SACD vs ANALOG

Tmartinjr@erols.com, you did an excellent job of listing the reasons I hope the SACD format will survive. Consider the performance offered by the original CD players and software when introduced over 20 years ago. If the SACD format can evolve even half of what the original format has, it could become a true audiophile source. I have about 6000 LP's, maybe 200 CD's and 6 SACD's. If all the music that is currently available on CD were suddenly offered on SACD, I would immediately buy at least 300 titles. I have pent up desires for new music that has not been made available on LP. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose if this format succeeds. Even though it is not perfect right now, at least the technology is based on a level of resolution and bandwidth that has a chance of becoming really wonderful.

I remember when CD's came out. The cheapest players were $1500 and there was little software. I bought 2 CDs a year before I bought my first CD player. It was almost 3 years until you could buy CDs in normal record stores, and then it was a small section in the back corner.

The same was true with DVD. I bought my first DVD player in early 1999. No stores in the Wash. DC area sold or rented DVDs. Even now the selection of DVDs in many rental stores is too small. Just two months ago, my neighbor told me that DVD won't make it. The equipment and software is too expensive and its not recordable. I'm sure if I asked, he would have also told me that CDs and VHS would remain top sellers into the next century.

Tmartinjr, as an owner of an SACD player, I hope you are correct, although in each of the cases you mention the new medium was a considerable step up in convenience (CD vs. LP, DVD vs. Laserdisc) or quality (in the case of DVD; perceived quality with LP, due to the apparent clarity and the lack of ticks and pops). Here, the disc is the same size as a CD and to the masses who only want MP3 quality sound the sonic improvements are not as noticeable. Nonetheless, with 6-channel SACD players and discs becoming available, perhaps that is what will help the software catch on with the masses. Having just listened to the Delos Mahler 2 SACD last night with its silky, analog-like strings and stupendous dynamic range, it's clear to me we have a format that is worth supporting; let's hope the record companies and the general music-buying partners agree.

Not all changes need to be radical. Sometimes the changes are smaller, like the move from 78's to 33's. Or in HT, the move from Dolby Prologic to Dolby Digital to DTS.

Right now, the only radical change I think possible would be a change to a format like MP3 or Windows Media. I do not believe MP3 has reached CD quality, but the next generation might. I see that the newer players have options to decrease compression. There is value to having players with no moving parts. Digital files also are easy to duplicate so the record companies will continue their legal battles. I do not foresee a high-end version of MP3 this decade, but MP3 could negatively impact CD sales.

I own both a SONY SCD-1 and an Oracel Delphi MK V SE turntable. For me , the issue is not which of the two formats is better. I simple terms, the SCD-1 with its superb playback of regular CDs and its SACD capabiltiy, allows me to enjoy the music without focusing on the technology. I now can listen to digital for hours without any irritation as I have been able to do with my Oracle front end. That is the bottom line. I still buy regular CDs and LPs with the music that I enjoy