Super Audio CD is a new format developed by Sony and Philips. It uses DSD (Direct stream digital) recording technology and a 4.7GB disc to give the consumer an audio experience so real you think you are in the recording studio or front row at a concert.

The massive increase in audio signal information possible on SACD has meant that improvements in disc storage capacity were also required. Combining this requirement with the need to ensure compatibility with the already well established CD format lead to the development of 3, SACD compliant, disc variations.

Three types of Super Audio compact discs were created to insure maximum sound quality while at the same time offering you reverse compatibility with existing CD players. These are: single layer, dual layer and hybrid.

The single layer disc consists of single High Density (HD) 4.7 GByte layer of information. The dual layer disc contains two of these layers, providing extended playback with a maximum capacity of 8.5 GBytes. The hybrid disc contains both a HD layer and a standard CD layer. The high-density layer provides luxurious SACD quality playback, while the standard density CD layer allows compatibility with any of the 700 million home, car or portable CD players made since 1982. This ensures complete compatibility between Super Audio CD players and existing CD players.

For all three types of discs, information reading is done from a single side. For the dual and hybrid discs, the outside layer is semi-transparent, allowing the inner layer to be read through the outer layer.

Therefore, with Super Audio CD, there is never any need to turn the disc over. This also allows labeling and printing on the top side, just like with a conventional CD disc

DVD-audio was developed based on the video format (DVD video) while the Super Audio CD was developed based on the audio format (CD). DVD-audio is based on PCM frequency and longer word lengths. The Super Audio CD, however, is based on a superior recording technology called Direct Stream Digital (DSD) that more closely reproduces the shape of the original analog waveforms to produce a more natural, higher quality sound that more accurately captures the nuance and atmosphere of the source material.

All Super Audio CD players can play the existing 13 Billion CD's. Hybrid Super Audio CDs can be played on existing CD players because they have a CD layer and an SACD layer. Some Super Audio CD players will also play DVD Video, Video CD, and CDDA discs.

Hybrid Super Audio CDs will. The Super Audio CD format offers three disc configurations: single layer disc, dual-layer disc and hybrid disc. The hybrid disc is a two-layer disc, consisting of one CD layer, and one high density Super Audio CD layer. The CD layer has playback compatibility with the over 700 million CD players worldwide. And remember, audio CDs will play back on Super Audio CD players.

Absolutely. Every Super Audio CD player is fully compatible with every audio Compact Disc ever produced.

DVD-Audio is the latest member of the DVD family of pre-recorded optical disc formats and is designed to be the next-generation high-quality audio format, offering very high quality, surround sound, longer playing times plus additional features that are not available on CDs.
DVD-Audio discs can also carry video, like DVD-Video titles, and limited interactivity. Capacity of a single layer DVD-Audio will be at least 74 minutes of high quality full surround sound audio. In addition the disc can accommodate the same audio encoded as Dolby Digital for playing on existing DVD-Video players.

DVD-Audio can be regarded as an extension to the DVD-Video specification allowing high quality audio which can be played on audio-only players. It has many of the features of DVD-Video plus the important features of CD audio, including tracks to divide the audio content.

LP, represents the vinyl records (Long Play)
Mono (One channel recording usually from recording prior 1960) or Stereo
125 gram(33 rpm)-standard
160 gram (33 rpm)-standard
180 gram (33 rpm and 45 rpm) rpm represents revolutions per minute) higher rpm better the sound quality
200 gram (33 rpm and 45 rpm) rpm represents revolutions per minute) higher rpm better the sound quality
12 inch classic singles
10 inch

The weight of the vinyl improves quality of sound i.e. 200 gram vs 125 gram.
180 gram is the audiophile standard.

Prepare a 50/50 solution of distilled water and isopropyl alcohol. Remove the album from its jacket and inner sleeve. Always handle the record by its edges, with no contact to the playing surface itself. Blow softly on both sides of the album to remove surface dust and lint. Dip a soft, clean towel in solution until moderately damp, not dripping. Use a circular motion to clean the record, following the grooves. Repeat on other side of the LP. Dry album with a soft, dry towel or cloth. Keep solution off the labels, as they could bubble, bleed or come off altogether.

How to Care For & Store Your Albums
After thoroughly cleaning the album, spend some time on the album cover, or jacket. Always handle the record by its edges, with no contact to the playing surface. Use a cloth slightly dampened with water or furniture polish to wipe off the cover. Use an eraser to remove pencil marks; lighter fluid (naphtha) or hair spray works best on pen marks. Permanent marker can be removed by tracing over it with an erasable marker, then wiping with a dry cloth.

Stickers, labels and tape can be removed by heating the area with a hair dryer, then carefully peeling. Use citrus-based cleaners or lighter fluid (naphtha) on the remaining sticky residue. To prevent wear and tear on the original cover, place album in a plain white cover, then store it along with the original in a poly outer sleeve.

Store albums in a cool, dry place. Heat and humidity can cause the growth of mould and mildew on the cover, label and in the record grooves. Always store records vertically with as little leaning as possible. Always replace the album in its sleeve and cover immediately after playing. Do not attempt to clean non-glossy (matte) album covers. You could possibly remove part of the print or colours. Do not attempt to clean any album labels (the circular area in the centre of the vinyl itself) for the same reason.

1877- Thomas Edison invents the phonograph for playing back stored sounds. The first recording he makes is "Mary Had A Little Lamb".

1906 - The Chicago Automatic Machine and Tool Company invents the jukebox that plays records (as opposed to the cylinder recordings type of player
that had been around since 1889)

1915 - The 78 rpm record is introduced

1948 - The 33 1/3 rpm long play album (LP) is invented by Columbia, while RCA comes out with the 45 rpm single.

