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![[SOUNDSTAGE! LIVE]](../covers/ssmainlive.gif) The Best in Online Trade Show Reporting June 10, 1998Sony Electronics Super Audio CD Press Conferenceby the SoundStage! Coverage Team
Sony once again displayed their DSD technology, dubbed the Super Audio CD, which will offer a variety of sampling and bit rates as well as complete backward compatibility with existing CD technology. This backward compatibility is achieved through the use of dual layers, similar to DVD technology. One layer holds the standard Red Book-formatted 16-bit, 44kHz data which can be played on a standard CD player. The second layer uses lossless compression and a proprietary data format which holds two and six channels, as well as extra data. The result is response up to 100kHz and a dynamic range of 120dB. Sony had on hand a new set of prototype speakers to take advantage of this increased range. Sony did demonstrate that the "hybrid" disc could play on standard CD hardware by using one of their "boombox" players.
One of the benefits that Bob Woods of Telarc International stated was that they would now be able to remaster the original 50kHz Soundstream recordings from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. These original recordings had to be "down converted" for the Red Book CD format. DSD allows a variety of sampling rates that can now accomplish playback at full resolution. DMP’s Tom Jung stated that DSD "sounds right, feels right, and is more akin to analog than digital." As for demonstrations, each company played a variety of recordings which consisted of two-channel and multi-channel surround. All SoundStage! contributors favored the multi-channel recordings by far. However, all felt it unfortunate that no comparisons to standard CD were made. As a result, a definitive judgment could not be made regarding the sound quality. When will this new technology be available? Sony reps indicated a spring 1999 domestic launch in Japan. When asked about a North American release, Vic Pacor of Sony said, "not too far behind the Japanese release." However, since support from major record labels is unsettled, the matter of how large this "release" would be remains in question. In fact, it was indicated that any widespread adoption will be many years down the road. Consumers looking for a changeover of any significance this year may be waiting considerably longer than they expected. Neither DSD nor competing formats such as DAD have been adopted as an industry standard, and this will have to be resolved first. It seems that the CD, as we know it, will be with us for some years to come. |
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Copyright © 1998 |
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![[SOUNDSTAGE]](pics/toplefttop.gif)
24 bit/96kHz is all the rage today. In fact, many
consumers are holding off CD-player purchases thinking a new format is just around the
corner—but is it?
In addition to Sony Classical, audiophile record labels such as Telarc
International, DMP and Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab were all on hand to show their support
for this format. No major labels have thrown their support behind the format, however.
Regardless, the audiophile companies are impressed with the quality and versatility of the
format.