How SACD/CD hybrids could completely replace CDs.

SACD/CD hybrids are the perfect software solution for all the worlds record companies as they offer Stereo in standard resolution in CD form playable in all devices that play CDs.  Plus high resolution Stereo playable in SACD, Universal and some BluRay players.  In addition high resolution Multichannel Stereo with up to six full range channels of wonderful sound.

Taking a chapter from the history of DVD Videos, parity of pressing costs can be achieved for dual-layer discs.   In the beginning of DVD Video it cost considerably more to press a dual-layer than a single-layer DVD.  However as more and more movie studies started offering bonus features on the second-layer it began to be used more and more until it now costs the same to press one or two-layer DVDs.  Indeed no pressing plant even stocks single-layer blanks and when pressing a single-layer DVD they just leave the second layer blank.

If all four of the major record labels ENDED production of single-layer CDs tomorrow and all future recordings (Mono, Stereo or Multichannel) were released as hybrid SACDs, hybrids discs could be made in such quantities that parity of pressing costs could be achieved.   At some time in the future when most of the music on physical formats is on SACD/CD hybrids, CD blanks could be retired.  And the few small companies requesting CD only could be pressed on SACD/CD hybrid blanks with the SACD layer left blank.

There would be a one time cost of converting all the worlds pressing plants from CD to hybrid SACD/CD operation, but this will be returned many fold due to the larger market generated by expending the market beyond the dying CD market.

While this wholesale adoption of SACD/CD hybrids would solve the pressing cost issue.  For Stereo recordings there is the additional one time cost mastering the high resolution layer,  for multichannel recordings three programs would need mastering.  However this cost is spread over all the copies of the release sold.  For Pop/Rock that would amount to less than a tenth of a penny per disc, for slow selling classical not much over a $1 per disc.

The other concern is that it costs more to record multichannel.   While multichannel does take full advantage of the format, just because a recording is Stereo or Mono is no reason to exclude it from from SACD release.  Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has proven that Stereo SACDs can sell quite well.  Plus many modern recordings currently are made in multichannel and only released on Stereo CD. 

So as you see if the record companies do this as a group effort not only could SACD/CD hybrids totally replace single-layer CDs in a less than a years time, but they could also save physical formats.  If the record companies do nothing eventually both CD and SACD will die.  It is in their hands, will they do the right thing?