AudioQuest Music Announce First Super Audio CD (SACD) Releases
AudioQuest Music has announced the release of two new titles on the new ultra high-resolution hybrid SACD format pioneered by Sony and Phillips. ""Soul Survivor - The Best Of Mighty Sam McClain"" and ""BluesQuest"" will be among the very first true hybrid SACDs to become commercially available. SACDs contain a 16-bit ""red book"" standard CD layer in addition to a high-resolution Direct Stream Digital (DSD) layer. Therefore, these discs are playable on any existing CD player or the new SACD players currently being introduced by several manufacturers, including Sony. To enjoy the full benefits of the high-resolution DSD layer, playback must be via an SACD player. AudioQuest Music producer Joe Harley stated ""I feel that SACD and DSD technology represents a significant step toward a truly transparent conduit between the actual performance in the studio and playback in the consumers home environment. The DSD layer of an SACD has allowed me to hear my recordings with the kind of resolution I am accustomed to experiencing while in the studio listening to the direct microphone feeds. DSD has forced me to rethink our recording techniques since it significantly raises the bar on the sonic standard achievable in consumer playback."" ""BluesQuest"" is a sampler containing the best of the bestÖthe cream of the crop all AQM blues releases. Included are tracks from Mighty Sam McClain, Terry Evans, Sherman Robertson, Joe Beard, Doug MacLeod, Robert Lucas and Ronnie Ear. ""Soul Survivor - The Best Of Mighty Sam McClain"" is the companion disc to the PBS documentary special on Mighty Sam of the same name. This stunning collection includes choice tracks form the four AQM albums that catapulted Mighty Sam to international recognition as one of the living legends of classic R &B. Featured are such hits as ""Give it Up To Love,"" ""Who Made You Cry"" and ""Lord Will Make A Way."" Also included are two never-before-released tracks, ""Honey Chile"" and ""Iím Gonna Love You."" Both releases were mastered in DSD from the original analog tapes by noted mastering engineer Bernie Grundman. AudioQuest Music is also releasing standard CD versions of both albums. For more information, contact AudioQuest Music at 949 498 1977 or visit the companyís Web site at www.audioquestmusic.com.