[sdiy] [OT] DSD mastering question

[Eric Brombaugh]

Dave Magnuson wrote:
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "jbv" <jbv.silences at club-internet.fr>
>> I recently bought a couple of
>> CD reissues of old Soft Machine albums on Sony Japan, using the new
>> DSD mastering system.
>> According to a few articles I've read on the web, it seems that this new
>> DSD technique is related to SACD format which seems to require very
>> specific players with very specific DACs... But I'm experiencing a
>> huge and amazing sound quality improvement (in terms of S/N ratio and
>> sound clarity) on my old equiment (a regular CD player bought 6 or 7
>> years
>> ago) compared to previous CD reissues, which I guess used standard ADD
>> mastering techniques...
> 
> The improved sound quality could be as simple as a better engineer in 
> either the re-mixing or mastering stage... or better mastering equipment.

DSD (direct stream digital) is basically a way of recording the 
unfiltered output of a Sigma/Delta converter. This results in a data 
rate of >2,8Mbps, which is even broader than what you'd get from a 
20-bit 192kHz PCM stream.

Some SACD discs are 'hybrid' and contain both CD and DSD on separate 
layers of the disc:

http://www.timefordvd.com/tutorial/SACDOverview.shtml

That could explain why you can play them on your old player.

As Dave points out, early CD mastering techniques were not as refined as 
those of today. It's quite possible that your original discs suffered 
from poor engineering, while the more recent ones benefit from the 
intervening years of experience.

Eric