SACD, the next-generation super disc

Gatot, Contributor, Jakarta

At the time the CD was being developed, the PCM format used by CD represented the most advanced technology available in the recording field.

But with the continuous progress being made in digital technology, it became possible to make recordings that contained a greater volume of information, allowing for further improvements in sound quality.

These technical developments opened the door for the creation of a new source media format with even higher sound quality, surpassing the limits of the CD.

Harnessing this new technology, Sony and Philips worked together to create the Super Audio CD (SACD) format.

What makes SACD different from CD? The CD uses a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) recording format, in which music signals are converted into digital data for each sampling frequency. SACD, on the other hand, uses Direct Stream Digital (DSD) recording technology to convert sound signals.

DSD offers a much higher resolution of music than PCM by more closely following the original wave form of the music, which makes a music reproduction more pure and faithful to the original.

In addition, the SACD format can accommodate more than four times the information of the current CD format. With this extra capacity, a standard Super Audio CD will provide space for two- channel stereo data, as well as an area for up to six-track multi-channel data, storage capacity for text and images, disc variations, copyright protection and much more.

"The sound of SACD comes directly from DSD's simplified mechanism for recording and playback results in a frequency response of over 100kHz and a dynamic range over 120dB across the audible frequency range," said Hendrik from Arena audio boutique at Mangga Dua electronics center in Jakarta.

SACD multi-channel sound can contain as many as six separate channels, each captured on disc at the full DSD bit rate with the full DSD sound quality. Some producers have used the added channels to faithfully reproduce the precise acoustic signature of the performance space.

Who are the SACD player producers? Besides Sony, there is Philips, Accuphase, Kenwood, Denon, Marantz, Aiwa and Sharp.

Of course, a SACD player can play a CD disc too and SACDs from the specialty labels can be played on current CD players. But unfortunately, SACDs from Sony Music must be played on a super Audio CD player. Specifically, Sony's SACD titles are not hybrid discs (i.e. the discs contain one high-density (HD) layer but do not contain a CD layer).

That is why an SACD is so special nowadays, especially if you want to become an audiophile. So don't be surprised that this format is expected to become the new source media for the next century.