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September 13, 2005 - 9:02am
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dons
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Joined: Sep 8 2005 - 8:34am
CD only vs CD layer on Hybrid disk

Can anyone tell me if there is a significant difference between performance of a CD vs the CD layer of a CD/SACD hybrid?

Are there technical reasons for a difference? Has anyone compared the same recording using a CD vs the CD layer of a Hybrid?

I am debating whether or not to buy CDs or SACD hybrids when I have a choice. Currently SACD does not sound good on my system but Redbook CDs are killer. That is largely due to the fact that I can output CDs digitally and cannot do that for SACDs. (Good move Sony). Times and equipment change so it would be nice to have some SACDs in case I have better playback options in the future. But I am not willing to sacrifice playback quality now.

Thank you for any feedback.

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September 13, 2005 - 2:41pm
Wired
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Re: CD only vs CD layer on Hybrid disk

Hi,

It's only better if it has been remastered, and album reissues on hybrid SACD are remastered. I experienced this with the famous Roxy Music album "Avalon", "Oh, Mercy" and "Infidels" by Bob Dylan, "461 Ocean Boulevard" by Clapton. SACD layer sounds much better than CD layer, and as far as I know, there's only one player which SPDIF is enabled for SACD playback (SPDIF output set on PCM, stereo only) and I own it. It's a cheap DVD player, and the original firmware enables digital output for SACD, newer firmwares have been "corrected" and digital output for SACD is off.

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October 3, 2005 - 11:34pm
Timbre
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Re: CD only vs CD layer on Hybrid disk

Hello,

Yes it seems like the sound quality has more to do with the mastering than the issue itself. If no remastering I've never been able to hear any difference between the hybrid PCM layer and the CD on any recording. For example, the gospel music by T Minus 5 on IsoMike Recordings: originally a DSD recording, the CD and the SACD hybrid issues of Precious Lord, Take my hand are exactly identical. Both issues have a nice sound but I prefer the DSD playback.

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November 12, 2005 - 4:23am
benjamin
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Re: CD only vs CD layer on Hybrid disk

what type of player you are using then+?

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