Marantz 2440... or... "For God's Sake Someone Tell me What To Do!!!

[RSilverman]

Hi all. I'm a new member here, which explains why none of you have ever seen my handle.

OK.... here's why I'm here, good people of quadraphonicquad.com (bless you, Internet):

For some God-forsake reason (see way, way, way below), I've been wanting to create a quad vinyl system. Yeah, I'm a gluten for punishment, I guess. Yesterday, my lovely girlfriend spied a quadrophonic receiver at the swap meet, a Marantz 2440. Overly excited and well-caffeinated, I bought the thing for 75 bucks without really looking it over.

I took it home and studied the back panel and saw there's no front speaker hookups. "Huh," I said, scratching my head. Then I downloaded the manual and realized, "Oh. This is some kind of quad adaptor gizmo meant to add to my existing setup. And oh yes, I need a CD-4 demodulator and an SQ Decoder on top of it."

My receiver is a vintage H/K. Don't know the model number off hand, but I love the way it sounds (Paired with a Philips 212/Grado Red through Paradigm Monitor 7 speakers). So I'm looking at all the wiring options, and I don't think it's even possible to hook this Marantz quad thingie into the H/K along with a CD-4 demodulator and SQ decoder, and also be able to keep my CD player plugged into the H/K without some additional switch. I think I would need on the H/K for everything:

• Phono In
• Tape
• Tape 2 (which doesn't exist on my unit)
• Aux (CD player!)

(I'm also wondering about using an old Grado 1+ cart with a modern Gold stylus. I've read several people who say you don't actually need a Shibata tip or low-cap cables, but that's a topic for later. Some poor soul on a board said his Grado Red picks up the CD-4 OK).

Anyway.... what I want to know is this (drum roll)...

is it worth trying to sort out the Marantz 2440, or should I try and sell it on eBay and buy a real quad receiver when I can blow 400 bucks. The thought of running wires into a CD-4 modulator, then to my H/K and Marantz, wires from the tape out from my H/K to the SQ Decoder to the Marantz 2440 and then back to the tape-in on the H/K sounds both ridiculous to me. PLus, add a source switch selector so I the Aux input on the H/K can do double duty, as necessary.

And all of this cause I want to be able to play Frank Siantra's "Some Nice Things I've Missed" on a quad release I picked up a month ago.

I must be crazy.

[Quad Linda]

Welcome to QQ, RSilverman!!

Mishugina? Maybe, maybe not. Only YOU can determine that.

I have a 2440 and sold several of them in the day, and even more h/k. I have questions and perhaps some answers:
1- What model is your h/k? Most h/k receivers have a tape loop (simultaneous tape input & output).
Matrix In jacks on the 2440 connect to tape record (out) on the h/k. Front out on the 2440 connects to tape play (in) on the h/k. THE TAPE MONITOR BUTTON must be depressed on the h/k to access the 2440. Tape/aux in and tape monitor buttons on the 2440 both need to be in the off (out) position to access sources connected to the h/k..
2- Do you own an outboard SQ decoder?
3- Is there an SQ module mounted to the underside of your 2440? If there is no module, there is a blank plate fastened with thumbscrews, or a hole.
If there is an SQ module, it would be an SQA-1 (front/back logic) or the later, superior SQA-2 (full logic). If one isn't there, you can find one on E-Bay. It plugs into the port and mounts with thumbscrews, a five minute install.
4- NO Marantz Quad piece has a CD-4 demodulator built in. Approximately half of all Quad receivers and amps by other manufacturers have the circuitry built in. ANY brand demodulator will work, It would connect to Tape/Aux on the 2440. I don't believe the Grado is suitable for CD-4, but it's worth a try. Grado cartridges will often vastly outperform their specs. The Philips GA-212 will accommodate a cartridge suitable for CD-4.
5- The internal vari-matrix decoder will decode QS and EV-4 Quad LP's. It will also do a fine job of synthesizing Quad from stereo sources. I usually listen in the full up (5 O' clock) position.

[RSilverman]

Hi Quad Linda! That was a speedy response. Thankee! Here's some more info:

1) I don't own an SQ decoder. The Marantz 2440 was the first piece of quad equipment I've purchased.

2) I opened the bottom panel on the Marantz and it's empty.

3) I was looking to possibly buy this decoder on eBay. Is this different from an "SQ Module"? Do I need both a SQ Decoder and an SQ Module? I"m thinking that I just need the module that plugs into the underside of the Marantz, so not this??? I can't seem to find the module adaptor on eBay right now.

Decoder thingamabob

4) My H/K is a 630 circa 1973.

Is it even possible to hook up to my H/K 630 / Marantz 2440 combination:

• Regular stereo turntable with no modifications straight to the H/K
• CD-4 demodulator
• SQ decoder
• CD player

I can't see how it's possible to jigger all this. I'm pretty savvy with this stuff, but no expert. I suppose the Marantz amp can output to the tape-input on the H/K and the front channels for the CD-4 demodulator can go into the aux input on the H/K. I can add a source switch so I can also have my CD player on the aux as well. How does the SQ Decoder fit into all this? Does it interrupt the signal from the tape-out on the H/K before going into the right inputs on the Marantz and you leave the device "off" if it's not an SQ source? I assume that's how that works.

I dunno... I think I might be happier with a quad receiver rather then try and work all this out. Is the Marantz 2440 even any good?

[RSilverman]

My response to Linda got vaporized in the system somehow, but we've emailed privately. If anyone else has any opinions on this, I'd love to hear him. Should I keep this Marantz unit and buy all the decoders, or dump it for something else? What say you, good people of Quadraphonicquad, home of the most esoteric obsession on earth -- quad vinyl.

[timbre4]

Many Grado cartridges were good for CD-4 as long as they are labelled as such (Shibata stylus, freq response).

Quad vinyl may fulfill your needs, that is up to you. I believe you can get all this to work; SQ in the decoder pocket, outboard CD4 demodulator in the 2440's inputs on Discrete setting. The Marantz unit also includes tape inputs so as not to hog all your 4 channel inputs. The 2440 gives you a master volume too.