Another sign SACD is dying

I wish SACD would have made a bigger splash. I think a series of factors have limited SACD's chance of success. Two hi-rez formats in the market, the rise of MP3/iPod and finally, new music for the most part sucks (IMO)! The record companies have been wailing for some time that music sales (read CD sales) are down.

There are a couple of things that may either breath new life into SACD or kill it. One is that there is a new CEO for the company who is looking to "kill" unprofitable areas of the business. This may doom SACD.

On the other hand, the new Sony PS-3 has SACD capabilities (and Blu-ray). Perhaps video games may have SACD sound? Maybe kids will say "wow! that sounds good." which may expose SACD to a new demographic of consumer - and one that tends buy a lot of music too! ????

Obviously I'm speculating but it is clear the format is at a crossroads.

October 28th 2005

News from Sony’s Super Audio CD Business Centre in Japan indicates that the format continues to grow and attract new supporters. Analysts highlight a global trend linking increased demand for SA-CD compatible players with people investing in HD ready home theatre systems. “Super Audio CD is established as the hi-res package medium in the HiFi audio market,” commented Yushi Igarashi, Project Manager, Sony Audio Group’s Super Audio CD Project. “There are over 10 million players in circulation worldwide and the rapid growth in home theatre systems sales is the single largest factor boosting hardware sales.”

There are more than 30 manufacturers worldwide developing Super Audio CD playback capabilities in their consumer equipment. In total there are over 150 different models offering the broadest range of price points and model types from HiFi components to combination DVD-Video players, home theatre systems and a new generation of Integrated Digital Televisions. The launch next year of Sony’s PlayStation 3, complete with Super Audio CD playback capabilities, is predicted to create another boost in Super Audio CD sales. Market growth estimates indicate that Super Audio CD hardware sales are increasing at their fastest rate ever since the format’s introduction in 1999. Equipment manufacturers include a strong combination of AV brands, such as Philips, Pioneer, Sharp, Denon, Yamaha and Onkyo as well as leading audiophile developers, including Accuphase, Linn, Classe, Esoteric, dCS and EMM.

On the software side growth in Super Audio CD releases remains strong with an average of 250 new albums being released each quarter since September 2003. At the end of September 2005 there were 3,288 Super Audio CD titles listed on leading website www.sa-cd.net. The biggest contributor to new Super Audio CD releases is the independent sector with record labels such as Telarc (137), Pentatone (84) and Octavia (84) supporting large and growing Super Audio CD catalogues. Also, the multinationals reflect this growth with SonyBMG (663), UMG (451) and EMI (72) looking to develop their hi-res catalogues.

2004 saw more than 1000 new album titles released on SA-CD and at the same time replication volumes continue to grow, year on year. Growth has been strongest in the jazz and classical sectors, which together account for 63 per cent of all SA-CD releases as well as being the strongest sector in hardware sales. “Jazz and classical music lovers have been the first to recognise and appreciate the added value that Super Audio CD offers to their home listening,” explained Yushi Igarashi. “Traditionally, these two sectors represent some of the most discerning consumers and they have recognised the long-term potential that Super Audio CD offers, particularly in a High Definition home entertainment environment. As we progress further into the HD era we are confident that Super
Audio CD will become a cornerstone in home entertainment – the audio equivalent of HDTV.”

I too wish more of the music I want to purchase were being remastered or recorded on SACD. Sony will have SACD with their Playstation 3, which is sure to be a hit, and I have no doubts SACD playback will be included in the Blu-Ray Hi-Def DVD players - developed by Sony -that will be released. Word is Blu-ray is gaining traction as the predominent format over the rival HD-DVD camp. Obviously, these have yet to come to pass but writing off the format entirely seems very premature! My 2 cents - Tony

Here's the link.

http://www.superaudio-cd.com/news/

I was seeing if there were any SACD's being released by Rush and typed "Rush SACD" in google. BTW: There are:-)

Essentialaudio,

I agree with the point you are making. We audiophiles all have different priorities but have one common thread - we build our systems around the best playback format(s) available. I doubt anyone on this forum has built their system around 8-track, cassette, MP3, etc. We have chosen formats that have, theoretically at least, the BEST performance available. Unfortunately, recordings are of various quality no matter the medium.
On question though, you state "Sony cancelled their SACDs several months ago". Where did you get this information?

I just read this today:

"Sony Music Sets 5 Titles for 5.1 Surround Sound Super Audio CD Release
Sony Music has set release dates for five of their albums on Hybrid Multichannel Super Audio CD. The upcoming 5.1 Surround Sound SACDs include titles by artists including Duran Duran, John Legend, Yo-Yo Ma and the move soundtrack albums from The Legend of Zorro and The Phantom of the Opera. There are also rumors that two additional albums featuring Switchfoot and John Mayer may also be destined for the 5.1 Surround Sound SACD treatment as well.

Mining The 5.1 Dual Disc Catalog
One of the interesting things about the Sony Music announcement is that the upcoming Surround Sound Super Audio CDs is that they are in large part drawn from the company's Dual Disc catalog. High Fidelity Review readers probably recall that the first set of Sony Music Dual Discs with 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks came from albums that had mixes originally done for 5.1 Surround Sound SACD release.

Now the tables appear to be turned as this group of 5.1 Surround Sound releases had their start on Dual Disc in 5.1 Dolby Digital format. With their appearance on Hybrid Multichannel Suepr Audio CD, the albums will now be available in high resolution auduo as well.

