Quad History, formats, gear, etc. - Looking for a Historian! :-)

[stereoniche]

Greetings. I am a LONG time vintage audio collector. I run my own YouTube channel, same as my forum name. I came here seeking someone well versed in Quadraphonic knowledge, lore, history, etc. as I would like to put together a video about it and promote the forum as well.

I have several nice examples of quad units like the Sansui QRX-9001, Pioneer QX-949 and other units from Marantz, JVC, etc. but, I have only use them in stereo mode.

If interested in sharing information, please reach out.

I have created a thread here: https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...tc-looking-for-a-historian.36803/#post-818506

 

[stereoniche]

Over 50 views and no takers yet?

 

[MrSmithers]

Hey there @stereoniche

Welcome to QQ! Funny, I recently just came across you on YouTube - someone on AV Forums had posted your video about the Bose takeover of McIntosh and the fact Masimo were looking to offload their former Sound United acquisition… Thought it was a good, well put together video… Nice branding with the hat… Hopefully that gets the good outcome it deserves. (I wish I had more in the bank!)

I’m sure you’ll get a response in due time… There's such a wealth of knowledge from many members here...

I’d recommend browsing the threads as there’s so much history about everything quad. And be sure to check out @Mark Anderson discography threads for all the previous quad releases that were issued (and some not). Some amazing albums...
http://www.surrounddiscography.com/quaddisc/quadindx.htm

Also, our spiritual founder @JonUrban set up this site and I bet could tell you everything you needed to know. Also, esteemed member @steelydave wrote a really fantastic piece a few years back for Dutton Vocalion on the history of quad. Hopefully not plagiarising anything here but it’s a very well written piece that may give you an informative leg up…
https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/quadraphonic-sound/

We are extremely lucky that Dutton Vocation have gone on to reissue a wealth of fantastic albums mixed into quad on SACD, to be heard back today on modern equipment. Also Rhino have embarked on reissuing the WEA quadraphonic back catalogue as part of their Quadio programme on Blu-Ray.

There's also a 'show us your gear' thread that has quite a lot of vintage quad equipment in it that you might find interesting.
https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/threads/show-us-your-gear.6450/

Good luck and tell your followers that stereo, as well as mono - is over! And the future is Quad! (and 5.1 and Atmos...)

 

[fizzywiggs41]

Your welcome to use any of the posts and threads under my moniker.

Welcome to the Forum....and ask any question about what you have read , primarily in the Quad Legacy Section.
I'm no expert, but I do know something about quadraphonic history and if I can I will answer any of your questions.

I would recommend that you start by reading the posts in the appropriate qq sections. That's one of the first things I did prior to joining and still do ....even after joining.

 

[stereoniche]

Thanks for the replies!

I will certainly review the links to get started. My goal is to get a good overview on the history of the quad format wars, both on the gear and media sides of that equation, details on some of the best/worst vintage gear and how enthusiasts are using their vintage quad gear today.

Being up front, it takes a LOT of time creating a video, so I am hoping to leverage whatever has been created thus far and it would be even better if someone felt comfortable enough to do a video interview. I will put a link back to this forum so those interested in more information can come here to find it.

This may take a month or two to gather information, media (brochure pics, etc) and be ready for a video, so this is not something that needs to be done in the next days/weeks, etc..

Thanks again for the replies. I will begin to review the recommended links.

All the best, Scott

 

[barfle]

I’m not exactly sure what sort of history you’re looking for. Recordings, technology, artists’ reactions, sales, circuits, tweaks, individual systems integration?

I’m pretty sure most of the users here are impulsive about sharing whatever information they have (I know I am), so there’s already a wealth of information available, but it might take a bit of digging to find it.

 

[Old Quad Guy]

Exploring Billboard for Quadraphonic Information​

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...billboard-for-quadraphonic-information.34508/

Anyone wanting to do some of the deepest dives into the past to make it real again, should check the vintage Billboard and Audio magazines from the 1970s. I highly recommend going through the Billboard Magazine archives here for a look at Quad from all aspects of the industries that made Quadraphonic happen.

It is a very long and deep drive, but well worth the read if you want to learn about the history of surround sound. From the creation of music, Quad mixes and the various formats, to the broadcasting of Quad, and the manufacture of equipment and the retailers both large and small. Digital technology for audio was being invented, along with major industries trying to bring video technology to the home. It’s all there, more or less, in the articles that are the first draft of history.

 

[Flaquad]

Leonard Feldman's book "Four Channel Sound" published in 1973 includes some valuable history.

 

[kfbkfb]

https://www.quadraphonicquad.com/fo...oduce-yourself-here.26426/page-57#post-818470

(also, Hi Fi News and Record Review had a number of articles about quad sound [and even produced their own "test" LP set in QS, SQ, UD-4, CD-4])


Kirk Bayne

 

[SomethingAnything]

Thanks for the replies!

I will certainly review the links to get started. My goal is to get a good overview on the history of the quad format wars, both on the gear and media sides of that equation, details on some of the best/worst vintage gear and how enthusiasts are using their vintage quad gear today.

Being up front, it takes a LOT of time creating a video, so I am hoping to leverage whatever has been created thus far and it would be even better if someone felt comfortable enough to do a video interview. I will put a link back to this forum so those interested in more information can come here to find it.

This may take a month or two to gather information, media (brochure pics, etc) and be ready for a video, so this is not something that needs to be done in the next days/weeks, etc..

Thanks again for the replies. I will begin to review the recommended links.

All the best, Scott

Here's hoping one of our members knowledgeable in this area agrees to a video interview with you. I for one would enjoy watching it.

 

[fizzywiggs41]

And I might add

DON'T FORGET TO ASK QUESTIONS.

There are some very knowledgeable individuals on QQ .

And most of us ,(probably all) got into Quad as Collectors .

 

[MidiMagic]

I was very into the early quadraphonic scene.

In July 1970, I was trying to figure out what the Scheiber (pronounced "shee-ber") system was (before it was revealed). I sat down and, within a half hour, I used trigonometry to sketch out these three future systems: SQ, CD-4, and the Scheiber system. The Scheiber system details were revealed two months after - I was right. Later, Peter Scheiber moved to my town and I knew him.

I encoded a sound-effects tape for a stage play in the Hafler Diamond system and set up the decoding system in the auditorium. We wowed the audience with the voices of ghosts from all directions and surrounding thunder in February 1971.

Every quadraphonic record I could afford I bought. But as a college student, I had to be selective. And I bought only one CD-4 record - I was very disappointed by its performance.

The QS system seemed better to me because the front-to-back separation is higher than that of SQ. I like hall-ambience quad.

I built a passive SQ decoder that goes after the amp. It even has a passive autovary blend. But I was able to build it only because I won a huge box of electronic parts at an auction for $2. Using new parts, it would have cost over a thousand dollars to build another one. On the other hand, I was building passive adjustable RM/QS/EV/DS decoders with autovary for around $20 (1973 dollars)..

The physics and trigonometry classes I took showed me the Poincare energy sphere, which I used to analyze all matrix systems.

I used to teach Finite Math. The mathematical matrix is the basis for the quadraphonic matrix. Matrix multiplication of complex numbers is used to encode and decode matrix quadraphonics.

All of the CD recordings I make are still in QS/DS. They are compatible with all stereo sets and FM stereo. I have a passive encoder that fits the inserts of my 4-bus mixer.

A basic (non-logic) SQ decoder can be put into the inserts of a 4-bus mixer to make an SQ encoder.

Some movies were encoded with a version of Dolby Surround with height in 1978. I have some of the records of the soundtracks.