CARRUTHERS EWEN - When Time Turns Around (CD)

Does an SACD really sound better than a standard CD?

Yes — provided the recording and mastering are of corresponding quality. The SACD uses the DSD process with a sampling rate 64 times higher than the audio CD, bringing audible advantages particularly in dynamics, spatial imaging and high-frequency reproduction. The frequency response extends to 100 kHz, the theoretical dynamic range reaches 120 dB — far beyond the capabilities of the standard CD. Many audiophile listeners describe the SACD sound as distinctly "analogue": warm, spacious and with a natural openness that digital formats rarely achieve. The crucial caveat: poor mastering on SACD does not sound better than excellent mastering on CD.

Can I play an SACD on my standard CD player?

A pure single-layer SACD cannot be played on a standard CD player — nor can a Blu-ray player read SACDs. Only the Hybrid SACD solves this: it contains a regular CD layer that any CD player can read, plus an SACD layer that an SACD player automatically recognises and reproduces at full quality. The Hybrid SACD is therefore the ideal starting point for collectors — build the collection before upgrading to an SACD player. An additional route: certain Sony PlayStation 3 models (first generation) can play SACDs and are used by enthusiasts as a cost-effective entry point.

What is DSD — and how does it differ from PCM?

PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) samples the analogue signal at regular intervals and stores each measurement at a specific bit depth — on the standard CD, 16 bit at 44,100 samples per second. DSD (Direct Stream Digital) takes a fundamentally different approach: it samples at 2.8224 MHz but stores only a single bit value (0 or 1) per sample. This sigma-delta process delivers a very precise reconstruction of the original signal up to 100 kHz, described by many audiophiles as sounding particularly natural and analogue. While PCM quantises in discrete steps, DSD follows the analogue signal almost continuously — a fundamental conceptual difference.

Why are CDs becoming more popular again despite streaming?

Several factors drive the CD revival simultaneously. First, the CD offers a physical, tangible object: cover art, liner notes, the small ritual of inserting the disc — none of which streaming can replace. Second, a losslessly encoded audio CD delivers quality that at least matches most streaming formats. Third, younger generations are discovering the CD as an affordable collecting medium. And fourth, owning a physical copy protects against albums disappearing from streaming catalogues. Japan illustrates this well: CDs still account for around 70% of all music sales there.

What are UHQCD and Gold CD — and why are they absent from many format guides?

Two audiophile CD formats are frequently overlooked. The UHQCD (Ultimate Hi-Quality CD) by Memory-Tech (Japan) uses a liquid photopolymer instead of polycarbonate: the material flows into the smallest pit recesses and, after UV curing, produces near-perfect pit geometry — more precise than any conventional pressing. The 24-karat Gold CD, pioneered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL) from 1987, replaces aluminium with gold: no oxidation, no pinholes, uniform laser reflection. The actual sonic advantage lies primarily in MFSL's meticulous GAIN mastering — these discs are now sought-after collector items.

What are Japanese first pressings and OBI CDs — and why are they so sought after?

Japanese CD first pressings are considered particularly valuable for several reasons. The Japanese pressing plants of the 1980s and early 1990s operated to the strictest quality standards, producing exceptionally low-error pressings. The characteristic OBI strip — a paper band along the jewel case with Japanese text — is an important authenticity marker for collectors. Many Japanese editions include more complete booklets and occasionally bonus tracks absent from Western releases. Japanese specialist formats such as SHM-CD, Blu-spec CD2, UHQCD and K2 HD CD are produced almost exclusively for this market.

What is the "Loudness War" — and which CDs are affected?

The "Loudness War" describes the trend from the 1990s onwards of mastering albums progressively louder — because louder is subjectively perceived as "better". The result: heavy dynamic compression, less breathing room between loud and quiet, audible distortion at peaks and listener fatigue. Most severely affected are CD pressings from the late 1990s to mid-2010s, particularly in rock and pop. Older originals from the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as modern audiophile productions (SACD, XRCD, MFSL), are typically far more dynamic. The Dynamic Range Database (dr.loudness-war.info) allows direct comparison of dynamic values for many albums.

How long do CDs and SACDs last — and what damages them most?

Industrially pressed CDs and SACDs are designed for a lifespan of at least 50 to 100 years when stored correctly — dark, dry, at room temperature, stored upright. The greatest enemy is UV light combined with moisture, which oxidises the aluminium reflective layer — known as "CD rot", a brownish discolouration associated with inferior pressings from the 1980s. Gold CDs have an advantage: gold does not oxidise. Self-recordable CD-Rs are considerably more sensitive — they can become unreadable within as little as 10 to 25 years depending on quality and storage.

Is CD better than vinyl?

This is the eternal audiophile question — and it has no objectively correct answer. The CD delivers technically superior measured values: no noise, no crackle, no treble loss from stylus wear, no channel imbalance. Vinyl produces distortions and colourings through its analogue character that many listeners find pleasing and "more musical". Given identical recording and mastering, a high-quality CD is technically more precise — whether that brings more joy than a carefully pressed vinyl record is a deeply personal decision. Many audiophiles maintain both formats in parallel, alternating depending on mood and music.

What does treating a disc with L’Art du Son CD/DVD Conditioner achieve?

Every freshly pressed CD leaves the pressing plant carrying two invisible residues: chemical release agents from the manufacturing process and electrostatic charges that build up during pressing. Both theoretically affect the quality of laser reading. The L’Art du Son CD/DVD Conditioner removes these residues and neutralises the charges in a single step. Spray undiluted on both sides, spread with the fingers into a thin film, then wipe off with a soft lint-free cloth. Users report a more natural soundstage, more stable spatial imaging and an overall less "digital" character. One bottle (100 ml) treats approximately 300 discs. Important: the conditioner is expressly not suitable for SHM-Discs, whose special polycarbonate reacts adversely to the formulation.

Which music genres benefit most from SACD and audiophile specialist formats?

Classical music and jazz benefit most clearly — these genres feature wide dynamic ranges, natural instruments and complex room acoustics where the SACD's superior dynamic reproduction and spatial imaging come fully into their own. Labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, ECM, Analogue Productions and Mobile Fidelity produce audiophile SACDs representing absolute reference quality. Carefully recorded rock and pop from before the Loudness War also benefit audibly from SACD, XRCD or UHQCD. Heavily compressed mainstream productions, however, benefit less from the format than from a new, more dynamic master — because no format can repair poor mastering.