Jim Schwab's comments on SACD and DVD-A here on Blogcritics made me cranky enough to write a reply. Jim is reporting on a blog post by Scott commenting on this CNN story. As both posts and the "mainstream media" story are full of whoppers (and I don't mean they went to Burger King...) I just had to toss in my two cents.

Let me start with CNN since they are the starting point. CNN says:

"SACDs and DVD-Audios, when coupled with the right speakers, sound superior to regular CDs."

Before dealing with this, I should note that I am an audiophile. I have a very expensive two channel stereo system (Audio Research electronics with Martin Logan speakers for those who care) using a Sony SACD player as my digital source. I even have a 24bit capable digital convert and some DADs- early DVD based 24 bit recordings. And there is no doubt that having high quality speakers makes it easier to hear differences in source material. But I have been at a get together at a friend's house where he played SACD discs over his ancient Apple computer speakers and everyone present could clearly hear the difference between the CD and SACD versions. I see no evidence the CNN journalist actually listened to either format- they just quoted people who did. As someone with direct experience with SACD let me tell you- there is a difference and you will hear it on most equipment. The question is whether that difference is enough to justify the expense of the player and software.

Another CNN gem:

"Most SACDs can only be played in SACD players."

This was true when SACD launched almost two years ago. But today almost all SACDs issued are hybrids. That means that your CD player will see only the CD information and play the hybrid SACD just like any other CD. When you place it in a SACD player, you can also access the SACD high resolution data stream. Only Sony and a few small labels issue SACD only discs.

Hybrids have even been issued as regular CDs. All of the recent ABKCO Rolling Stones re-mastered discs are hybrid SACDs and are stocked in the regular CD bin of your record store. CNN seems totaly ignorant of hybrids when they write:

"Another drawback: Unlike CDs and MP3s, which you can play just about anywhere, DVD-Audio and SACDs don't have that portability. Cars, portable CD players or boomboxes don't have the technology to play them yet."