Disappointed in SACD player


Well, there I was yesterday. At the chain store who Sony has designated as their retail point of attack for SACD in the Philadelphia, PA region. Tweeter, formerly known as Bryn Mawr Stereo and Video. Formerly, Bryn Mawr Stereo(but we all know what happened there). Since my recent misfortunes with CD players, I was considering a jump to a Sony SACD player. One thing about Sony, their stuff is reliable. I found one player, the 5 disc changer. It was hooked up in a HT setup. Not even prominently. There was also another CD player in this system, along with a DVD-V player. As no salesman came into the room, I didn't pursue. I found no other player in the store. Finally, when we were looking at tv's, someone asked us if we needed help. I asked about SACD, and was told two players were on display. I asked to see the one that I didn't see. I was taken to a wall of DVD players, and sure enough, the ES9000 was there. Not hooked up, sitting there like all of the other DVD players. And in fact, THAT IS HOW THIS STORE IS MARKETING IT. As a DVD player! The guy gave me the big spiel on it, from a DVD perspective. 12 bit scan, instead of 10, etc., etc., etc. All of which is meaningless to me. I am not a HT or DVD guy. I spend my time on two channel audio. The guy left me less interested in the player than when I came in. They could not even find any SACD material in the entire store. Not even a sampler. I came in wanting to be impressed, wanting to leave with the desire to buy an SACD player. Needless to say, I probably won't be buying very soon. Wasn't this supposed to be Sony's summer of all out SACD offensive? Players starting at $350(which still will probably come), creating interest with the general public and lifting the new format to something beyond the niche of the lunatic fringe. As it is now, it is not even as recognizable as DAT, and miles behind MD(which was very prominent in the store). Both of which are monumental flops in the words of Sony.
trelja

Showing 3 responses by j_thunders

Tweeter is THE WORST. They are staffed by a bunch of incompetant knuckleheads and know less about what they are selling than just about any retailer that comes to mind. As far as I am concerned the only lesson here is, if you want milk, try a cow.
I say Sony and Phillips deserve it if it fails. They need to learn this lesson.

SACD/DVDA will never just sell itself because the license holders of the technology are trying to retain too much control over the bits of information and they've made it too much a pain in the ass to even fool with for the average joe. Compare to MP3. People want ease of use, free transferability, and greater access, not more confusing formats, compatibility problems, and more expensive software. People already think software costs too much--now they are expected to pay more? The average consumer is confused and half pissed at whoever is responsible for keeping CD prices so high and taking away their napster. That whoever is Sony.

Now add the Tweeter problem where the boobs can't sell what cannot sell itself and you have a compound fracture. I'm all about payin for software use (I guess), but there are simply too damn many strings attached with this one it seems. So keep they can keep it.
Damnit! Dbear44 said what I meant--only lots better than me......nice post, Dbear44.