SACD Format . . . ?

[CJSF]

Any one tell me if SACD format is Ok on a normal CDP, spacificaly, Rega Apollo-r latest half width version?

CJSF

 

[ID.]

I think most sacds are dual layer so your player should be able to read the red book cd layer provided it is a dual layer disc. But in that case why not just get the regular cd edition?

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Any one tell me if SACD format is Ok on a normal CDP, spacificaly, Rega Apollo-r latest half width version?

CJSF

Hi CJSF

Yes. Yes the Apollo-R also reads/plays back the CD layer of dual layered SACD's perfectly well.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Al ears]

Any one tell me if SACD format is Ok on a normal CDP, spacificaly, Rega Apollo-r latest half width version?

CJSF

Hi CJSF

Yes. Yes the Apollo-R also reads/plays back the CD layer of dual layered SACD's perfectly well.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

As Rick says it will play back the CD layer only (if the SACD actually has one). It will never play back the SACD layer which rather negates the object in the first place.

 

[ID.]

And do watch out as some SACDs don't have a CD layer. There is also a chance that the CD layer and SACD layer may be different masters.

 

[iMark]

I think most SACD's are hybrid. Most of the ones I have, have three layers: multichannel SACD, stereo SACD and Redbook CD. I have set our Sony BDP to play the stereo SACD layer because we don't have a multichannel setup. The CD layers have all been ripped into iTunes so we can transfer the files to our iPods.

Most of our SACDs sound very good, especially the ones from BIS (classical). We only have a few rock SACDs and the SACD usually sounds a bit less compressed than the CD layer. (Genesis, Peter Gabriel). Dark Side of The Moon sounds awesome on SACD though.

It's very hard to find out which masters were used for the different layers and of course remastering often adds compression.

I quite like the hybrid discs though. You can play the SACD when you've got a player that can play them and you can still rip the CD layer to your computer. If the stereo SACD has been made from a less compressed master, you could always record the analogue signal to your computer.

 

[Covenanter]

I think most SACD's are hybrid. Most of the ones I have, have three layers: multichannel SACD, stereo SACD and Redbook CD. I have set our Sony BDP to play the stereo SACD layer because we don't have a multichannel setup. The CD layers have all been ripped into iTunes so we can transfer the files to our iPods.

Most of our SACDs sound very good, especially the ones from BIS (classical). We only have a few rock SACDs and the SACD usually sounds a bit less compressed than the CD layer. (Genesis, Peter Gabriel). Dark Side of The Moon sounds awesome on SACD though.

It's very hard to find out which masters were used for the different layers and of course remastering often adds compression.

I quite like the hybrid discs though. You can play the SACD when you've got a player that can play them and you can still rip the CD layer to your computer. If the stereo SACD has been made from a less compressed master, you could always record the analogue signal to your computer.

I haven't got many SACDs yet and they are all classical but they do seem to be very high quality recordings. This may be because they only bother to put the best recordings on SACD?

Chris

 

[Al ears]

This may be because they only bother to put the best recordings on SACD?

Don't you believe it. There are thousands of recordings out there and there are some real duffers. However, I should say in general I have been very impressed with the format.

I think you are unlikely to get a realistic idea of the occasional lack of quality because not many people are going to admit to spending out good money on a SACD disc that turns out to be not what they expected quality wise.

Yours are all classical you say and this may be the reason, there seems to be a lot more attention to detail with certain genres.

 

[CJSF]

I have ordered the SACD disc, it is Hanns Theessinks 'Bridges' I found it listed, 'as new and hybrid' so for £8.50 inc., I thought I would give it a try?

I bought the Hanns Theessinks CD 'Slow Train' a couple of weeks ago, I was impressed with the quality and the sleeve notes, he cares about his music it seems and it shows, throughly recomended.

CJSF

 

[iMark]

Fortunately I bought a few excellent SACDs in the early 2000s, just before the format was dropped by Universal, EMI and Sony. In hindsight it was rather foolish by both manufacturers and record companies to drop the format. If every DVD-player would have had the capability to play SACDs and most discs would have been hybrid discs, the format could have been a succes. Of course the format war with DVD Audio didn't help.

Some of the discs I bought back then fetch rediculous prices in the second hand market.

