SACD vs. CD

[Mr. Stevens Senior]

I have only standard CD equipment (computer disc drive reading to C, then onto the Ipod via Itunes).   If I buy a "hybrid" SACD, I know I won't get the full benefit, but will I get "as much" music as on a conventional CD?  Sometimes higher-grade components in a lower-grade system work to the lower level of the system, but sometimes they end up giving a worse performance than using all lower-grade components.

[Opus106]

If I buy a "hybrid" SACD, I know I won't get the full benefit, but will I get "as much" music as on a conventional CD?

Ideally, you should. Each type of 'audio' (SA and the normal one) are encoded onto different 'layers', so that when you place it in a conventional CD player, the 'normal' layer is played.

[71 dB]

SACD releases are often engineered very well so even the downmixed CD layer sounds very good.

[Mr. Stevens Senior]

Thanks!  That's good news, because I can only find some things on SACD.  Does it have to say "hybrid" or will all SACD work that way?  Any formats I *should* beware of?

[mc ukrneal]

Thanks!  That's good news, because I can only find some things on SACD.  Does it have to say "hybrid" or will all SACD work that way?  Any formats I *should* beware of?

If all you have is a regular cd player, you will need a hybrid disc to play it on your player. There are some SACD-only discs that ONLY play on SACD players, so you need to be look out for that.

[Wanderer]

Thanks!  That's good news, because I can only find some things on SACD.  Does it have to say "hybrid" or will all SACD work that way?  Any formats I *should* beware of?

They've stopped making SACD-only discs a long while ago, so your chance of encountering one is minimal (e.g. some old Sony releases, like Perahia's Chopin Études, long OOP) and regarding new releases, nil. In all instances, look for the hybrid-SACD logo on the jewel case/disc that means you can also play the disc on  regular CD-players and you're set.

[Mr. Stevens Senior]

They've stopped making SACD-only discs a long while ago, so your chance of encountering one is minimal (e.g. some old Sony releases, like Perahia's Chopin Études, long OOP) and regarding new releases, nil. In all instances, look for the hybrid-SACD logo on the jewel case/disc that means you can also play the disc on  regular CD-players and you're set.

That's good, but since I usually buy used discs, the advice is still very helpful.

[JerryS]

SACDs without a CD layer are very rare but there are some exceptions on the market. For example, this release from BIS places about 4 conventional CDs of music on a single SACD. The audio is CD standard resolution. The SACD format is used for its higher density storage.


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