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 5 responses by cleeds

tatyana69
Ok but a proper decoder is what ...?
You'd need a decoder designed for the format you’re trying to decode, such as a JVC CD-4-50 for the CD-4 format. Or something like a Sansui QSD-1 for QS-encoded LPs.
akg_ca
You need a proper real Quad receiver, whether is was SQ formate or the synthesized stereo-based format QS format.

This is mistaken. There’s no reason to confine yourself to a "quad receiver" to reproduce quad. You just need a proper decoder - these were available as outboard devices.

... or the synthesized stereo-based format QS format ...
QS quad was no more "synthesized" than SQ quad. It was four channels matrixed to a two-channel format.
tatyana69
So the quadraphonic lps need a special cartridge ... and phonostage then. So presumably playing with a normal cartridge and phonostage some channels are missing, hence maybe a weaker sound for a number of reasons, presumably, from what you are saying?
No, all of the quad LP formats were compatible with two channel playback, at least as far as I can recall.

I am looking at Ebay uk an item called
CARLY SIMON ~ HOTCAKES ~ USA QUADRAPHONIC STEREO AUDIOPHILE LP
So the "stereo" word is out of place, or indeed wrong?
No, it's not wrong at all. Quadraphonic is a type of "stereo," just as two channel is a type of stereo. "Stereo" is not confined to two channels.

chakster
Quadraphonic Records (Descrete-4 or CD-4) require special cartridge and special processor, also 4 speakers
CD-4 was only one of the quad LP formats, although I think it may have been the only discrete format for LP.  SQ and QS were competing formats to put quadraphonic audio on LP.

tatyana69
If normal analogue comes through as 2 channel, what effect does a quadraphonic record have?
It isn’t clear what you mean by "normal analog." Analog can be any number of channels. Two-channel stereo is just one configuration.

In any event, a quadraphonic record can store four channels, which you can feed to a quadraphonic system using a proper phono cartridge and phono preamplifier.