SACD - Are you surprised at the format's recent resurgence?

One of my music highlights of 2022!

 

In the year 2022, the last Boeing 747 rolled off the production line. 747 also happened to be the number of SACD released worldwide in 2022.

At the beginning of 2022, there were 14,258 SACD releases listed on hraudio.net. By January 1, 2023, that number has grown to 14,846 releases, which represented an increase of 588 new SACD releases on that website for 2022.

However, a number of new SACD releases weren't documented on hraudio.net. For example, Analogue Productions' SACDs of Steely Dan's "Two Against Nature" and "Everything Must Go". Or the 50 classical SHM-SACD reissues (on the Deutsche Grammophon and Decca labels) from Japan Universal Music, released in November 2022.

After accounting for the releases that have already been added, and not added, to hraudio.net during 2022, there were an additional 107 SACD releases in Hong Kong. All together, that makes a total of 747 new SACD releases worldwide for 2022. In case you want to know how that compare to previous years....

 

Wanna see an SACD revival, a'la vinyl. Granted, the SACD format was never really mainstream...

 

As I mentioned in the ‘Retirement’ thread:
“…(I won’t hold my breath; it’ll take more than MoFi and Dutton numbers to bring back the big guns.)…and besides, the big guns are making money by licensing to the small-batch operations, and they don’t have to gear up to support ‘niche’ markets.”

 

I think it may already be happening but in a low key kind of way. Anecdotally, I am hearing more and more music lovers say they are getting the SACD rather than the vinyl version of a release because the vinyl is too expensive. SACDs (as currently priced) are a bargain (in comparison)!

 

I remember many years ago when MoFi was just doing 24K gold CDs and those were at least $24.99 (or maybe $29.99). Now MoFi hybrid SACDs are "just" $30.00/each.

 

I think the MoFi controversy has also injected some new life into the SACD, giving DSD even more credibility as a high-resolution archive format.

 

Most definitely. It'd be even more cool if they made the quad dsd transfers available for sale, too. Not sure how many of you are aware of the Exton SACD classical releases, but they just ooze quality. I've recently bought one and I'm thoroughly impressed.



It took me a long time to find one of these on the second hand market, but it was worth the wait.

Even the plastic they used for the case is of different material then the rest of my SACDs. Much more luxurious to the touch. Also, the paper they have printed on is of utmost quality. Don't get me started on the sonics, it's also ridiculously nice.

 

Which ones do you recommend off of this list?
Exton (2)

 

I wish I could say I had them all, but that would not be true. I've encountered some of their HDCDs and SACDs and they all exuded quality, inside out. I wouldn't dare to critique the musical performances though.

 

Where I live MFSL SACDs used to be €38 for a long time (pre COVID), and currently are €45.

Fun fact: the Equinoxe MFSL CD I bought for 50 Dutch Guilders (pre Euro era) in 1995 would be €42 nowadays (after inflation correction). So the current price doesn’t seem too expensive.

Fun fact 2: 50 guilders would actually be €22.73 in 1995 (using the official conversion rate). So the rest (€19.27) is inflation correction.

 

I’ve been hoping for an SACD resurgence like many of you, but to be honest, the quality of Qobuz 24/192 streamed through my recently purchased Marantz KI Ruby comes close enough to SACD that I don’t really feel the need to purchase the SACD version as much as I thought I would.

 

That's great, but Qobuz doesn't have any of those great remasters by MFSL, DCC, AF, AP or IR.

 

Great point. I recognize the first three, but what do AP and IR stand for? I’ll have to check them out. I’m not a big fan of MFSL‘s mastering style, however. I really loved Steve‘s work at AudioFidelity, both CD and SACD, but I believe they are now defunct unfortunately.

 

AP = Analogue Productions
IR = Intervention Records

 

I thought you meant Impex Records, I forgot about Intervention

Vinyl Records 33RPM & 45RPM | 24K CDs | SACDs | MQA CDs | IMPEX

 

oh they do, just in high res PCM, not dsd

 

I can’t figure out how to tell on that. For example, I found a high resolution version of thriller at 24/192, it sounds very good, but there’s no way to tell on Qobuz whether it’s from one of the audiophile labels. I will enjoy it regardless, but it would be nice to have an idea of its provenance.

 

yeah it's often not possible to tell but they do mark remasters at times- the Animals 2018 remix for instance is a separate listing from the old master.

 

Yeah, it does have that sound for sure. I still love this record, though.

I prefer acoustic drums, as well.

 

On Japan Tower Record's website comes the new listing of Mr. Big's self-title debut album on multichannel hybrid SACD....

https://tower.jp/item/5624596/Mr--Big-(日本語帯-ライナーノート付き)

Yes, being released by Evolution Music/Evosound on April 21.

 

@Omnio, where did you get your Exton SACDs from, and HDCDs from Exton? Did they apply Peak Extend? What titles do you have? Names, I want names!

 

My ex-gf is in Japan and she helps me to buy locally, with me, in the US. She's a peach. The prices quoted on Ebay and Discogs are beyond ridiculous.

 

Looks like Benny Carter and Hampton Hawes SACDs are in over at Craft Recordings; presumably shipping soon. "Newly remastered audio from the original tapes by Bernie Grundman."

 

Also coming soon My Fair Lady (SACD - Craft Exclusive) – Craft Recordings, "Product expected to ship by March 3rd, 2023." Hope they release more titles!