Royal Philips Electronics and Sony Corp. will release to licensees in early March the 1.0 version of their Super Audio Compact Disc format specifiction.

SACD uses Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology to provide high-quality stereo and multi-channel sound playback at full resolution for up to six channels. In addition, SACD incorporates copy protection and anti-piracy features, and it allows hybrid discs to be played back in existing CD players.

Products using the SACD specifications are expected to be introduced first into the Japanese market in the spring of 1999, and later into Europe and the United States near the end of the year.

News about Philips is available at

http://www.news.philips.com .