EMI Signature SACDs

[Ferretfancy]

I think it was. I was at the RFH performance of the 1st - one of the most stunning concerts I have ever heard. I think the recording was made shortly afterwards. It was during the time when companies were trying out matrix systems, such as QS, SQ and one company produced 4 channels by using high frequency subcarriers on the LPs. Wasn't there a Bernstein recording which put the listener in the middle of the orchestra? May have been Bartok's concerto for orchestra.

Yes, it was the Concerto for Orchestra, I used to have the quad LP. It wasn't a very convincing realisation in sound of the orchestral layout on the sleeve, but I doubt if most of the SQ matrix decoders at the time were capable of doing much. There were some very expensive American decoders by Macintosh and other companies which tried to improving the imaging by gain riding technology, but they were beyond my pocket.

The CD-4 system developed by RCA was superior to the matrix systems, using a high frequency carrier to encode rear channel information and give a high degree of separation. The problem was that it was necessary to have a pickup capable of a very extended frequency response, and most cartridges wore the carrier out after a few playings. The good side of this was that it spurred the development of better stylus configurations and the excellent moving coil cartridges we can still buy today.

[PJPJ]

I thought the Concerto for Orchestra was Boulez''s recording? It's on a Sony SACD.

Bernstein's Stravinsky Rite with the LSO was a surrounded by the orchestra production. Listening via an SQ decoded and four channel amp the result was far from convincing. It wasn't convincing at all.

Here is a list of all quadraphonic releases some but not all of which have appeared on SACD or DVD-A:

http://www.surrounddiscography.com/quaddisc/quadclas.htm

[Barbirollians]

Sorry to bang on about this but I agree entirely also about the Janet Baker Sea Pictures . There is a sense of immediacy and bloom to the sound that is breathtaking and the colours in her voice are brought out anew. The best £9 I have spent on a recording for a very long time and the Delius still to go .