SACD 2 channel vs Hybrid SACD

Hybrid means just what Rprince explained: i.e. the disc can be played on a regular redbook CD player, or any SACD player, two channel or multichannel. My beef is that now the damn record companies will ONLY release SACD's that can be mastered from multichannel originals. (70's Quad and newer DSD masters.) This means that the treasure trove of great performances that were recorded in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's will never be released in SACD, and will become ever more difficult to obtain even in CD. This is not progress, it is greed!!!

Irishdog, I could be mistaken but...I thought that multi-channel SACD was only going to be derived from multi-channel sources and 2 channel from 2 channel sources. i.e. not creating multi-channel from 2 channel sources. But I digress, I cant remember where I read this.

Irishdog, that's a good point (although you can have most recordings from the 80's, I am quite certain that early 16 bit pcm digital will not sound any better on SACD); I too am not pleased at what appears to be a complete shift to multichannel, as a lot of fine Telarc DSD recordings which were only recorded in two channel (the Shaw/ASO Dvorak Stabat Mater, the Spano/ASO Sheherazade, the McDuffie/SCO Mendelsohnn/Bruch violin concerti, to name a few) will likely never be released in the SACD format. I recognize that the "hook" to get people to buy SACDs may have to be its multi-channel capabilities; perhaps if that does establish the medium, then the record companies will raid their vaults. I will note, though, that the new upcoming Mercury reissues will mine some great recordings, even though there's only the third/center channel in the multi-channel mix, so maybe there's some hope.

You guys need to try a little harder to stay up on your sacd release info...if anything their is to much old stuff being released, it's hurting the format IMHO.

Dave

Dave: I'd disagree as to classical releases, there's a decent number of new recordings far outnumbering the older ones that Sony first released when they got the format started, and we old guys like some of the reissues (though there could be better ones chosen). That said, I think you definitely have a point on rock and pop, one of the problems with the format's ability to attract a large following and possibly, though I hope not, its ultimate downfall (?).