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Redbook Quality on Hybrid SACD's

Is it necessarily the case that listening to the redbook layer on a hybrid SACD would be any different from listening directly to a redbook CD? I am about to purchase "Opera Arias", a new (and first) release by Anna Netrebko. I have a universal DVD player (Pioneer 563a) that I could play the SACD through, just out of curiosity. But I don't want to lose quality when played as a normal CD. Advise? Thanks.
peter_s
darrylhifi
498 posts
 
In general the redbook quality of a Hybrid SACD seems better that the redbook quality of a standard CD.
So I would say IMO the odds are slim the redbook layer will be worse than the standard cd. It should be at least as good, with a reasonable chance that its even better !
rcprince
2,830 posts
 
A similar question raised recently on the SACD forum at AA. The response I find best is from Michael Bishop of Telarc, who says that unless there was a different master used for the CD version (which could indeed happen), it should (and at Telarc, at least, is) the same disc whether CD or the CD layer of a hybrid disc.
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lafish
151 posts
 
redbook layer of Hybrid SACD is definitely sounds better than normal CD. However, this layer still cannot compete sonic with SACD layer in SACD player, even if you put redbook layer into decent player at 10 times price of SACD player.

I did detail testing on this issue, software I tried:

Kenny G Live
Norah Jones - dark blue cover (cant remember title)
Aaron Neville - Natural Boy
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