quadraphonic, a. and n.
(kwɒdrəˈfɒnɪk)
Also quadro-, quadri-.
[f. quadra-, quadro-, quadri- + phonic a. (n.).]
A. adj. Produced by or pertaining to a system of sound recording and reproduction that employs four signal sources, two or more channels, and four loudspeakers, these being placed so that the original front-to-back sound distribution may be reproduced as well as the side-to-side one of stereophony.
| 1969 High Fidelity Sept. 63/1 The four channels might be used for double ping-pong effects—perhaps a quadriphonic version of ‘Switched on Bach’. 1970 [see quad a.2]. 1971 Sci. Amer. Aug. 13/3 One of my main interests..is music—from rock to Bach—preferably in live concert or quadraphonic sound. 1972 Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 25 Mar. 34/2 The quadrophonic sound proves very satisfactory on stereo equipment. 1974 Radio Times 27 June 55/3 Raymond Raikes talks about the quadraphonic experimental broadcast which can be heard at 12.5. 1975 D. G. Fink Electronic Engineers' Handbk. xix. 81 Figure 19-147 summarizes the track and playback head locations for open-reel, eight-track cartridge and cassette tapes for both stereo and quadriphonic operation. 1975 Jrnl. Audio Engin. Soc. XXIII. 3/1 These presentations were made through each of the three basic types of quadraphonic system under test, namely, 4-4-4, 4-3-4, and 4-2-4. 1975 G. J. King Audio Handbk. vii. 168 All ‘quadraphonic’ records will play through a stereo system with varying degrees of accuracy. 1977 Times 13 Apr. 1/8 Quadraphonic broadcasts—radio in the round—are to be transmitted for an experimental period of 12 months by the BBC. 1977 Time 19 Sept. 56/2 At the starting gun in Rhode Island Sound this week, thousands of people will be watching in everything from little outboards to palatial cruisers with bars and quadraphonic sound systems. 1978 Daily Tel. 22 Feb. 16/6 (Advt.), BMW 528... Aluminium sports wheels. Quadrophonic radio and cassette player. |
B. n. = quadraphony.
| 1972 Esquire June 55/3 (Advt.), Should you wait until quadraphonic is perfected? 1977 Homes & Gardens Nov. 161 Quadraphonic was boosted..when the BBC developed Matrix H, a new method of mixing and encoding quadraphonic signals. |
Hence quadraˈphonically adv., in a quadraphonic way; by means of quadraphony.
| 1970 High Fidelity Mag. Nov. 76/2 In classical music recorded quadriphonically the two front channels serve the same use as the left and right channels of conventional stereo. 1973 [see matrix 6 e]. 1976 Gramophone Mar. 1441/2 The hall sound and orchestral layout were beautifully conveyed quadraphonically. |