What's the Latest MATRIX LP/CD Added to Your Pile? SQ, QS, RM, EV

[bigbillquad]

That's a pity I thought it might be it has all the indication, there is some pic`s of the label the inner marks of the LP. I have not tested the LP have trouble with my Denon Amp at the moment. ^

I just checked - the record label number starts with SQ - but I think this is not SQ. My Nautilus half speed version sounds amazing in QS mode on the Surround Master though.

Bill...

 

[Circular Vibes]

Sorry Bill, Capitol used SQ in their numbering system in the 80's for their "Special Products" reissue series. It unfortunately isn't the same as Angel Records. I would run out tomorrow for Dreamboat Annie just because of it being quad if it were true. Hmm, another reason to go record shopping, like I needed another reason. This hasn't been in my collection for years, must be something wrong with me...

 

[bigbillquad]

Ok.. so I've no idea exactly where to ask this question.. but it seems this thread is as good as any to get the attentions of QQ's matrix Quad aficionados.. so here goes..

Has anyone here ever encountered a lack of phantom centre imaging across the front pair when decoding SQ and QS records?

I only ask as now I'm really dissecting these matrix encoded discs and comparing them to their discrete counterparts I'm noticing a distinct lack of cohesion in this regard (i.e. the DTS CDs, Q8s, Surround SACDs etc have rock solid locked in phantom centre imaging on things like lead vocals but on these matrix discs its not always the case).

Its odd because corner placement, ping-ponging, round the room pans and so on are all executed brilliantly thru the Surround Master but lead vocals that image in the centre in the discrete mixes often lop off to one side, almost always skewed to the left front channel in the SQ matrixed versions.

Thanks in advance(s) :upthumb

Hi.fredblue
I am in the process of recording my matrix LP`s on to my computer & then onto a CD, I have noticed why`ll listening to them in stereo when recording most of, any centre singers seem to be centre right or centre left never complet centre. So when you get a 5.1 copy I think they process the sume Left+Right and make the centre channel.
Bill..

 

[fredblue]

I still don't have the new Surround Master with the new SQ vinyl option so I have nothing to add there but I run the front channels of all my quad tapes through the original Surround Master for the center and sub and it does a great job. Vocals on many titles clearly in center. So I'm hearing the 4 discrete corner channels plus center from SM as well as sub. Sounds great and really fills up the front sound stage.

Thank you for the info. Sounds great - and promising as its ideally how I would like to have the Surround Master permanently setup, in a 5.1 config.

I've briefly tried running the centre on the Surround Master for SQ records (stupidly I didn't try it on any other type of material, including stereo thru the involve mode, at the time but I'll experiment with it again soon) it didn't do it for me at all.. the centre channel was significantly louder than the other 4 channels and even though there were predominantly lead vocals in there, a lot of the time it just seemed to detract from everything else unless I lowered the volume of the centre channel a lot (around 5 to 8 dB seemed to be the ballpark, depending on the recording) I'd not long before put the receiver thru it's YPAO calibration (I had to do a factory reset since moving things were not sounding right at all) and it all checked out there with regards to level/distance/phase etc., so I'm at a bit of a loss as to what I'm doing wrong.

 

[fredblue]

You could experiment with your toe-ing in of the L/R - I recently upgraded to Martin Logan speakers and I had to set up almost all over again. I found that the center imaging for SQ/QS material is better defined and more cohesive in front with some adjustment to the angles used. Are you bi-wired up front? I also changed my previous set up as the Martin Logan speakers have active capabilities for bi-wiring so in the first set up it was less defined as the active part of the speaker was futzing with the signals they were getting after the amp had provided bi-amped outs. One other thing that also, at least for my ears, has an impact on the sound field is using room correction. I have everything turned off , wherever i can turn it off. The amplifier has a pure mode and I find that the best, to my ears at least it provides a more stable, detailed and cohesive image. I just turn it up more with that mode!

I do have front L & R toed in a tad but I will fiddle a bit more.. I used to have fronts bi-amped but I was never entirely happy and have reverted to sticking the jumpers back in and running them single amped and prefer the sound.. no idea why that should be.. I'm guessing the less channels a receiver is running all at once the better (?) so it's now only pumping out 4 or 5 at any one time as opposed to the 6 or 7 when it was in Bi-amp mode. When I get better amplification I'll probably try going back to bi-amping as in theory it should improve things! Wrt room correction, my Yammy in Multi Ch In (the 7.1 analogue input that I have the Surround Master going thru) it only takes into account the individual channel levels set by YPAO and ignores any EQ or distance parameters (afaik)..

