New member's Current audio gear seeking guidance into Quad.

[disc rider]

My stable of audio gear thus far includes Sony AV multi-channel receiver, Sony CD/DVD player, a vintage Nakamichi cassette tape deck, vintage Teac A6300 Stereo R2R tape deck, Audio Technica turntable and a pair of KEF LS50 stereo speakers. Recently I added a vintage Sansui QRX6001 4 channel Quad receiver and a vintage Akai GX270D SS 4 channel R2R.

 

[tcdriver]

With the Sansui QRX-6001 and Akai GX270D SS, you are off to a great start for quadraphonic sound.

In order to better help you with your quadraphonic sound goal, we need to know what you are trying to achieve? Are you looking to set up and listen to quadraphonic media on quadraphonic equipment all from the quadraphonic era? Or, are you interested in setting up a quadraphonic system to play multi-channel music from the quadraphonic era and also modern multi-channel sources? The more you can tell us, the better we can advise you.

Good listening!

 

[disc rider]

Thanks for the kind words and interest in helping me get started in Quad. I’m interested in setting up a Quadraphonic system to play multi channel music from the Quadraphonic era and also multi channel sources. Any help you may provide would be so greatly appreciated .

 

[tcdriver]

Thanks for the kind words and interest in helping me get started in Quad. I’m interested in setting up a Quadraphonic system to play multi channel music from the Quadraphonic era and also multi channel sources. Any help you may provide would be so greatly appreciated .

The good news is that your Sansui receiver will play all three phonograph quadraphonic formats and you have a quadraphonic reel-to-reel tape deck. If you do not have them already, you will need four full-range loudspeakers. Best results are obtained when the four speakers are identical or nearly so.

The only quadraphonic era format that you are currently missing is Q8, quadraphonic 8-track tape. 8-track cartridges can be problematic. My experience has been that with the right deck and a good tape Q8 can sound very good. On average though, the limitations of the 8-track format produce sound that can hardly be called high-fidelity.

Quadraphonic Era Music Sources:

• Quadraphonic reel-to-reel tape – Q4
• Quadraphonic 8-track tapes – Q8
• Quadraphonic phonograph record formats:

----------------------------------------------------------CD-4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a CD-4 (aka Quadradisc) disc, you will need the following:

1. CD-4 encoded record. It should say CD-4 or Quadradisc on the cover.

2. CD-4 demodulator, either stand alone or built into a receiver, preamp or integrated amplifier.

3. CD-4 capable phono cartridge. i.e. capable of frequency response to 45kHz. The carrier frequency, 30kHz., is frequency modulated from 20kHz. to 45kHz. Conical or elliptical shaped diamonds are not suitable for frequency response to 45kHz. The Shibata diamond tip was introduced specifically to play back the high frequencies found on CD-4 records. Other stylus shapes, “Quadrahedral”, “4 Dimensional”, “mico-ridge”, “line contact”, etc. were also developed for and can be used for CD-4 disc play.

4. Turntable with low capacitance arm wiring and low capacitance interconnects. The total capacitance from headshell to the end of the cable that plugs into the CD-4 capable phono inputs should be < 100pF.

Some examples of CD-4 (Quadradisc) records:

---------------------------------------------------------- SQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a SQ encoded phonograph record you need one of the following:

Standalone SQ decoder or a SQ decoder built into a preamp, integrated amplifier or receiver. The turntable and stereo phonograph cartridge are the same as used with any ordinary two-channel stereo record.

Some examples of SQ (quadraphonic) records:

---------------------------------------------------------- QS ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a QS encoded phonograph record you need one of the following:

Standalone QS decoder or a QS decoder built into a preamp, integrated amplifier or receiver. The turntable and stereo phonograph cartridge are the same as used with any ordinary two-channel stereo record.

Some examples of QS (quadraphonic) records:

------------------------------------- Post Quadraphonic Era Music Sources --------------------------------------
Later multi-channel music sources:

Dolby Surround CDs and tapes, dts-CD, Dolby Digital, SACD, DVD-Audio, Blu-Ray

 

[disc rider]

The good news is that your Sansui receiver will play all three phonograph quadraphonic formats and you have a quadraphonic reel-to-reel tape deck. If you do not have them already, you will need four full-range loudspeakers. Best results are obtained when the four speakers are identical or nearly so.

The only quadraphonic era format that you are currently missing is Q8, quadraphonic 8-track tape. 8-track cartridges can be problematic. My experience has been that with the right deck and a good tape Q8 can sound very good. On average though, the limitations of the 8-track format produce sound that can hardly be called high-fidelity.

