Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) is a new audio disc format and technology from Philips and Sony Electronics. SACDs look like regular CDs, but have much higher storage capacity, so they can hold super high-quality audio in 2-channel Stereo and multi-channel Surround Sound. SACD disc use a new audio encoding format called Direct Sound Digital that promises much better fidelity over CD audio.

In addition to high-quality DSD audio, Super Audio CDs also allow the addition of second physical CD layer to the disc so as to provide compatibility with conventional CD players. Because of all the different configurations possible with SACDs, Universal Music Group provides an easy reference guide on each SACD describing what type of music content the disc contains.

Of course, to take advantage of the improved sound quality with SACDs, you will need an SACD player and a Surround Sound audio system to enjoy the multichannel audio.

The Super Audio CD format offers three disc configurations: single layer disc, dual-layer disc and hybrid disc. The hybrid disc is a two-layer disc, consisting of one CD layer, and one high density Super Audio CD layer. The CD layer has playback compatibility with the over 700 million CD players worldwide. And remember, audio CDs will play back on Super Audio CD players.

 
Fim SACD