 

[Al ears]

Fortunately I bought a few excellent SACDs in the early 2000s, just before the format was dropped by Universal, EMI and Sony. In hindsight it was rather foolish by both manufacturers and record companies to drop the format. If every DVD-player would have had the capability to play SACDs and most discs would have been hybrid discs, the format could have been a succes. Of course the format war with DVD Audio didn't help.

Some of the discs I bought back then fetch rediculous prices in the second hand market.

I was lucky enough to do the same.

Isn't it strange how people are now prepared to pay a small fortune for discs in a format that has been declared 'dead' in many quarters. Still playing with the format as SHM-SACD I see so it's not quite dead yet (unlike DVD-A).

Oh, hang on.... didn't they say the same thing about LPs a while ago??

 

[ID.]

Fortunately I bought a few excellent SACDs in the early 2000s, just before the format was dropped by Universal, EMI and Sony. In hindsight it was rather foolish by both manufacturers and record companies to drop the format. If every DVD-player would have had the capability to play SACDs and most discs would have been hybrid discs, the format could have been a succes. Of course the format war with DVD Audio didn't help.

Some of the discs I bought back then fetch rediculous prices in the second hand market.

Still playing with the format as SHM-SACD I see so it's not quite dead yet (unlike DVD-A).

In fact there's been a little resurgence in recent years with many being re-released on SHM-CD, but maybe I have a skewed view of it all because it always had a stronger following and consumer support here in Japan . Also, many of those that are no longer in production are now available as hi-res downloads. Some even in the same DSD format.

 

[Covenanter]

Marantz obviously don't think it is dead as all their premium players are SACD. They are pretty good at reading markets.

Chris

 

[iMark]

You don't need to pay for a premium player to try out SACD. Our Sony BDP-S590 plays SACD too and is pretty good at it. I still have a Pioneer Universal DVD-player in the attic that plays both SACD and DVD-A.

 

[CJSF]

OK, the SACD hybrid format CD arrived this morning, Hanns Theessink, 'Bridges'. Turned on the system, let it all arm up for 40 minutes or so, Then with a cup of tea we pressed the button! . . . I was not expecting what I heard, powerful, driven musicality with a base line that again I was not expecting. All the music I have heard from Hanns Theessink has always been laid back, this was but it had an authority that one might have expected from a vinyl recording????????

All I can say is, at £8.50, give it a go, or find it on the net and sample it, I could not find it on Spotify. Recorded over a 10 day session in an old church, the atmophere comes through.

There is no doubt Regas Apollo-r can read the SACD hybrid format.

CJSF

 

[iMark]

All I can say is, at £8.50, give it a go, or find it on the net and sample it, I could not find it on Spotify.

Hans Theessink is on Spotify. It helps to enter his name correctly in the search box. *dirol*

I found the following albums: Whishing Well (2013), Home Cooking - Song Cooking Best of Songs (2012), Homecooking - Blues Cooking Best of Blues (2011), Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack (2011), Homecooking - Live Cooking Best of Live (2011), Birthday Bash (2009), Crazy Moon (2008), Songs from the Southland (2008), Lifeline (2008), Hard Road Blues (2008), Slow Train (2007), Bridges (2004), Journey On (1997), Call Me (1992), Johnny & the Devil (1989), Baby Wants to Boogie (1987), Titanic (1983).

 

[CJSF]

All I can say is, at £8.50, give it a go, or find it on the net and sample it, I could not find it on Spotify.

Hans Theessink is on Spotify. It helps to enter his name correctly in the search box. *dirol*

I found the following albums: Whishing Well (2013), Home Cooking - Song Cooking Best of Songs (2012), Homecooking - Blues Cooking Best of Blues (2011), Jedermann Remixed - The Soundtrack (2011), Homecooking - Live Cooking Best of Live (2011), Birthday Bash (2009), Crazy Moon (2008), Songs from the Southland (2008), Lifeline (2008), Hard Road Blues (2008), Slow Train (2007), Bridges (2004), Journey On (1997), Call Me (1992), Johnny & the Devil (1989), Baby Wants to Boogie (1987), Titanic (1983).

. . . how come I did not find 'Bridges' . . . ? I know my spelling aint much good but I do know how to spell, 'Hans Theessink' in the Spotify search . . .

Any how, what the hell, give 'Bridges' a go it has some good tracks, IMHO.