Quadraphonic records (LPs to you and me)


If normal analogue comes through as 2 channel, what effect does a quadraphonic record have?
If my processor (Bryston sp3) codes 2 channel into surround 7.1 - which it does exceedingly well- does that make the separation easier?
(Bryston do not know)
Thanks chaps and chapesses
tatyana69

Showing 1 response by akg_ca


You need a proper real Quad receiver, whether is was SQ formate  or the synthesized stereo-based format QS format. The discrete 4- channel was available on tape .... reel or 8-track.

I experienced it back in its heyday: The LP was a flash in the pan novelty bordering on a gimmick even back then, with limited appeal to users. It's audio reproduction was nothing to get excited about 

it it has some fad appeal in tape format but again a rapid flame-out.

i wouldn't bother chasing after it today- its not worth it IMzo,  other than very isolated nostalgia appeal .

http://www.obsoletemedia.org/sq-quadraphonic/

SQ Quadraphonic (from ‘Stereo Quadraphonic’) was a system for providing quadraphonic sound from four speakers on vinyl records. It was introduced by CBS Records in 1971, and was adopted by a number of other record companies including EMI and Sony.

It was a matrix format, so the four channels were encoded into the stereo grooves of a 12-inch LP and then decoded back to four channels. As the grooves were slightly broader than a standard LP, playing time on an SQ record was reduced.

Of the different quadraphonic systems for vinyl, SQ has the largest discography and this was partly because SQ records were fully compatible with stereo equipment. Some early Compact Discs still used the SQ mix.

Consumers needed to buy an SQ decoder to take advantage of quadraphonic sound, but early versions provided poor separation. The sound separation of the SQ system was greatly improved by the introduction of SQ Full Logic decoding in 1975, but by this time all quadraphonic systems were declining in popularity and by the end of the 1970s, virtually no SQ Quadraphonic LPs were being released.