Sony & Universal Hybrid SACD news?

[meestercleef]

Over at www.stereophile.com, there's an article about the possibility that Sony & Universal will stop making "normal" CDs & put all new releases on hybrid SACD's.

[MxStYlEpOlKmAn]

who cares...i dont buy normal cd's...i prefer blank ones...haha

[Steve@3dai]

Originally posted by MxStYlEpOlKmAn
who cares...i dont buy normal cd's...i prefer blank ones...haha

I really don't find that funny. If you like the album then buy it.

[phuz]

Originally posted by Steve@3dai


I really don't find that funny. If you like the album then buy it.

Agreed, if you like the artist.. support them. Besides, the quality of mp3 is crap anyway.

As far as the SACD thing goes, I hope not - but it wouldn't suprise me. I guess I'll just have to get even more picky about what I buy.

Hopefully the other labels won't follow.

[Steve@3dai]

But being a Hybrid SACD, you can play them on your normal CD player at regular bitrate, and then on a SACD for extended bitrate. I do see an advantage in that case.

But, at the same time, I bet ripping these hybrid discs might be a challenge, thus the reason Sony likes it.

[phuz]

I know that they will be hybrid, but we will still have to pay the cost of an SACD. All this while I was just starting to get into HDCD. Does anyone know the difference? HDCD is 20 bit, SACD is...???

As far as ripping the hybrid disks, it can and will be done it's just a matter of time. There are way to many people out there with way to much time on their hands. Someone will figure out how to do it, and write a program to make the process easy and free.

Gotta love technology these days. ;)

[Steve@3dai]

HDCD is 20bit, SACD is "Direct Stream Digital" which is equivalent to 24bit/192kHz

[phuz]

Originally posted by Steve@3dai
HDCD is 20bit, SACD is "Direct Stream Digital" which is equivalent to 24bit/192kHz

Doh. *kicks his HDCD gear*

[Steve@3dai]

Plus it's multi-channel :) (SACD that is)

HDCD is good because it's a lot cheaper than SACD, and sounds better than regular CDs. Kinda wish my DVD player was HDCD compatible, I've got a killer Depeche Mode tribute album that's HDCD.

[phuz]

Originally posted by Steve@3dai
Plus it's multi-channel :) (SACD that is)

HDCD is good because it's a lot cheaper than SACD, and sounds better than regular CDs. Kinda wish my DVD player was HDCD compatible, I've got a killer Depeche Mode tribute album that's HDCD.

Indeed. The only reason I got the HDCD gear was to listen to Tool's "lateralus" in HD. :D

Just that makes it worth it.

[meestercleef]

Not sure, but I think that you will still be able to legally digitally copy the non-SACD portion of the hybrid disc. Until they start putting out rcvrs/preamps w/SACD decoding, the decoding is done by the player, & SACD output, whether 2 ch or 5.1, is via analog cables. The digital output on a SACD player is only for the non-SACD portion of the hybrid disc, and can still be routed to CD recorder, MD, etc. However, I don't know if they are also going to try to copy-protect the non-SACD portion. The article in question seems to indicate that they are not going to do so, but who knows? the article is at www.stereophile.com/shownews.cgi?1353