SACD 2 channel vs Hybrid SACD

Yep, I understand Rcprince. Lots to worry about with this new format. I guess I might not be so worried if Sony wasn't leading the way. They know how to make products but their marketing is a little out there sometimes.

Dave

Rprince: Great!! I am salivating over the opportunity to sample some of these great Mercury Living Presence releases. I was lucky to have listened to several of the original master tapes (3 channel) with Frederick Fennell back in 1960. This was one of the unforgetable audio experiences of my life, and I can hardly wait to relive these musical memories! Thanks so much for bringing me such exciting news!!

Irishdog: The first four are due out November 11--see the following link:

http://consumers.umusic.com/sacd/future.html

Listening to the master tapes with Frederick Fennell?? You're even older than I!! That must have been an experience, all right--were you a student at Rochester at the time?

Rprince: No, I was not at Eastman at the time, although I have known a number of musicians/teachers who were. I was teaching English at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pa., and was helping out with that year's district band festival. I got the job (What a job!!!) of being Fennell's host for the weekend. He mentioned that the had the masters of two forthcoming releases ("Diverse Winds", and "West Point") with him, and was looking for a place where he could review them and grant approval for pressing and release. I happened to know a recording engineer in Lancaster who had all the good stuff (Ampex 300, Goodmans corner horns, Scott monoblocks etc.). We listened with Dr. Fennell, and I was blown away by the sound! From that day on, I KNEW what was meant by "just like master tape"!

I'm confused!!! So what's new?!

I have an Arcam cdp that plays both redbook and HDCDs. Does anyone issue HDCDs anymore? Anyway, when I play a HDCD, a red light comes on.

I've picked up a couple of SACD titles (Dylan reissues) and they sound great on the Arcam. Here's the strange thing (to me, anyway):

When I play a Dylan SACD sampler (the one that comes with the "Masked and Anonymous" soundtrack), the red light on the Arcam comes on. When I play one of the reissued Dylan titles, the red light does not come on.

So, is my Arcam playing the CD layer or the SACD layer? If it's playing the CD layer, why does it sound so much better than the original redbook disc? I presume the CD layer itself has also been remastered... yes?

If it's the SACD layer, what is the difference between SACD and HDCD?