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Super Audio CD (SACD) Compatibility Notes
The Super Audio CD (SACD)
format specification allows for an optional hybrid CD layer that conventional
CD players and CD-ROM drives can read for backwards compatibility with the
existing one
billion CD playback equipment worldwide. Here's a summary of the major variants of
the SACD disc and their implications in terms of SACD/CD playback equipment
compatibility:
Hybrid
Multi-Channel: This hybrid SACD has a high density layer for high
resolution multi-channel and stereo DSD recordings, and a hybrid CD layer
for backwards compatibility with existing CD players and CD-ROM drives.
The high density layer contains a multi-channel DSD recording and usually a stereo
DSD recording as well. The multi-channel DSD recording requires a
multi-channel SACD player and a multi-channel audio system for playback.
The stereo DSD recording can be played back by a multi-channel or stereo SACD
player and only requires a stereo (2-channel) audio system. The hybrid CD layer
can be played back by any audio CD player or CD-ROM drive.
Hybrid
Stereo: This hybrid SACD has a high density layer for high resolution
stereo DSD recordings, and a hybrid CD layer for backwards compatibility with
existing CD players and CD-ROM drives. The high density layer contains a stereo
DSD recording. The stereo DSD recording can be played back by a
multi-channel or stereo SACD player and only requires a stereo (2-channel) audio
system. The hybrid CD layer can be played back by any audio
CD player or CD-ROM drive.
Single
Layer Multi-Channel: This single layer SACD has a high resolution multi-channel DSD recording
and usually a stereo DSD recording as well. The multi-channel DSD
recording requires a multi-channel SACD player and a multi-channel audio
system for playback. The stereo DSD recording can be played back by a
multi-channel or stereo SACD player and only requires a stereo (2-channel) audio system.
This disc cannot be played back in a conventional audio CD player or CD-ROM
drive.
Single
Layer Stereo: This single layer SACD has a high resolution stereo DSD recording. The stereo
DSD recording can be played back by a multi-channel or stereo SACD
player and only requires a stereo (2-channel) audio system. This disc
cannot be played back in a conventional audio CD player or CD-ROM drive.
For more information, read:
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