OT Quadraphonic audio media

From: Gary Hildebrand <ghldbrd_at_ccp.com>
Date: Fri Feb 22 03:33:21 2002

There were three competing systems: QS (Sansui), SQ (Sony) and CD-4
(JVC). Only the CD-4, which used a supersonic subcarrier a la FM
broadcasting, required a special stylus on the cartridge (Shibata). Not
using this, would cause the supersonic information to be worn off after
a handful of plays. QS and SQ could be played on any standard stereo
phono cartridge, as they were reliant on out-of-phase information. The
Dynaco system used a resistor in the ground return of the rear speakers,
was the easiest to implement, and the hardest to encode. It was best
for enhancing stereo recordings.

Then there was reel-to-reel and 8-track tapes, neither of which were
popular. I think the idea of having four channels of amplification and
four speakers caused the consumer to put the brakes on the wallet, and
the lack of an FM broadcasting standard. I found the best way to sell
quad was to loan friends my SQ decoder, and a rear channel amp and
speakers. After they got used to the surrond sound, I thne took my
stuff back home. Going from stereo to quad was not a big difference,
but going from quad to stereo was a HUGE difference.

Gary Hildebrand
St. Joseph, MO







Glen Goodwin wrote:
>
> > From: Chad Fernandez <fernande_at_internet1.net>
>
> > I don't do any recording, although, I do have some very old records that
> > I've thought about copying to CD. I don't have a turn table that would
> > be handy, However :-(
>
> Showing My Age Dept: Turntables seem to be more available now. I went out
> to purchase one around '94 or so and at the first three stereo shops I
> visited, the young person behind the counter said "You mean a record
> player?? Why do you want one of those?" Sheesh.
>
> > What's the Joystick for?
>
> Spacial control -- left, right, front and rear. This replaces the
> two-directional balance control found on stereo amps.
>
> > In order to really use it, you have to be playing a Quadraphonic
> > recorded record right? LP's were it back then, right?
>
> Wrong. Some quad reel-to-reel tapes were produced. LPs were *mostly* it
> -- Dark Side of the Moon was probably the biggest selling quad LP. The
> opening "cash register" sounds on "Money" produced an excellent effect.
>
> There were at least two different quad formats. IIRC, one required
> decoding in the hardware (my Fisher has an "SQ decoder" switch).
>
> I'll bet it's next to impossible to find a working quad turntable these
> days. I could convert some stereo recordings to "simulated" quad for
> playback on a four-track cassette, but it would be more fun to find a
> 'table and some original quad records.
>
> Glen
> 0/0
Received on Fri Feb 22 2002 - 03:33:21 GMT