Quadio Bundle #13: How to Play the Blu-ray Audio Discs

What you need before you open the case

Quadio Bundle #13 contains four Blu-ray Audio discs: James Gang - Miami, Herbie Mann - Hold On, I'm Coming, James Taylor - Gorilla, and David Gates - First/Never Let Her Go. Each disc carries quadraphonic (4.0 surround) and hi-res stereo mixes at 192/24 resolution, transferred from the original analog four-track master tapes. To hear the quadraphonic mixes as intended, you need a Blu-ray player, an AV receiver or processor with four-channel analog or digital surround support, and four speakers.

If you only have two speakers, you can still play the hi-res stereo mixes. The quadraphonic mixes will downmix to stereo, but you won't get the four-corner effect. Decide which setup you have before you start, because it changes which audio track you select.

Setting up for quadraphonic playback

Quadraphonic sound uses four audio channels connected to four speakers positioned at the corners of a listening space. The exact placement depends on your room and receiver, so follow your equipment manuals for distances and angles. The steps below cover the disc-specific choices.

1. Connect four speakers to your receiver: Use the receiver's surround back or multi-channel inputs for the rear pair. Confirm the receiver is set to a 4.0 or multi-channel mode, not stereo.
2. Connect your Blu-ray player: Use HDMI for digital audio, or the player's analog multi-channel outputs if your receiver lacks HDMI. Set the player's audio output to bitstream or PCM as your receiver requires.
3. Insert a disc and open the audio menu: Each Blu-ray in Quadio Bundle #13 should present a menu for selecting the quadraphonic or stereo mix. Choose the quadraphonic 4.0 track.
4. Check that all four speakers are active: Play a track and walk around the room. If the rear speakers are silent, revisit the receiver's speaker configuration and the disc's audio menu.

What the bundle contains

• Quadio Bundle #13: Bundle Includes: James Gang - Miami (Quadio), Herbie Mann - Hold On, I'm Coming (Quadio), James Taylor - Gorilla (Quadio), David Gates - First/Never Let Her Go (Quadio) Four separate Blu-ray discs means you'll repeat the audio-menu step for each one; the setup itself stays the same.

  

• Quadio Bundle #13: Blu-ray With 192/24 Resolution Quadraphonic And Hi-Res Stereo Mixes Both a four-channel and a two-channel option are on each disc, so you can use the bundle with either a surround system or a standard stereo setup.
• Quadio Bundle #13: Transferred From The Original Analog Four-Track Master Tapes The four-track source is what makes the quadraphonic mixes possible; it also means the stereo mix is derived from the same transfer.

Playing the hi-res stereo mixes

If you're using a two-channel system, select the hi-res stereo mix from the disc menu. Your Blu-ray player will output two channels; no receiver surround mode is needed. The 192/24 resolution is carried over HDMI or analog outputs, but your receiver must be able to accept that sample rate. Check your receiver's manual if you're unsure. The quadraphonic mix will usually downmix automatically if selected by mistake, but choosing stereo directly avoids any processing.

Quadraphonic vs. stereo: which track to choose

• Quadraphonic 4.0: Requires four speakers and a surround-capable receiver. Places instruments around the listener as the mixer intended. Best for a dedicated listening room.
• Hi-res stereo: Works with any two-speaker system. No surround setup needed. A safer choice for headphones or desktop listening.

A note on first-time availability

The bundle's catalog listing notes that these quadraphonic mixes are available for the first time in over 50 years. That's a reason to treat the discs as archival releases: handle them by the edges, and store them in the case when not in use. The supplied information does not include care instructions beyond that, so follow general Blu-ray handling practice.