstrate their balanced playback.[6] While at Empire, Horowitz led the development of two and four-channel phono cartridges;[7] a 1963 review of the Empire 880P phono cartridge called it “probably the best magnetic cartridge we have tested to date.”[8] Horowitz subsequently predicted that the four-channel pickup, otherwise known as quadrophonic surround sound would replace two-channel, or stereophonic sound in popularity.[9]
Horowitz was later appointed as president of Empire.[2] Under his direction, the company conducted lab testing of its long-playing cartridges to ensure extended use would protect the sound quality of recordings.[10] As the president of Empire, Horowitz gave technical advice in lay terms for consumers of audio equipment.[11] In 1973, following the development of Empire’s weatherproof speakers, Horowitz predicted that speakers would be encased in molded plastic rather than wooden cabinets; Horowitz told The Plain Dealer “You don’t have to kill a tree to build a molded speaker enclosure that has great acoustic properties.”[12]
Under Horowitz, Empire became known for its high-end hi-fi products [13] For his developments at Empire, Horowitz was called an “audio industry pioneer” by Electronics Australia, who turned Empire into “one of the leading home entertainment manufacturers in the U.S.” [14]
He remained with Empire until 1975, when he left to become director of special projects at Harman International.[2] While at Harman, Horowitz was based in London.[2]
Beginning in 1977, Horowitz ran acoustic research at Teledyne.[2] He was hired to revitalize the AR brand, which had once been one of the most successful loudspeaker lines but had declined in popularity.[15] While at Teledyne, Horowitz headed a four-year market research survey that identified a need for lower-cost hi-fi speakers and led to development of a new product line priced beneath $200.[16]
In his later career, Horowitz served as president of Rotel of America and as a consultant on international affairs for the audio equipment company Cerwin-Vega. Horowitz died in 1985.[2]
Other activities
editHorowitz served as president of the Institute of High Fidelity, an audio industry organization,[2] having been elected to the position in 1972.[17]
- 1 2 Polcyn, Sebastian. "Master of Sound Herb Horowitz and the Dawn of Audio". Fidelity magazine. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Coda: Herb Horowitz" (PDF). Audio: 40. April 1986. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
- ↑ "Empire's Herb Horowitz". AudioVideo. September 1974.
He worked... with Dr. Goldmark at CBS Columbia on cartridge tape units and phonograph equipment.
- ↑ "The History of Empire Scientific". Aural. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Who's Who on Long Island". Newsday. 8 September 1959. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Playback Unit Balanced For Any Position". Philadelphia Daily News. 26 October 1961. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Empire's Herb Horowitz". AudioVideo. September 1974.
In 16 years, that firm, which evolved into Empire Scientific, has been a leading manufacturer of stereo loudspeakers, two- and four-channel phono cartridges and turntables in the U.S market.
- ↑ Holt, J. Gordon (1 March 1963). "Empire 880P phono cartridge". Stereophile. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Quadrosonic". Progress-Bulletin. 5 October 1973. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Empire Puts Emphasis on Record Care". Philadelphia Daily News. 1 December 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- ↑ "Preparartion Helpful in Speaker Selection". Philadelphia Daily News. 17 September 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Magnetic tape is modern wonder that should not work, but does". The Plain Dealer. 14 February 1974. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "REFURBISHING A BRAND IMAGE: PORTRAIT OF A HIFI EXECUTIVE". Electronics Australia. 1979. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "Empire's Herb Horowitz". AudioVideo. September 1974.
In compiling a list of audio industry pioneers, Herb Horowitz would have to be near the top. …(he) has parlayed that experience into making Empire one of the leading home entertainment manufacturers in the U.S.
- ↑ "REFURBISHING A BRAND IMAGE: PORTRAIT OF A HIFI EXECUTIVE". Electronics Australia. 1979. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ "AR tuning into low-priced speakers". New York Daily News. Grand Forks Herald. 3 February 1981. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Promotions, transfers". Newsday. 21 August 1972. Retrieved 20 April 2026.