Dynaco QD-1 Series II L 5 Channel Home Theater Surround Sound Processor

Description

Dynaco QD-1 Series II
Home Theater System Surround Sound Processor
FEATURES:
-Exclusive Dynaco MATRIX Technology
-Decodes Dolby Surround Encoded Video Tapes
-Passive Design Needs No Additional Amps
-No Pumping, Breathing or Noise
-Re-Creates the natural Ambiance in all Recordings
Included in this sale:
-Dynaco QD-1 Series II Five Channel Home Theater System
Processor
-Original Box
This unit is in excellent cosmetic and functional condition. The box has some markings on it (one side more than the other). See pictures.
I used the Dynaco QD-1/II to excellent effect in a 2-channel music system to retrieve and reproduce the ambient information available in most recorded music. The effect, in my experience, is very effective and once you use it your system will sound flat without it. But don’t take my word for it, check out the many positive reviews online. Or better yet, buy this one and check it out for yourself! Some examples of reviews:
“Do a search man. Been touting mine for five years and actually gave my ,500 surround sound receiver to my kids the day I purchased mine and never looked back since”
“At one point, after dropping thousands of dollars into my audio system, I would have never expected that an inexpensive gadget could transform my conception of hi-end audio. But this little box I bought on Ebay actually took my speaker and headphone systems to a higher level, and forced me to think deeply about what the word "stereo" actually means.”
“…But indirect sound, bounced off the room boundaries, arrives at the mikes completely out of phase, and we hear this as ambience-the "sound" of the room. If only we could isolate this out-of-phase ambience, and redirect it to a couple of speakers in the back of the room, we'd have the best of stereo and surround sound combined!
Guess what? It's easier done than said…All you need is some zip cord and a couple inexpensive speakers, preferably a bit more efficient than the front pair so you can better adjust the balance with the QD-1/IIL’s attenuator, and you are in business…Bottom Line? The QD-1/IIL has got to be the most amazing little black box you’ll ever add to a stereo system!”
Instructions for use:
I do not have the manual and could not find one online but I did find the following useful information about using the Dynaco QD-1/II (online at Chris Kantack’s Surround Sound Information Source):
Front panel controls
The Dynaco is quite simple to operate. The front panel contains three knobs. The left most knob is labelled as the "MODE" control and allows you to select one of three options.
The "Theater" mode is the normal mode of operation in which all connected speakers are utilized. The "Surround" mode shuts off the front left and right speakers. Only the surround speakers (and a center speaker if connected) are operational in this mode. Finally the "Stereo" mode turns on only the front left and right speakers. The center speaker and surround speakers are off in "Stereo" mode.
The center knob is the "GAIN" control. It controls the volume for the center and surround channels.
The center and surround channels are both affected simultaneously thru the GAIN control. There is no way to separately adjust the center channel volume with the QD-1 Series II L decoder.
The rightmost switch on the QD-1 is the "CONTROL" knob.
It has three settings. With the CONTROL knob set to "FLAT", the surround channels get a full frequency response signal. This is great for material not specifically encoded in Dolby Surround. However, Dolby Surround Sound decoders usually attenuate frequencies above 7 kHz. To provide a more accurate frequency balance for Dolby Surround material, a "Contour" setting is available which limits the surround channels frequency response to 7 kHz. (The "Contour" setting may also come in handy when listening to material that may have bit of noise in the surround channels.) Finally, there is a "Center OFF" setting which allows you to turn off the center channel only (should you have one connected).
Rear Panel Connections
Connecting the QD-1 to your (thru your) existing stereo system is quite easy. The right and left speaker outputs of your existing system are connected to the right and left amplifier inputs on the Dynaco.
The terminal connectors on the Dynaco can accept banana or spade lugs, solid pins, or just twisted wire. You can then attach your left and right front speakers to the appropriate outputs on the back of the unit.
Note also that the Dynaco provides output for a front center speaker. Dynaco considers the center speaker purely optional and then they only recommend it if your front speakers are more than 8 feet apart.
The rear of the unit also provides you with your right and left rear speaker outputs.
Dynaco recommends that the impedance of your rear speakers match that of your front speakers.