Quadraphonic Era Music Sources:

• Quadraphonic reel-to-reel tape – Q4
• Quadraphonic 8-track tapes – Q8
• Quadraphonic phonograph record formats:

----------------------------------------------------------CD-4 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a CD-4 (aka Quadradisc) disc, you will need the following:

1. CD-4 encoded record. It should say CD-4 or Quadradisc on the cover.

2. CD-4 demodulator, either stand alone or built into a receiver, preamp or integrated amplifier.

3. CD-4 capable phono cartridge. i.e. capable of frequency response to 45kHz. The carrier frequency, 30kHz., is frequency modulated from 20kHz. to 45kHz. Conical or elliptical shaped diamonds are not suitable for frequency response to 45kHz. The Shibata diamond tip was introduced specifically to play back the high frequencies found on CD-4 records. Other stylus shapes, “Quadrahedral”, “4 Dimensional”, “mico-ridge”, “line contact”, etc. were also developed for and can be used for CD-4 disc play.

4. Turntable with low capacitance arm wiring and low capacitance interconnects. The total capacitance from headshell to the end of the cable that plugs into the CD-4 capable phono inputs should be < 100pF.

Some examples of CD-4 (Quadradisc) records:

View attachment 1563197​

---------------------------------------------------------- SQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a SQ encoded phonograph record you need one of the following:

Standalone SQ decoder or a SQ decoder built into a preamp, integrated amplifier or receiver. The turntable and stereo phonograph cartridge are the same as used with any ordinary two-channel stereo record.

Some examples of SQ (quadraphonic) records:

View attachment 1563199​

---------------------------------------------------------- QS ---------------------------------------------------------------------

To successfully play a SQ encoded phonograph record you need one of the following:

Standalone SQ decoder or a SQ decoder built into a preamp, integrated amplifier or receiver. The turntable and stereo phonograph cartridge are the same as used with any ordinary two-channel stereo record.

Some examples of QS (quadraphonic) records:

View attachment 1563209​

------------------------------------- Post Quadraphonic Era Music Sources --------------------------------------
Later multi-channel music sources:

Dolby Surround CDs and tapes, dts-CD, Dolby Digital, SACD, DVD-Audio, Blu-Ray

That was a pretty thorough explanation and breakdown and I appreciate it very much. Due to the added expense and headaches involved, unfortunately I don't think I will be getting into CD- Quad records; primarily due to having to have a special stylus and the calibration of the tonearm, etc. that is required. However, since my Sansui QRX6001 quad receiver has built in QS, SQ decoders, I would like very much to travel down that path instead. I really would love to bring in some vinyl but it doesn't look like CD-4 is doable at this time.

 

[tcdriver]

Currently, there is no law that requires one must be able to run all three quadraphonic era formats. The SQ and QS formats are a lot easier to use because they do not require anything beyond a regular stereo turntable and cartridge. Also, at some time in the future you can go the extra mile and set up a turntable/cartridge that will allow you to play CD-4 records.

There are still a lot of quadraphonic era records available on the secondary market. Also, any ordinary two-channel stereo record can be played through the built-in SQ or QS decoders to synthesize quadraphonic sound. Depending on the original recording, the results can be as good or even better than what you will obtain using encoded quadraphonic records. Give it a try.

 

[disc rider]

Currently, there is no law that requires one must be able to run all three quadraphonic era formats. The SQ and QS formats are a lot easier to use because they do not require anything beyond a regular stereo turntable and cartridge. Also, at some time in the future you can go the extra mile and set up a turntable/cartridge that will allow you to play CD-4 records.

There are still a lot of quadraphonic era records available on the secondary market. Also, any ordinary two-channel stereo record can be played through the built-in SQ or QS decoders to synthesize quadraphonic sound. Depending on the original recording, the results can be as good or even better than what you will obtain using encoded quadraphonic records. Give it a try.

That's good to know. I like the idea of starting out using SQ and QS quad records and then in the future perhaps evolving into the CD-4 format. However, as I understand it, there are not a lot of QS formatted records out there; SQ seems to be more available.

 

[disc rider]

By the way, what are you referring to when you speak of the secondary market?

 

[tcdriver]

Seceondary market = used as in you are not the first buyer. e.g. records for sale on popular internet websites. Since they are not making any new SQ or QS encoded records, you will generally need to by used ones.

...However, as I understand it, there are not a lot of QS formatted records out there; SQ seems to be more available.

That is right. The most popular record format was SQ as promoted by Columbia, Angel, Vanguard and others.

 

[disc rider]

Seceondary market = used as in you are not the first buyer. e.g. records for sale on popular internet websites. Since they are not making any new SQ or QS encoded records, you will generally need to by used ones.
That is right. The most popular record format was SQ as promoted by Columbia, Angel, Vanguard and others.

Thanks for breaking it down for me in simple terminology.