Common(ish) Music disc formats

davemurgtroyd

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CD 16 bit encoding

HDCD
(High Definition Compatible Digital) 20 bit "dithered" down to 16 bit encoding - will play in most CD/DVD players but with some distortion

SACD
(Super Audio CD)Higher dynamic range and wider frequency response (than CD) - will not play on standard CD players but discs are usually dual layer witha a standard CD layer - capacity 4.7GB and 5.1 channel compatible

DVD A
(DVD Audio) 24 bit encoding different to DVD Video encoding - will play on most DVD players although many discs have DVD Video layer as well

Dualdisc
- double sided disc, standard CD on one side and DVD (smetimes DVD A multi layer with DVD-V audio) - smoe discs had problems with slot loading players due to larger thickness than CD/DVD. Sometimes packaging with two separate discs were labelled incorrectly as this

DVDPlus
- European spec very similar to Dualdisc but standard thickness discs

BDA/HFPA
(Bluray Audio/High Fidelity Pure Audio) - will only play in compatible players.

In practice HDCD, SACD and DVD A are very similar quality. Look carefully at the packaging on your CDs as it is often not very onvious that they are HDCD or SACD versions. I have versions of all these formats (except BDA) and capable players.
 
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