Can you play a SACD on a normal CD player ? or vice versa ?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Mercury77, Dec 2, 2019.

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  1. Mercury77

    Mercury77 Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Long Island
    Pretty self explanatory
     
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  2. Doug Sclar

    Doug Sclar Forum Legend

    Location:
    The OC
  3. enfield

    enfield Forum Resident

    Location:
    Essex UK
    Not really..You can play CD's on a SACD player.You cannot play a SACD's on a CD player
     
  4. 926am

    926am Senior Member

    Location:
    rochester, ny
    Unless they are hybrid. Mfsl for example.
     
  5. StimpyWan

    StimpyWan Forum Resident

    As stated, some SACD discs are dual-layer hybrids. They contain both a CD layer and a SACD layer. So, those could be played on a standard CD player. Their probably won't be a sound improvement, unless it's a remastered release.

    Oh, most CD players will automatically play a hybrid disc. But, an SACD player might have to be instructed to play a CD layer, since they obviously default to SACD.
     
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  6. An SACD can only be played on a regular CD or DVD player if it's a hybrid SACD which also contains a CD layer. In that case its CD layer can be played on any regular CD or DVD player. But since that layer is technically the same as a CD it won't give you any of the advantages of SACD, such as hi-res DSD sound or 5.1 playback. For that you need a true SACD player.
     
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  7. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    Had a SACD player now just a CD player and I'm good with that.
     
  8. Carl Swanson

    Carl Swanson Senior Member

    Note: On many SACD-capable players, the default can be changed.
     
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  9. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Which CD player do you have?
     
  10. Dream On

    Dream On Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    To answer the question:

    Can one play an SACD on a normal CD player? Yes, if it's a hydrid SACD.

    Can one play a normal CD player on an SACD? That's probably not going to work.
     
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  11. ssmith3046

    ssmith3046 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Arizona desert
    I have an old Marantz CD5003. Nothing fancy. I just ordered a Schiitt Modi 3 that I'm going to try as an external DAC via coax cable. I thought it would be fun to play with.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2019
  12. George P

    George P Notable Member

    Location:
    NYC
    Cool.
     
  13. McLover

    McLover Senior Member

    Single layer SACD can only be played on SACD players. Hybrid SACD, has a CD layer which can be played on CD players.
     
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  14. Paul Chang

    Paul Chang Forum Old Boy, Former Senior Member Has-Been

    You can tell whether an SACD is hybrid or not by looking for the Compact Disc logo in addition to the Super Audio CD one.
     
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  15. petertakov

    petertakov Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sofia, Bulgaria
    This thread is like a Rorschach test. Let's see how long before this utterly simple question hits 100 identical answers and leads to a cable debate :)))))))
     
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  16. Paul Chang

    Paul Chang Forum Old Boy, Former Senior Member Has-Been

    ;);)
    Then it has to be a digital cable debate.;)
     
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  17. petertakov

    petertakov Forum Resident

    Location:
    Sofia, Bulgaria
    OK ... if working properly they make no difference at all.
     
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  18. All Down The Line

    All Down The Line The Under Asst East Coast White Label Promo Man

    Location:
    Australia
    I believe that also there are SACD's with no Redbook standard CD layer yes?
     
  19. Adam9

    Adam9 Русский военный корабль, иди на хуй.

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Yes. You need an SACD player to listen to those.
     
  20. Balthazar

    Balthazar Forum Resident



    SACD's are optical discs that can be played on SACD players and hybrid versions can be played on either SACD or CD players, but you cannot play a normal CD player on an SACD or a CD. You can play a normal CD player...

    IN A BOAT.
    WITH A GOAT...
    IN THE RAIN.
    ON A TRAIN.
    AND IN A CAR. AND IN A TREE.
    THEY ARE SO GOOD, BUT NOT ON AN SACD!
    IN A BOX.
    WITH A FOX.
    IN A HOUSE.
    WITH A MOUSE.
    HERE AND THERE.
    ANYWHERE!

    Plenty of options.

    Good luck!

     
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  21. siebrand

    siebrand music lover

    Location:
    Italy
    some SACD discs are dual-layer hybrids...?

    I think (but I'm not sure...) most of the SACD's are hybrid...
     
  22. cjc

    cjc Senior Member

    I just looked at my favorite SACD Bob Dylan "Blood On The Tracks" and it shows CD Audio /SACD Stereo/SACD Surround Sound.
    I can play it on either players......
     
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  23. StimpyWan

    StimpyWan Forum Resident

    I owned a SACD player early on. So, I never had the need to determine if a disc was a hybrid or not... I just knew they existed....:)
     
    siebrand likes this.
  24. siebrand

    siebrand music lover

    Location:
    Italy
    but that's OK!, no poblem at all.
    Only thought tahat, maybe, for those who do not own a sacd player... it should be helpfull to say the largest part of SACD's is Hybrid...
     
    StimpyWan likes this.
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