That's a tough call. Unfortunately, single layered SACDs whether stereo or multichannel can ONLY be played on dedicated SACD players which is why they switched to hybrid which also contains a RBCD layer.
Universal Japan with their single layered SHM~SACD process seemed to think that by eliminating the RBCD layer and only restricting their releases to STEREO and by applying green ink to the label side there was indeed sonic benefits to be derived but the jury is still out on what benefits, if any, their proprietary SHM process delivers. A lot of pundits argue it's just BETTER MASTERING from BETTER master tapes.
Since SACDs are pressed on ordinary DVDs and enjoy the multi layering of the latter, I don't think the hybrid SACD, if done accurately, is any less sonically pleasing than the single layered variety. Just MY opinion and I have thousands of SACDs!
Thanks for the detailed explanation.
As I said, I am new to SACDs, and learning that there is a wide variation in them.
I recently purchased a dedicated SACD player which has solid reviews, and I have been (somewhat indiscriminately) buying SACDs.
For example, I bought the 7" Japanese SACD of "Bitches Brew", and I also bought the MoFi version off the Miles site. No way around it - the CD sounds better than both. Same with "Miles Smiles" and "ESP" - CD is better. But the "In a Silent Way" SACD is an improvement over the CD version, as is "Miles in the Sky". So, it's been hit-and-miss buying SACDs that are a definite improvement over the CDs I have.
And today my whole perspective changed, because my copy of Mingus Ah Um arrived, and it is quite simply the best recorded music I have ever heard. Is there a place I can go to find a list of jazz SACDs that are in the same league as Ah Um? Any advice would be appreciated.
I should add that I listen only to stereo, so the multi-channel part is not important to me. Thanks again for the help! John
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