Surround sound has advanced rapidly over the years. Back in that day, it was called quadraphonic, or just quad. It caused quite a stir among audiophiles during the early part of the 1970s. Record companies rushed to re-master their stereo albums into this new format. Not all of them were re-mastered, only the most popular for that day.
Some early systems had a joystick that was made just for quad. It could move the music from left, right, front, and back. This meant that no matter where a person was located in the room they can adjust the music so they were always dead center of the speakers. This created a very dynamic experience for the user.
However, as time went on new advancements were made. For one reason or another, the name was changed from quadraphonic to surround sound. During this time, separate audio components were very popular. For instance, it was common to have a separate amplifier, receiver, turntable, tape deck, and the like. This new technology allowed folks to add quad to their existing systems easily.
Today's new systems are incredible. They are lighter, smaller, and cheaper. Furthermore, they can be installed with any type of television or music system. The quality seems so real that many say they feel as though they are at the movie. A center channel makes this possible. The original systems only have four separate channels.
Today's new systems have five channels and a woofer. The result of this new 'matrix' technology equals some of the best listening experiences available. Matrix does not need a special source to produce the quad effects. However, it must be remembered that this is not true quad sound. With matrix, the source is unmasked and then ran through a filter. This can reduce sound quality, but most people do not notice.
Today's true quadraphonic has a unique source. Just as the record companies had to remix their original recordings to be used with the original quad systems, likewise true quad needs an encoded source. Everyone knows this today as Dolby and it can be seen in any movie theater.
In conclusion, the best version for home use is obviously the Matrix because it can convert any existing audio into quad. Alternatively, Dolby requires a special format. This is why it is best used in the theaters. Both products can produce a great listening experience. Check out the new surround sound systems today and start enjoying the best sound available.
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