“Blue Blu-spec CD2”
As previously mentioned on this page, the Japanese version of The Next Day Extra was released in the Blu-spec CD2 format via Sony Music Japan this week (November 27th).
For those of you not familiar with the format, we’ll leave you with a description of it.
“Blu-spec CD2” is a term used to describe CDs manufactured by a new specific process. These new CDs are manufactured by blue laser light (generally used for Blu-ray discs), instead of the traditional red laser light, and is made of better material. Due to this, these new CDs have more precise pits, resulting to have lower jitter errors when played. Therefore, even if the master audio file is exactly the same, Blu-spec CD2s are said to be exploiting more of the potential data from the audio master. Audio files are in normal CD quality format (16bit 44.1kHz wav in DDP) and can be played in any CD player, because it is not high resolution.“Blu- spec CD2” is more of a “brand” indicating high manufacturing quality, rather than a “distinguishable spec”. However, “Anything can change sonic quality” is a common way of thinking for enthusiastic audiophiles, and many of them are supporting this new manufacturing process and brand.