Playing SACD on a Non-SACD Player

How do you figure that?

Rwwear,

Not true at all.

The DSD encoded on an SACD disc is like a foreign language
to your redbook machine. It doesn't understand it AT ALL!!

The redbook machine can't read a single layer SACD disc at
all. The redbook player can only read the redbook layer on
a hybrid disc, which is written in a language it understands.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist

Thanks all for the input!!! I should have been more specific about the hybrid situation. I have heard much about the inferior nature of the redbook layer on hybrid discs and wanted to get unbiased opinions.
Thanks again everyone.
Lee

The main problem with standard PCM technology is that it requires both steep (brick wall) filters to block frequencies above 20kHz (specifically at 22.05kHz) which is difficult to build. It also requires the addition of re-quantization noise for its decimation (down-sampling) digital filters and interpolation (up-sampling) digital filters. These problems limit the actual fidelity of the reproduced audio.

DSD Downconversion

Using single stage FIR digital filtering and noise shaping, 1-bit DSD can be down-converted into standard 24, 20 or even 16-bit PCM audio for CD distribution while still retaining the maximum possible audio quality. The system's 2.8224 MHz sampling rate is specifically designed for high precision down-conversion to all current PCM sampling rates using simple integer multiplies and divides.

Article written and illustrated by:
Shahin Al Rashid
Technical Director
Canada Promedia Inc.
Copyright 2001.

The redbook machine can't read a single layer SACD disc at
all. The redbook player can only read the redbook layer on
a hybrid disc, which is written in a language it understands.

Yup. That's it exactly.

IMO, some of the criticism of the redbook layer of CD/SACD Hybrid discs is due to the lack of attention paid to the redbook mastering as opposed to any inherent technical inferiority in the redbook layer of a CD/SACD disc. CD/SACD disc manufacturers devote most, if not all of their resources to the mastering/re-mastering and production of the SACD recording, and very little of their resources are devoted to the optimization of the redbook recording. This is especially apparent CD/SACD re-issues...like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon".