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The plight of SACD....

Venturing into a local Audio Supermarket chain the other day...I found the latest advancement in digital audio relegated to a cheesy Kiosk in the very back of the store...complete with a Bose cube set-up...and the new Stones hybrid of "Got Live If you want it" (a dismal live recording regardless of format) blaring to a very disinterested public...no wonder average Joe aint buyin'...

Even with Sony "dumbing down" SACD/dvd players to the sub $500 level...without the software catalog to support it...and with the majority of the public A)satisfied with current redbook sound and B)not possessing even moderate midfi audio sytems to hear the sonic benefits...it appears SACD is going to be the next DAT commerical failure...ditto for DVD-Audio...these new products are not "market driven"...they are being forced on consumers...

The majority are not audiophiles let alone audio enthusiasts...accurate or improved sonics do not play an important role in their lives...redbook became dominant because its main competitor at the time was not the LP but the pre-recorded cassette...a dreadful format made worse by Dolby B...the Compact Disc won out but any digital format at the time would have...it offered convenience,portability,and eventually...compatability...

As someone who has invested a small amount in a SACD player and software...and was one of the first on my block to have a CD player...I have waited almost 20yrs for a digital
format that gives a hi-end analog system a run for its money...that day is both here and gone...I predict that SACD will remain a fringe format...similiar to DAT...in that
it will live on in professional applications...and have a small loyal following that truly appreciates its greatness...heres to hoping Im wrong...
128x128phasecorrect
kira
83 posts
 
Sadly I may have to agree with you. I ducked into the Sam Goody store at the nearest mall yesterday and asked the 16 year old nerd if they were stocking super audio cd's. His reply was "what?'. I repeated myself "are you stocking super audio cd's?" His answer was " is that the name of the band?"

It is a shame. Anybody that grew up on rock/pop should have the experience of listening to CCR's version of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and Bruce Cockburn's Anything Anytime Anywhere Singles 1979-2002 in its entirety on SACD through a high end stereo system. It will make you realize all over again why you fell in love with music.
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
TWL, with all due respect, not everyone thinks LP is the greatest, I do not diminish it's sonic performace, but I do not miss using LP's in the least nor have a desire to start using it. All source format's have their drawbacks.
whatjd
1,139 posts
 
Hi Phase,

Thanks for your post on my thread,"Want to get excited about SACD again"..a week or so ago.

God, I wish someone with power at Sony was reading several of the recent threads about SACD. Many good thoughts have been written and obvious interest/support of the format.
twl
3,251 posts
 
Brianmgrarcom, I agree. Not all think that LPs are for them. But the people who are happy with their digital aren't looking for new hi-rez formats. In fact, it seems that there is great opposition to the high-rez stuff on these pages, and one can only conclude that there is no desire for anything better than CD, for many people on this website. There have been numerous discussions, that I'm sure you've read, that show major opposition to hi-rez, ranging from claims that is not better than CD, to fears that their expensive gear and music collections may be obsoleted. Ones who are looking for better sound have some other alternatives, besides the next digi-disc of the month.

I never meant to say that analog is for everyone. Only for people that are looking for more out of their high end systems. Those that are satisfied with CD, can stay right where they are.
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
Twl, where do you buy new releases on LPs? I just got my TT up and running (you were part of that thread too), and would like to find some newly released music.

Also, I've heard SACD, and it really was better (Philips SACD1000 vs. Wadia 860x). I was pleasantly surprised; much improved depth of soundstage, and dynamics.

LPs also sound good, but I'm sure will be much better once I invest in a better cartridge and phono stage.

What I've come to realize, is that for CDs to sound great, you have to spend a TON of money on a high end player. For LPs and SACDs to sounds great, you don't have to spend as much. So, I'm sticking wtih my newly aquired $400 SACD player, and my $500 TT, and selling the $8000 cd player and paying off that credit card that never should have been charged in the first place!
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