1955 - 45 rpm records outsell 78's.

AND......The term rock 'n' roll was first used at a concert promoted by Alan Freed on Jan 14th 1954, known as the Rock 'n' Roll Jubilee. Freed tried to
copyright the term later that year, but was unsuccessful.

The HDCD process is used during recording as well as playback. The HDCD Process cancels additive distortions and simultaneously provides additional data (music information). This can be played on a normal CD player or a HDCD CD player. The HDCD CD player will give you a higher level of playback of the CD.

The Extended Resolution Compact Disc (XRCD) from JVC brings the listener higher fidelity and improved audio quality by enhancing the process of mastering and manufacturing compact discs. All of this is done within the current CD standard, so no special cd player or decoding box is needed to hear the benefit of the xrcd.

You don't need a "golden ear" to hear the improvement in an xrcd. The improvement in sound quality of xrcd over a conventional CD is not subtle. Obvious gains in clarity, transparency, dynamics and warmth of xrcd can be heard by all. xrcd allows the listener to hear what the producer and artist intended to hear the sound of the original master tape.

The Classic 24/96 Digital Audio Disc DAD is designed to be an audiophile musical reference. The process starts with the encoding of an analog signal from a live microphone feed or more commonly from an analog master tape. The highly sophisticated Analog to Digital converter (A to D) samples the analog signal 96,000 times per second (96kHz) and assigns a numerical value to each sample point. The 96kHz sampling rate is more than twice the 44,100 (44.1kHz) sampling rate used on standard CD's. The numerical value assigned at 96kHz - about every 10.4 microseconds - is stored as a 24 bit digital word. The significance of a 24 bit digital ward is that there are 16.8 million different potential values for each 24 bit word! By contrast there are only 65,536 different potential values for a 16 bit word on a normal CD. The additional 8 bits on a DAD allow for over 16 million additional voltage values to represent the original analog signal. Further, 24 bit resolution offers 144 dB of dynamic range from the softest to the loudest musical note.

At 144 dB of dynamic range we greatly exceed even the dynamic range available on the world's finest analog tape machines. For the first time in the history of digital audio we can provide Master Tape Sound MTSTM. After the analog signal is encoded, the resulting 24 bit/96kHz digital data stream is stored on a large computer hard disk. The raw data is then transferred to a post production facility for "authoring" - a process that results in the creation of a digital tape called a DLT that is sent to the disc manufacturing plant. At the plant, the DLT is used to make a "glass master" which produces stampers that are used to injection mold that DAD discs. In all, the process is quite a bit more involved than making CD's but we hope that you will appreciate the extra effort when you hear what this technological wonder has to offer.

DVD-Audio is the latest member of the DVD family of pre-recorded optical disc formats and is designed to be the next-generation high-quality audio format, offering very high quality, surround sound, longer playing times plus additional features that are not available on CDs.
DVD-Audio discs can also carry video, like DVD-Video titles, and limited interactivity.

Capacity of a single layer DVD-Audio will be at least 74 minutes of high quality full surround sound audio. In addition the disc can accommodate the same audio encoded as Dolby Digital for playing on existing DVD-Video players. DVD-Audio can be regarded as an extension to the DVD-Video specification allowing high quality audio which can be played on audio-only players. It has many of the features of DVD-Video plus the important features of CD audio, including tracks to divide the audio content.

Super Audio CD is a new format developed by Sony and Philips. It uses DSD (Direct stream digital) recording technology and a 4.7GB disc to give the consumer an audio experience so real you think you are in the recording studio or front row at a concert.

The massive increase in audio signal information possible on SACD has meant that improvements in disc storage capacity were also required. Combining this requirement with the need to ensure compatibility with the already well established CD format lead to the development of 3, SACD compliant, disc variations. Three types of Super Audio compact discs were created to insure maximum sound quality while at the same time offering you reverse compatibility with existing CD players. These are: single layer, dual layer and hybrid. The single layer disc consists of single High Density (HD) 4.7 GByte layer of information. The dual layer disc contains two of these layers, providing extended playback with a maximum capacity of 8.5 GBytes. The hybrid disc contains both a HD layer and a standard CD layer. The high-density layer provides luxurious SACD quality playback, while the standard density CD layer allows compatibility with any of the 700 million home, car or portable CD players made since 1982. This ensures complete compatibility between Super Audio CD players and existing CD players. For all three types of discs, information reading is done from a single side. For the dual and hybrid discs, the outside layer is semi-transparent, allowing the inner layer to be read through the outer layer.

Therefore, with Super Audio CD, there is never any need to turn the discover. This also allows labeling and printing on the top side, just like with a conventional CD disc.

DVD-audio was developed based on the video format (DVD video) while the Super Audio CD was developed based on the audio format (CD). DVD-audio is based on PCM frequency and longer word lengths. The Super Audio CD, however, is based on a superior recording technology called Direct Stream Digital (DSD) that more closely reproduces the shape of the original analog waveforms to produce a more natural, higher quality sound that more accurately captures the nuance and atmosphere of the source material.

All Super Audio CD players can play the existing 13 Billion CD's. Hybrid Super Audio CDs can be played on existing CD players because they have a CD layer and an SACD layer. Some Super Audio CD players will also play DVD Video, Video CD, and CDDA discs.

Hybrid Super Audio CDs will. The Super Audio CD format offers three disc configurations: single layer disc, dual-layer disc and hybrid disc. The hybrid disc is a two-layer disc, consisting of one CD layer, and one high density Super Audio CD layer. The CD layer has playback compatibility with the over 700 million CD players worldwide. And remember, audio CDs will play back on Super Audio CD players.

Absolutely. Every Super Audio CD player is fully compatible with every audio Compact Disc ever produced.