SACD 2 channel vs Hybrid SACD

Irishdog: The first four are due out November 11--see the following link:

http://consumers.umusic.com/sacd/future.html

Listening to the master tapes with Frederick Fennell?? You're even older than I!! That must have been an experience, all right--were you a student at Rochester at the time?

I don't know where you get your information, but I don't think you have it right. My Sony 777ES, a first generation player, plays the SACD layer of every SACD disk I've fed it, hybrid or not, multi-channel or not, and I've been collecting all of the new classical releases. Your terminology is confusing, too--hybrid generally refers to a dual layer disc, with a CD layer to play on ordinary CD players, and an SACD layer for playing only on SACD players; this has been a big advantage for SACD over DVD-A to this point, that you can buy an SACD and still play the CD layer on your redbook CD player or in your car's CD player. If you're referring to multichannel vs. 2-channel, there is still a two-channel mix on all the SACDs. But in my experience, the older machine does fine at reading all discs, hybrid or single-layer.

Irishdog, that's a good point (although you can have most recordings from the 80's, I am quite certain that early 16 bit pcm digital will not sound any better on SACD); I too am not pleased at what appears to be a complete shift to multichannel, as a lot of fine Telarc DSD recordings which were only recorded in two channel (the Shaw/ASO Dvorak Stabat Mater, the Spano/ASO Sheherazade, the McDuffie/SCO Mendelsohnn/Bruch violin concerti, to name a few) will likely never be released in the SACD format. I recognize that the "hook" to get people to buy SACDs may have to be its multi-channel capabilities; perhaps if that does establish the medium, then the record companies will raid their vaults. I will note, though, that the new upcoming Mercury reissues will mine some great recordings, even though there's only the third/center channel in the multi-channel mix, so maybe there's some hope.

Dave: I'd disagree as to classical releases, there's a decent number of new recordings far outnumbering the older ones that Sony first released when they got the format started, and we old guys like some of the reissues (though there could be better ones chosen). That said, I think you definitely have a point on rock and pop, one of the problems with the format's ability to attract a large following and possibly, though I hope not, its ultimate downfall (?).

Irishdog: Here's the press release on the Mercs:

iClassics_Steve (572 posts) 08-19-03, 01:26 PM (EST)
"Mercury Living Presence Announcement"
LAUNCH OF MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE RECORDINGS
ON SUPER AUDIO CD

The Decca Music Group, which owns the celebrated Mercury Living Presence classical catalogue, is pleased to announce the launch of Mercury Living Presence recordings on the new audiophile format, Super Audio CD. Mercury Living Presence continues to enjoy a special reputation as one of the most enterprising and prestigious labels in the history of classical recording, with many of its classic 60s and 70s recordings never leaving the catalogue.

The first releases are slated to be released late fall/winter 2003, and will include such notable recordings as Antal Dorati’s complete Firebird ballet, Rachmaninov’s 2nd and 3rd piano concertos with Byron Janis, the complete Bach solo cello suites from Janos Starker, Respighi’s popular Ancient Airs & Dances with the Philharmonia Hungarica and a disc of Suppé overtures from Paul Paray and the Detroit Symphony.

The Decca Music Group is also delighted to announce the full support for these new SACD releases from the legendary founder and producer of Mercury Living Presence, Wilma Cozart Fine. The discs will feature new DSD (Direct Stream Digital) analogue-to-digital transfers from the original analogue master tapes. Most excitingly, these new SACD discs will also include a 3-channel transfer of the original 3-track recordings, as well as a new DSD stereo mix. This will be the first opportunity for Mercury Living Presence enthusiasts to hear their favourite recordings in the original 3-track format.

All Mercury Living Presence SACD issues will be ‘hybrid’ discs – that is, the discs will incorporate the CD recording along with the new SACD mixes, making the discs fully compatible with all existing CD players.

Future releases of Mercury Living Presence SACDs are expected to include the famous 1812 Overture recording from the Minneapolis Symphony and Dorati, American repertoire from Frederick Fennell, and such celebrated one-offs as the Balalaika program from the Osipov Russian Folk Orchestra.

The distinctive logo and livery of Mercury Living Presence will be retained for these releases.

I'm curious how they will sound, as many of the Mercs are a little hot in the highs, but if they're anything near as well done as the Classic vinyl reissues (or for that matter the CDs from the series) they should be terrific. And if you have multi-channel capabilities, the three channel mix might be very interesting!

Your Arcam cannot read the SACD layer of the discs you mention, but they are hybrid discs, with a CD layer as well as an SACD layer--you're hearing the CD layer. I think the big difference between the old and new redbook discs is that the new Dylan discs were remastered much better than before. I didn't know that the Dylan CD layer was HDCD encoded, but there are apparently a number of such discs that are HDCD but not labeled as such, so maybe this was one of them. HDCD is still alive (Reference Recordings is its biggest proponent, but other labels use it too), just hadn't heard of Sony using it till now!