December SACD Titles from Sony Music
Starting off the releases will be Duran Duran's recent album Astronaut and R&B singer John Legend's album entitled Get Lifted. This marks the Super Audio CD debut of both artists.

As noted above, both albums were originally issued as Dual Discs as well as on Stereo CD. They are due out as Hybrid Multichannel Super Audio CDs on December 20th.

Duran Duran - Astronaut (Epic EH 76175)

John Legend - Get Lifted (Columbia CH 76181)

January Brings 3 Sony Classical SACDs
On January 3rd, Sony Classical will add three more Hybrid Multichannel Super Audio CDs to the mix. They will include Yo-Yo Ma Plays The Music of Ennio Morricone and the movie soundtracks to The Legend of Zorro and The Phantom of the Opera.

Yo-Yo Ma has been featured on several Super AUdio CDs from Sony Classical in the past including the albums Solo and Silk Road Journeys - both of which were recorded in the Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format. Morricone's music has also appeared earlier on two Super Audio CDs issued in Europe - his movie soundtrack to the movie The Mission (Virgin Records SACDV-2402) and Focus, an album of Morricone's music featuring Morricone and Portugese singer Dulce Pontes (Universal/Focus 980829-3). Focus was recorded in DSD and has been given high marks by many audiophiles in Europe.

Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio Morricone - Yo-Yo Ma (Sony Classical SH 76225)

The Legend of Zorro Soundtrack - James Horner (Sony Classical SH 76226)

The Phantom of the Opera - Original Movie Soundtrack (Sony Classical SH 76662)

Two More SACDs Planned?
In addition to these 5 Hybrid Multichannel SACD titles, rumors on the Internet suggest that more may be on the way. The MusicTap.Net web site says that 5.1 Surround Sound SACDs of John Mayer's Room for Squares and Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown are also coming. There's no confirmation of these two titles from Sony Music to date. But we'll keep an eye out for more news in that regard.

Now Available for Pre-Order
All 5 of these Sony Music Hybrid Multichannel SACDs are now available for pre-order on the Sony Music Store web site. The Duran Duran 5.1 Surround Sound SACD is also available for pre-order on the Amazon.Com and CD Universe web sites. As the release date draws closer, I suspect we will see them featured by other web sites that carry Super Audio CDs as well."

Thanks Essentialaudio!

As you know, company news releases and reality can be two different things with the truth often residing in the middle.

Mike,
I am forced to agree with you. My SACD list is mostly comprised of the genre that includes Pink Floyd, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Allman Brothers, The Who, etc. I am eargerly awaiting to hear RUSH on SACD and - hopefully - the long rumored Moody Blues "classic 7" releases!! For every one SACD released in the genre I listed above, there are 50 (it seems) SACD releases of Classical and Jazz - Not that I have a problem with that but it's not the type music I listen to regularly.
I too wish that more Rock/Pop music would be released in a high-rez format and in that respect both SACD and DVDA has done a lousy job!
In the greater context of this thread however, I place my chips on SACD. I view the coming high-def video format war between DVD-HD and Blu-Ray as a repeat of the DVDA vs. SACD format war. From what I have read, Blu-Ray has the edge coming out of the chute. I can't believe that Sony won't try and incoporate SACD and/or DSD in this next generation of High-def DVD players. If that happens I expect to see SACD around for many more years than DVD-A.
Ironically, it will be some sort of ultra-high capacity storage device (think a high-rez iPod) that will kill off both formats in the end. Just think the computer companies wii come up with a better audio record/playback system than the audio companies!!! - Tony

JD,

Then going 10 years out from a fully realized, all-in-one box solution, people will want to get back to the more "organic" quality of music and equipment that they "remembered as a kid back in '06". It will come full circle LOL :-)

Interesting article I saw today:

Media, tech companies team up on high-definition TV

By Robert MacMillan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Several media and electronics companies on Wednesday said they are developing technology guidelines that could make it easier for people to enjoy high- definition television programing throughout their home- entertainment systems.

The guidelines would allow people to transfer high- definition TV and movies, audio and other entertainment between their television sets, computers and other gadgets without the hassle of multiple connecting wires and remote controls, the High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance said.

The group's founders include Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and General Electric Co.'s (GE) NBC Universal television networks.

Other participants include cable operator Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR), electronics manufacturer Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Inc. (6503), JVC and server computer-maker Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW).

The group will make it possible for people to watch their video when and where they want, said Richard Doherty, research director at the Envisioneering Group.

"It's your choice since there's only going to be a fixed number of slots in a week where (broadcasters) can put a three- hour movie or a three-hour sporting event," Doherty said.

Such convenience typically requires a "rat's nest of wires," he said.

The first compatible products will go on sale around the 2006 holiday season, said Heemin Kwon, the group's president and a vice president and general manager at Samsung Electronics Co .

They also are expected to be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January.

One of the group's goals is to let people simultaneously watch, pause and record up to five video channels on high- definition televisions. It also is developing a way to let people use a single remote to control all entertainment devices on a home network.

The companies said they plan to work with industry organizations such as the Consumer Electronics Association, CableLabs and the Motion Picture Association of America on the guidelines.

In an attempt to prevent piracy of digital programing, home networks using the standard will be outfitted with copyright protection that would still let people shift content between devices, the group said.