STEREO ONE TAKES SOUND AROUND HOME

"Stereo One Around The House" is the theme of a multi-room gallery established in the new Stereo One facility, 345 S. Kingshighway.

"We're using a showcase gallery concept to display and demonstrate our audio and video capabilities in the home," said John Selby, company president.

Stereo One specializes in audio and video systems in the home and stereo systems in automobiles. It recently opened in its new location, moving from 240 Silver Springs Rd.

The 10,300-square-foot facility expands Stereo One's display and service areas by about 30 percent over its current operation, said Selby.

"The extra space has allowed us to incorporate some new concepts in the audio and video industry," added Selby. "Almost 1,000 square feet has been devoted to the showcase gallery that allows us to demonstrate stereo and video systems in a variety of living environments."

Included in the showcase gallery are a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and an outdoor deck area, which incorporates speakers designed as large rocks.

A highlight of the showcase gallery is the "home theater," which features a large screen and projector system that can be adjusted from a 20-inch to a 100-inch screen, with a stereo sound system.

Also featured in the new store are four stereo listening rooms, a large car stereo area, including a demonstration vehicle, waiting rooms, four car stereo installation bays and a camcorder gallery.

"The new facility allows us to offer new consumer products, new technologies and services that will be very much in demand in the next decade," said Selby.

"On display in the new building is a car that has been equipped with a full stereo system, a security system, and cellular telephone.

"You can program a telephone number into the car's telephone," explained Selby. "If someone breaks into the car, the telephone will automatically dial that number, and you can actually hear and even speak to the burglar who is attempting the break-in."

The camcorder gallery gives customers an opportunity to compare camcorders simultaneously.

"We have a half-dozen camcorders, and there are six television screens," said Selby. "Shoppers can try the camcorders with a scene that we have set up and compare them on the screens."

One of the newest products is the Phillips CD-Interactive Recorder.

"This is one of the hottest products we have at this time," Selby said. "It's called an `Imagination Machine.'"

The imagination machine works off CDs.

"Right now, we have about 60 disks which can be used in the player," said Selby. "These include a Smithsonian tour, pin ball machines, Sesame Street, stamps, golf and other titles.

"On the Smithsonian tour, there are more than 140 hours," he said. "You can actually tour the entire Smithsonian Institute from your living room chair."

Another feature of the "Imagination Machine" will be a photo feature that is expected to be ready by mid-summer 1992.

"A person can send in a roll of film to Kodak, and that company will place the photos on a disc," said Selby. "When it is placed into the CD-Interactive Machine, several small photographs will appear on the screen.

"A click of the controls and you can enlarge any one picture to fill the entire screen," he continued.

Stereo One is continuing to operate Moviemax at its location on Silver Springs Road.

Stereo One, which now employs more than 20 people, was founded in 1980 at 4 West Park Village. The company moved to 240 Silver Springs Road in June 1984 and ~re~mained there until its recent expansion.