QSound UltraQ Installation And Operation Manual
LIMITED WARRANTY
This product is warranted against defects for 90 days from the date of purchase. Within this period, we will
repair it without charge for parts and labour, or, at our option, replace the defective item with a currently-available
equivalent. Warranty does not cover transportation costs, nor does it cover a product subjected to misuse,
improper connection or accidental damage.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, QSOUND LABS, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some
U.S. states do not permit limitation or exclusion of implied warranties; therefore the aforesaid limitation(s) or
exclusion(s) may not apply to the purchaser.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and may also have other rights which vary from region to region.
SERVICE INFORMATION
If you feel your UltraQ needs service, first contact us to make certain that the problem is a defective product.
You must obtain a Returned Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number and shipping instructions rele-
vant to your geographical region from QSound Technical Support before shipping the product!
QSound Labs, Inc.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Web: www.qsound.com
Email: ultraq.support@qsound.com
Telephone (403) 291-2492
Facsimile (403) 250-1521
This product incorporates technology protected by US patent numbers 5,105,462; 5,208,860; 5,440,638 and
various foreign counterparts.
UltraQ is a trademark, and QSound and the QSound logo are registered trademarks of QSound Labs, Inc.
© 1997 QSound Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.
Welcome!
Congratulations on your purchase of the UltraQ 3D Audio Component! UltraQ delivers
remarkable 3D sound immediately from virtually any source, using any regular stereo
playback system such as powered multimedia speakers and compact or full-size home
stereos. The information inside this guide will help you get connected in minutes.
UltraQ uses QSound's patented technology—simply the most effective and best-sounding 3D
sound imaging enhancement available. This process was developed directly from QSound Labs’
ground-breaking 3D audio technology for professional recording applications.
UltraQ will make all your audio—whether from your PC, game console, CD or tape player,
laser disk, TV or VCR—sound bigger, better and more realistic than you've ever heard it
before. Thanks to UltraQ's outstanding Mono-to-3D capabilities, even your favorite old mono
games or mono movies will take on a fresh perspective.
For best results, refer to the Optimal Listening Setup guidelines (right) for information on
arranging your speakers.
A Word About Mono, Stereo and UltraQ Modes
To make the best use of your UltraQ processor, it's helpful to understand a bit about
monophonic and stereophonic audio signals.
Real stereo signals consist of two channels (left and right) which
differ from each other to a
degree that is completely dependent on the recording and production methods used. The
differences between the channels create conventional stereo imaging, which gives us the
impression of various individual sounds coming from different locations between the speakers.
Monophonic means “single-channel”. Very few sound systems today are mono, but mono
sounds are often still delivered through two speakers. In this case, the same signal goes to
both left and right speakers, resulting in the impression that the sound is coming from a point
midway between them. In QMono mode, your UltraQ unit will create a 3D stereo image for you.
In QStereo mode, UltraQ will expand the inherent imaging in true stereo signals while
maintaining the relative position of various individual sounds. Although QMono mode will
work with stereo signals, QStereo mode uses this inherent imaging for superior effects.
QSound Optimal Listening Setup
For best experience of QSound (or even regular stereo!) imaging, the best advice is to try to
set up your speakers symmetrically, that is, so that you are positioned in the center and each
speaker operates under similar conditions. The following diagrams illustrate this concept.