Multi-channel Sony SACD player

The SCD-C555ES Multi-channel multi-disc player is due in April at $1,700 list.

The SCD-CE775 Multi-channel multi-dic player is due in July at $400 list.

In the U.S., these complement the SCD-1, SCD-777ES, SCD-C333ES, and DVP-S9000ES SACD players.

Thanks. Does Sony know something we don't? I mean,
why all this hardware, and so little software?

The problem has been with the authoring equipment. Until recently there has been no equipment to mix DSD recordings. so the initial releases have been from original tape masters and direct DSD recordings without studio remixing. Note that you'll see very little SACDs from digital recordings from 1985 to 1995. These recordings typically used CD quality sampling and miss the clarity and ambiance that SACD is known for. Recording a SACD from one of these masters would be no better than the original. 96/24 recordings offer something better, but still aren't as good as tapes or DSD recordings. The number of newly recorded SACDs is beginning to increase, as is the number of SACDs in general.

By the way, Phillips will begin selling a $2,000 SACD Multichannel DVD Player this month, Marantz is selling a $7,500 SACD player and has announced a lowered priced unit. Accuphase is selling a $28K SACD Player, and Sharp is selling a SACD player in Japan. Pioneer has also announced a SACD player. SACD players are expected from a couple other companies as well. More importantly, many recording studios have or plan to install DSD recording capability.

Also, rumor has it that the next generation of Sony DVD players will be SACD compatiable following the lead of the S9000ES. Nothing has been officially announced, but it makes sense to me.

Sony is a high volume manufacturer--not a highend, limited volume vendor. Sony does not intend to keep SACD highend only. The quantity of the SACD software must increase, and the prices must decrease.

Tmartinjr's point on mixing equipment is a very good one. A friend of mine is a Telarc recording artist, and told me that while Telarc felt the DSD master tapes of his recordings were superior to their prior equipment, they initially were not happy with the editing equipment for their DSD masters. Hopefully new generations of the editing equipment are now available which will make DSD recording more prevalent.