Just rescued a JVC CD-4 phono processor from a local thrift if for no other reason than completing a Sylvania monster 4-channel reciever "someday" project. Anybody doing anything with this stuff?

Yes. You should read up on it and then assemble a CD-4 quad system and be amazed!
It is glorious, as the phrase goes.

Imagine full separation between four speakers as with two in stereo.

Doug

Google "quadraphonic forum" and you will get a link to the place where you will be able to find hints on how to set-up the CD-4 demodulators. JVC demodulator was one of the earlier models and is somewhat touchy to the set-up. It might also need most caps to be replaced due to its age.

If you are in DIY hobby you could find a demodulator board from QRX-9001 receiver which is the best demodulator AFAIK. Just add the power supply and IO connectors.

Someone brought in a Panasonic CD-4 turntable with a built-in processor. Odd piece for sure! He wasn't using it for CD 4.

Yep, I dabbled in it back in the 70s along with the other formats, too.

Too bad that the vendors couldn't get together and reduce the complexity of the operation. It might have caught on but died a merciful death.

Cheers,

David

I have an original JVC CD-4 turntable including original cartridge (with a second cart promised to me as soon as the guy can find where he put it in his over-crowded shop), what I think was JVC's top quad receiver (NOT the best CD-4 decoder, but historically "correct" and interesting; my aim is eventually the QRX-9001), a couple stand-alone decoders, and I'm sorely tempted to add the JVC quad reel-to-reel (from a shop where I know one is sitting) and headphones (from eBay).

The idea here is not to create the best CD-4 sound, since I can easily improve the sound using better components I already have, like using the Sansui SR-929 turntable and four Marantz 300dc amps instead of the JVC stuff, but to create a complete "original" JVC quad set-up. The kind of system someone jumping into quad back when it was "hot" and buying a complete JVC set-up might have got.

I'm stalling on some of it like the tape deck, because frankly, it isn't exactly the best-quality hi-fi stuff (I'd generously call it mid-fi), and I don't think the compulsion to put the whole set-up together just because I can, is entirely healthy. Still don't know what speakers would be appropriate for the set-up, either, and I suppose if I do go "all the way" I'll have to end up seeking out the original documentation for this gear, too... All to turn around and probably sell it all en bloc to some collector with more room than I have to pile up gear! :D

But I'll definitely hang on to the few dozen CD-4 ("quadradisc") LPs I've accumulated, and keep playing them on better gear! :yes: :music: I have a big soft spot (:scratch2: or is that a hard spot? :D) for CD-4. The pickiest, most difficult quad or "surround" format to set up and get working right, but also probably the best sounding, once you get it all set up and working as it should. Just a shame there aren't more and better (and more recent) releases available in the format!

I've never had any luck with CD4. I went through two demodulators, one that ended up being broken, the second one was fine however I could never get the separation to work. Even with an appropriate turntable (yamaha px2) and cartridge (grado g1+ with original shibata stylus), setting up CD4 is a pain in the ass that is probably worth it if it works however the amount of time and money I ended up putting into CD4 was a complete waste. YMMV.