How to tell if a CD is Encoded?

Hi Cheeg,

If it says "compact disc digital audio", then it is always PCM:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_Disc_Digital_Audio

If it says SACD then it is DSD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Audio_CD

CD, being older, has very limited space, about 650 megabytes. DSD requires a lot more per song. The Wiki links I posted will show you the logo’s to search for.

The confusing part is CD’s, DVD’s, blue rays and SACD’s all share the same physical dimensions. Same diameter (120mm), same size spindle hole (15mm). Otherwise the data density and encoding is all different, except for hybrid CD/SACD’s which have both on one.

Best,

Erik

I should also point out, as far as I know, the only legal way to go from a SACD player to an external DAC is via HDMI for use with multi-channel DAC/processors. Even ripping SACD’s is difficult due to copyright fears.

There are however boutique music vendors like Blue Coast who let you download DSD files directly, and if your DAC supports it, play them. These files use DSF or DFF as the extension.

Best,

E

If it's this release it's the SACD, if not it's a CD only
https://www.discogs.com/Beethoven-Karajan-Berliner-Philharmoniker-The-Symphonies/release/3344481

All versions can be found here
https://www.discogs.com/Ludwig-van-Beethoven-Symphonien/master/30029

The word recorded should not be in the question.

Thanks Erik and folkfreak!  The discs do say "Compact Disc Digital Audio", so it sounds like they're PCM.  Probably Redbook, but there may be no way to tell.  I didn't realize CD's were exclusively PCM, or that DSD was only done on DVD's; good to know. 

But, of course, this opens up a whole nest of related questions!  I've been restocking my music collection with some of my favorites from the 60's and 70's (my original library was stolen), and noticed that many of them have been reissued or remastered.  Usually these versions are selling for much less than the originals, and I was wondering what might have been lost in the process.  Some of them say Compact Disc Digital Audio, some say DSD Remastered, one says "2008 Digital Remaster and Stereo Mix" (with no indication of CDDA or DSD), and another says it's a 2004 Legacy Reissue of the original 1986 recording, with no indication of CDDA or DSD. The crystal case says CDDA, but it's not indicated on the disc or enclosure, so I wouldn't bank on it (also, it was made in Mexico, so I'm doubly skeptical).  

Aside from pure curiosity, one of the reasons I'm asking is because my DAC is a delta-sigma (Benchmark 1), and I'm wondering if I would get better SQ from an R2R DAC, at least with the Redbook discs.  Any thoughts?  

PS to Geoff: good point; I should have said "encoded", not recorded.