 

[fredblue]

Hi.fredblue
I am in the process of recording my matrix LP`s on to my computer & then onto a CD, I have noticed why`ll listening to them in stereo when recording most of, any centre singers seem to be centre right or centre left never complet centre. So when you get a 5.1 copy I think they process the sume Left+Right and make the centre channel.
Bill..

Thanks Bill, very interesting to hear you are experiencing something similar wrt matrix LPs and centre imaging. I will keep experimenting and investigating!

 

[fredblue]

A question for you QQuaddies..!

Is it theoretically possible for the channels to be futzed on a matrix encoded record in such a way that front could be rear and vice versa?

I only ask as I'm convinced my SQ LP of Neil Diamond's Serenade suffers this.. on certain tracks the Front Right speaker sounds like it has the reverbed and more muted vocal of one of the rear channels and the left rear has louder vocals.. in other words can a matrix encoded LP have the channels screwed up in such a way?

 

[kap'n krunch]

A question for you QQuaddies..!

Is it theoretically possible for the channels to be futzed on a matrix encoded record in such a way that front could be rear and vice versa?

I only ask as I'm convinced my SQ LP of Neil Diamond's Serenade suffers this.. on certain tracks the Front Right speaker sounds like it has the reverbed and more muted vocal of one of the rear channels and the left rear has louder vocals.. in other words can a matrix encoded LP have the channels screwed up in such a way?

I ain't no expert, but having seen all kinds of screwups, ANYTHING is possible..especially if the engineer didn't like Neil D....

 

[fredblue]

I ain't no expert, but having seen all kinds of screwups, ANYTHING is possible..especially if the engineer didn't like Neil D....

Very true Kap! It's a nice album and a few of the songs hint at a good mix but there are some weird things going on.. maybe a poor SQ encode or something.. once I get my MOTU and start analysing the individual channels I'll be able to kinda explain better what I'm getting at that I think they screwed up the channel assignment or something with this one!

I do wish I could find his Beautiful Noise SQ Quad.. there must be a promo or something that slipped out the back door.. especially as the catalogue number is supposedly UK, might get lucky over 'ere more so than over "there"..

 

[kap'n krunch]

Let us know the results, Adam!
Cheers..
A

 

[kap'n krunch]

Let us know the results, Adam!
Cheers..
A

 

[fredblue]

Let us know the results, Adam!
Cheers..
A

Willy doooo!

(Might be a while before I have any results for you,
I'm on the lookout out for a used 828 Mk 3 w/USB on the cheap and it just ain't happening..

 

[fredblue]

Everytime You Touch Me (I Get High) - Charlie Rich (SQ LP).

 

[fredblue]

Turn Your Radio On - Ray Stevens (SQ LP).

 

[fredblue]

Open Our Eyes - Earth, Wind & Fire (SQ LP).

(That completes my E,W&F Quad LP collection, if only there were more of their albums in surround..)

 

[fredblue]

Giant Box - Don Sebesky
w/Grover Washington Jr., George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Desmond, Bob James, Ralph McDonald, Jack DeJohnette, Randy Brecker, Billy Cobham (2 x SQ LPs).

 

[krkier]

Interesting... I have the Stereo box set, without the "Quadraphonic" drivel printed on it. (CTX 6031/32). My record labels are the same as yours, claiming "stereo" and "SQ". My matrices numbers on the discs themself do not have "SQ", i.e. record one, side one has "RVG 87689A-2A", with RVG being Rudi van Gelder being the recording engineer.

What's your matrix number for record 1 side 1?

-Kristian

 

[fredblue]

Oh right, matrix on Record 1 Side A is exactly the same as yours; RVG87689 A-2A ...further around the grooves it says COLUMBIA NY so I guess it was pressed by Columbia in New York like all their Quad records?

 

[krkier]

Yes, "Columbia NY" is included here, too. Another difference I notice is your CTI logo on the box is different from mine.

-Kristian

 

[fredblue]

Yes, "Columbia NY" is included here, too. Another difference I notice is your CTI logo on the box is different from mine.

-Kristian

Kooky! I wonder if they added Quadraphonic to the front cover or took it away after the curse of Quadro became apparent and changed the CTI logo at the same time..!?

I'm trying the LPs out now.. nice arrangements, production and overall sound is good too (I'm towards the end of Record 2, Side A and its flying by) unfortunately Record 1 Side B is pressed off centre so there's speed fluctuation throughout (which I'm obviously sensitive to as it does my flipping nut in.. but I digress) I'm monitoring it at low level while transferring it but will check out the SQ and general surround-y-ness when its finished in about 15 minutes.

Since I bought this I learned there's an SQ encoded CD version of this, so I will get a copy of that and try it out thru the Surround Master too, should be fun. AB loves an AB comparison..