Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: sprogs on 06 September, 2020, 05:54:32 pm

Title: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: sprogs on 06 September, 2020, 05:54:32 pm

Way back in the 70's I had a quadrophonic system and loved it.
I once tried a friends Quadraphonic headphones, thinking "How can they possibly work ?"
They did, and very well too.
Does anyone know if you can still get them ?
Liz.

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: PaulF on 06 September, 2020, 06:53:56 pm

Think one challenge may be getting quadraphonic source material to listen to and the hardware to play it.

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: fuaran on 06 September, 2020, 07:35:00 pm

You can get surround sound headphones, going up to 7.1 or so. Seems to be quite popular for gaming, so you can hear people sneaking up behind you.
Not sure if actually much good for sound quality.

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: Kim on 07 September, 2020, 12:56:06 am

It appears they have multiple drivers in the ear cup.  Odd.

I'd have thought it would be better to process audio in a virtual sound-stage to create a binaural down-mix.  But that's probably still bad at front-back differentiation without incorporating a model of the wearer's pinna.

It's all bollocks though, isn't it?  Ambisonics was developed in the 1970s and thoroughly forgotten about by the time the hardware to do surround sound properly became affordable, so we're repeating all the quadraphonic-era mistakes with a few more channels.

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: sprogs on 08 September, 2020, 05:19:46 pm

Wish I still had my Ferguson quad system though.
Still remember listening to Mike Oldfields Hergest Ridge and hearing the mandolin playing behind my head.
Turned round to see who it was !

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: Andy64 on 09 September, 2020, 01:40:33 pm

Pink Floyd's DSOTM was/is available in quad sound (vinyl + 8 track).
Tis very spendy though

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: Canardly on 09 September, 2020, 01:46:09 pm

Similarly 8 track was a thing in the 70s. Binaural should be the way to go. Development somewhat stifled by Creative Labs after purchase of Sensaura.
Virtual Barber shop. Q sound labs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUDTlvagjJA)

Beeb R and D

https://soundcloud.com/user-351945045/pearl-opening-sequence-binaural (https://soundcloud.com/user-351945045/pearl-opening-sequence-binaural)

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: pcolbeck on 10 September, 2020, 07:21:13 pm

There are several quadraphonic amps on eBay at the moment should anyone be tempted.
This Technics receiver is cool:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Technics-SA-8000X-CD-4-FM-AM-4-Channel-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/143600642258?hash=item216f43e8d2:g:rQsAAOSwz~heuA-f

Title: Re: Quadraphonic headphones
Post by: MattH on 13 September, 2020, 04:21:38 pm

Quote from: Andy64 on 09 September, 2020, 01:40:33 pm

Pink Floyd's DSOTM was/is available in quad sound (vinyl + 8 track).
Tis very spendy though

Looking around, it seems that this was made unofficially available as a DVD-A  iso some years ago.
It would be nice to have it made generally available, I'd love to hear it.