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RE: Did Quad fail or was it repackaged as "Surround Sound"?

Phil, hi. Consider context: stereo was just getting to the point of an accepted market in 1973. FM multiplex stereo was also getting more acceptance as auto radios were required to have both AM & FM bands. The only discrete quad could be had with reel to reel tape at the time. Not counting encoded/derived multi-channel needing tons of DSP a la the motion picture surround system there is not now a discrete 4 track system for home repro or even a 2-track system other than Red Book CD. What a disgrace and a shame. In the early 70's RCA tried to win a losing battle in the market place with quad on LP, if you can imagine it. This process used a higher than 20 kH carrier frequency on which was modulated channels 3 and 4. This on a vinyl LP. Remember at this time integrated circuit was only beginning. There was no DSP logic. How many plays of a quad LP do you think it would take to seriously impact sound quality? Answer. Not many. The other SQ decoding for 4-channel repro was outright ditzy. There were huge phase and other anomolies that would happen when the music played that would practically cause your inner ear to go out of whack. I remember opening up an RCA Quadrasonic 4-channel LP on Dynagroove (heaven help us!) and thinking "these people must be mad."


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  • RE: Did Quad fail or was it repackaged as "Surround Sound"? - elektron 07/9/0817:19:26 07/9/08 (0)

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