My audio system comprises a Beogram 5500, Beocord 5500, Beomaster 5500 and Beosound 9000 feeding via a Beosystem 3 to Lab 5s (front), Lab 3s (rear) and Lab 10 (centre). If I were to replace the Beogram 5500 and Beomaster 5500 with a Beogram 6000 (quadraphonic turntable) and Beomaster 6000 (quadraphonic amp) would I able to get true quad sound from vinyl through the system?
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Quadraphonic sound
22 replies
Your challenge will be to get the discrete 4-channel sound from the BM6000 into the BeoSystem 3. Looking at the back of that I can't see any easy way to do so, save some kind of outboard analog surround to SP/DIFF encoder.
Actually it looks this outboard encoder just might do it:
http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=16&product=14191&nav=0
I really wouldn't bother! I would look at surround sound instead. Quad records were at the beginning of surround sound and the technology and the mixing of the albums are both pretty basic. The BG6000 does produce 4 discrete channels though , all at line level, so I am sure there is a solution.
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I have the Beogram 6000 Quad, the correct cartridges and a Beomaster 3400, + 4x RL60's. I also have many suitable records. Its something I have thought about for some time.
Would be great to be able to get the 4 channel sound into my other B&O equipment. Though for the time being the system is pretty darn good.
BTW the Mike Oldfield and Led Zep records really sound quite amazing...
I hope there is some technical solution to getting 4 channel sound into todays systems.
Beoaus.
Location: Australia
Yes beoaus, it was Mike Oldfield who started me thinking along these lines: I recently acquired one of the older 60GB Playstation 3s in order to play SACDs, and bought the SACD of "Tubular Bells". It's absolutely breathtaking, and on conducting a little research I discovered that this wasn't in fact a new 5.1 mix, but the old quad mix remastered.
I don't have many quadraphonic records at the moment kokomo, apart from (ironically) a four LP boxed set of Mike Oldfield, but I've found a number I'd like on eBay and GEMM. My favourite band Jefferson Airplane in fact issued about seven of them over their career. At this stage, I don't have any quad equipment: I'm assuming the Beogram 6000 came with its own quadraphonic stylus, and that these can still be picked up today (whether secondhand, new old stock or via Soundsmith)? Would I be wrong in that assertion?
There are a couple of problems:
1. The records - if they have been played in an unsuitable record player, the rear channels can be wrecked. This because the sound is encoded at 20-45kHz and then converted back by the electronics in the BG6000. A heavily tracking cartridge can destroy the grooves.
2. The suspension of the cartridge will be hardening. Not usually a problem with stereo but to track at 45kHz, it makes a difference. You will probably need a new Soundsmith SMMC20CL. Not cheap!
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Interesting comment on the BG6000 Line level output.... All I would need is a cable and converter of some sort. After all the problems with the PC input cable I'm not sure about delving into creating cables again.
Peter, Do you mean all 4 channels are separated in the DIN Cable? I thought the seperation was done in the Beomaster...
I have a few MMC20CL cartridges which work pretty well.... Also most of my 4 Channel records are good...
Location: Australia
If you are using CD4 records, the separation takes place in the Beogram. These are the 'real' four track records and are coded by having a frequency range of 20 - 45000Hz. The top part of this - 15000 - 45000 has the rear channels on it which have been encoded before pressing. The decoder in the Beogram restores this information to the correct frequencies and then amplifies all four channels to equalised line level.
The situation is however muddied! There was another format called SQ. This produces a four track output by encoding the rear channel in a totally different way. It uses a matrix system and any stereo record player can be used. The decoding in this system is done in the Beomaster. From my experience, not nearly as good quad reproduction but no special stylus is needed. Have a look here for a guide!
There are another couple of systems (makes you realise why quad bombed!) but B&O didn't cater for these!
My CLs are not bad for quad reproduction. I have a number of MMC6000s and they are all rubbish! Shame as when new, they were my favourite cartridges of all!
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