Quadrophony

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sound reproduction technique that uses four independent audio channels to create a more immersive listening atmosphere
2. An audio method involving four distinct channels to enhance the spatial quality of sound for listeners
3. A technique for sound reproduction that utilizes four separate audio channels to provide an enriched auditory experience

Etymology: Quadrophony is a compound built from "quadro-", a combining form drawn from Latin "quattuor" meaning "four", and "-phony", from Greek "phōnē", meaning "sound" or "voice". Put together, the name describes sound arriving through four channels, which is exactly what the technique does: four separate speakers surround the listener rather than the two of ordinary stereo. The "-phony" ending links it to a family of older terms that share the Greek root, such as "symphony", which originally meant agreement of sounds, and "telephony", the transmission of sound over distance. Each follows the same pattern, a prefix describing the number or manner of sounds attached to the Greek word for voice. The compound works as a plain technical coinage, so its meaning follows directly from its parts: a count of four, joined to the idea of sound.

Synonyms: four-channel sound, quad sound