Sony Music Entertainment Japan will release in December audio CDs made using the updated Blu-spec CD2 manufacturing process.
Blu-spec CD describes a Red Book Compact Disc manufactured by a proprietary process introduced by Sony Music Entertainment Japan in late 2008. It employs the Phase Transition Mastering, the technology developed for mastering of Blu-ray discs, to further perfect the characteristics of Blu-spec CD.
Instead of a traditional infra-red laser, a blue laser is used for recording the pits on the CD master that is needed for disc replication. According to Sony, the blue laser creates about 10 times more precise pits than red laser, causing less distortion in the optical read-out process.
The applied Blu-ray Disc polycarbonate polymer material introduces half the jitter (noise) and thus, high-quality audio reproduction. Sony claims that the produced "Blu-spec CD" discs offer a quality similar to the master.
A Blu-spec CD can be played on all CD players and does not require a blue laser to be read.
On December 5, SME will release 108 Blu-spec CD2 classical music titles.