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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
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
TWL, I pretty much agree with your comments; I took exception to your first post as it seems every time this subject comes up, inevitably there is a post paying all hail homage to the LP.

As for your classifications, as I said, I mostly agree. I would consider myself as someone who wants the most out of my high end, but I certainly do not want to deal with LP’s and/or a TT to do it, others enjoy doing so, this I understand. SACD disqualifies itself, for me, do to lack of hardware and software. This leaves me with CD, so I have a nice CD player for the format that works for me.

I do not subscribe to the theory that it is my, the consumers, fault if SACD fails.
jrwr7
211 posts
 
Hey 2ms,

I have an HT/music system and I find no such seduction in the idea of having to buy, or in most cases re-buy, a whole new collection of music. I'm having a good time discovering re-mastered CDs, MOFIs and the like to help enhance the enjoyment I get out of my CD based music system........John
twl
3,251 posts
 
I'm sorry Brian. Sometimes I get a little carried away on this subject. No offense intended.
phild
603 posts
 
The only way SACD will become the common format is if the manufacturers start making ALL players and ALL discs CD/SACD hybrids AND continue to charge the same amount of money for both. The benefits of SACD would probably be somewhat drastic to most audiophiles, but we all have to admit that they're still relatively subtle improvements overall. I highly doubt that the average person with a $200 Sony SACD player, a $200 Sony 6 channel HT receiver, and a $200 pair of Bose speakers will hear any noticeable difference between CDs and SACDs. They have no incentive to spend more for SACD discs or players. The improved technology doesn't benefit them in the least. I assume that's why SACD and DVD-A both decided to focus on multi-channel music. They needed to provide the consumers with a tangible difference. I suppose we'll find out whether or not they care in the next year or two.
brianmgrarcom
1,317 posts
 
TWL, don't worry about it, I should of just pointed my views instead coming off the way I did. Thanks
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