Audio Fidelity abandons 24K gold CD for hybrid SACD

Danny Tse
Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
edited February 2014 in Music & Movies
Received following e-mail today.....
After many successful years of producing great music and artists on 24K Gold CDs, first at DCC Compact Classics and recently at Audio Fidelity, it is with great reluctance to announce we will no longer be manufacturing any new or catalog titles in the 24K Gold format.


It was the 24K Gold format in the early 90's that helped distinguish and establish DCC Compact Classics as a force in the audiophile world. Audio Fidelity has followed that tradition with our unique packaging and our see through slip case. We are one of the most recognizable brands in the audiophile, collector and music lover world.


As many of you know, over the past months we have had many delays with our 24K release schedule. Primarily it's been due to the inability of our manufacturer to secure the gold target necessary to make 24K discs. Since 2013, we've responded to the encouragement of many of our fans and friends by converting to the Hybrid SACD format.


Though it's possible in the future we could release 24K titles, it's not likely. We've made this decision after a lot of thought and realistic evaluation of market conditions - our 24K manufacturer is unable to assure us that in the future they would be able to deliver the product you expect and we demand. Meanwhile, we're having a great run with our Hybrid SACD titles, our brand remains intact and our unique and appealing slip-case packaging remains consistent with our tradition.


So, it is with great sadness we are informing you that we will leave an old friend, our 24K Gold disc behind, but with also with great joy, knowing that we are moving forward with a much more consistent and broadly appealing format.


Should you have any questions, please let us know.

Btw, Clapton's "Journey" is rumored to be coming on SACD from AF.
Post edited by Danny Tse on
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Comments

  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,583
    edited February 2014
    personally I'm glad to see this I think they should spend their time doing SACD as I'm more inclined to buy SACD. Now there is one less thing to take up Steve's time and more time to dedicate to SACD mastering.

    I find I spend less and less time with CD's than I do with my SACD's even though I have 500 of them little jewels (CD)

    thanks Danny
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,663
    edited February 2014
    Good move, IMO.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,306
    edited February 2014
    Someone definitely needs to remaster Jouney's CD's because most are intolerable on systems. IMHO Journey's only decent releases were on vinyl
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,583
    edited February 2014
    txcoastal1 wrote: »
    Someone definitely needs to remaster Journey's CD's because most are intolerable on systems. IMHO Journey's only decent releases were on vinyl

    I'd buy them. I actually think the copies I got aren't too bad but hey my system is probably less transparent that yours..
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,306
    edited February 2014
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    I'd buy them. I actually think the copies I got aren't too bad but hey my system is probably less transparent that yours..

    I have the CD's and still listen to them but I usually run them on my HT Polk system, or in my truck so I don't pick the recording apart...it one of the major downfalls when you move up the line on gear. Sometimes wish I would have never got into this hobby.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • Xharlix
    Xharlix Posts: 48
    edited February 2014
    Not surprised by the move. It's nice to see SACD adoption 10 years after its peak.
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited February 2014
    Good idea. I like the 24K gold CD's, but I like the SACD's more. :smile:
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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