Question About Sony SACD Masterings

[feinstein]

Steve or anyone else out there in the know,

Is it possible that a 2 channel SACD release could derive from some non-DSD mastering done for CD?

For example, on many of the Sony/Columbia 2 channel SACD's, they sound strangely and suspiciously similar to previous "20 bit remasters". They also carry the same remastering credits etc. "Kind of Blue", "Blood Sweat and Tears", "Lady In Satin" are examples of SACD's where I have the 20 bit remastered counterparts and where they sound suspiciously identical to those 20 bit remasters in both good ways and bad.

Could Sony be "deceiving us" by simply cutting SACD's from 20 or 24 bit CD master tapes and claiming that they're DSD mastered from the original analogue master tapes?

[MikeT]

Actually, I have noticed the same thing with regard to what they release on SACD. It appears that many of the current Re-mastered Redbook CDs are the ones that Sony is picking for their SACD releases. But I have to disagree, the SACDs sound leauges better than their redbook counterparts.

But I surmise, and I might be wrong, that Sony may have been using DSD all along to archive many of their aging masters that were valuable to them. I assume that, as many audiophile labels have shown, the SBM CD layer on their SACDs have been derived from the DSD remaster.

So my assumption is that Sony may have archived these masters in DSD, and created the redbook version from the DSD master. When remastering for SACD - they are then using the true DSD master to give us the SACD.

Maybe someone else can join in and give us the real story here.

[Beagle]

I have the "Kind Of Blue" SACD and it sounds nothing like the Sony Legacy version. I mean, it's the same mix but sounds much more natural, open and way more dynamic. There's no comparison. They may be using the same maaster tape but SACD gives it back to you more accurately.

[SVL]

While not directly related to the question, there was an informative discussion of Sony's SACD mastering on Audio Asylum, based on remarks of producer Bob Belden:

http://www.AudioAsylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/50889.html

[GregM]

Yes, I agree with Beagle and Mike T, (and coincidently I received that info from Bob himself and pasted it on the Hi Rez Highway where I post as jazz inmate :) )

All the Sony SACD's are DSD transfers but some use PCM mixing in the chain, and this is where some of the PCM "sonic signature" enters into the equation. The reason Sony has focused on those it has 20-bit SBM'ed seems a bit obvious--these are its best known titles.