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Marantz SQA-1, SQA-2, SQA-2B

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Specifications SQA-1:

INPUT classicaudio.com	OUTPUT classicaudio.com
please link only to this entire page	LF classicaudio.com	RF classicaudio.com	LR classicaudio.com	RR classicaudio.com
LT only classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com
RT only classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (-90 deg) classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (+90 deg) classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-3 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	-7dB classicaudio.com	-7dB classicaudio.com
LT = -RT (180 deg) classicaudio.com	-6dB classicaudio.com	-6dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1dB classicaudio.com

LT = SQ encoded Left Channel
RT = SQ encoded Right Channel
LF = Left Front
LR = Left Rear
RF = Right Front
RR = Right Rear

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Specifications SQA-2:

INPUT classicaudio.com	OUTPUT classicaudio.com
please link only to this entire page	LF classicaudio.com	RF classicaudio.com	LR classicaudio.com	RR classicaudio.com
LT only classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
RT only classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (-90 deg) classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (+90 deg) classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
LT = -RT (180 deg) classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com

LT = SQ encoded Left Channel
RT = SQ encoded Right Channel
LF = Left Front
LR = Left Rear
RF = Right Front
RR = Right Rear

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Specifications SQA-2B:

INPUT classicaudio.com	OUTPUT classicaudio.com
please link only to this entire page	LF classicaudio.com	RF classicaudio.com	LR classicaudio.com	RR classicaudio.com
LT only classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
RT only classicaudio.com	-20dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (-90 deg) classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-8dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT (+90 deg) classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-8dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com
LT = RT classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com	-12dB classicaudio.com
LT = -RT (180 deg) classicaudio.com	0dB classicaudio.com	0dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com	0 +/- 1.5dB classicaudio.com

LT = SQ encoded Left Channel
RT = SQ encoded Right Channel
LF = Left Front
LR = Left Rear
RF = Right Front
RR = Right Rear

All of the Marantz SQ decoders decode the SQ signal in the same way, the difference is in the "steering logic". When a signal is received with it's content mostly in the direction of front, rear, left or right, the decoder "steers" the signal by attenuating the other channels. This produces a significant increase in separation between channels as can be seen by comparing the SQA-1 with the SQA-2.
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The SQA-1 uses only discrete components, where the SQA-2 and 2B use integrated circuits. Depending on the future availability of these ICs, the SQA-1 may prove to be the lone survivor over time.
classicaudio.com classicaudio.com classicaudio.com classicaudio.com classicaudio.com classicaudio.com

The SQA-2B loses all of it's front-rear separation when the signal is rear left and rear right only. Perhaps this is a condition which never occurs. There is also a significant loss of separation between left rear and right rear channels during left rear only or right rear only signals.
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On a non-technical note, during listening tests little difference can be heard between the three decoders. The source material just wasn't produced radically enough to demonstrate the differences in separation performance.
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