@nsgarch
Do you need a special CD player for the new disks or will any HDCD player work?
Keith Johnson has resurrected Reference Recordings, and all new releases are in an improved version HDCD (he co-developed HDCD) and only
$17 each.
www.referencerecordings.com
|
I found the sa-cd net list after I made this estimate based on when 1000, 2000, and 3000 issue were reached. |
Tbg,
Where did you get the 4,000 number from? Just curious. sa-cd.net currently list 3,463 titles, as of 12/06/2005. Assuming another 10% of titles are not listed at that site, that still wouldn't be 4,000 titles. |
With more than 4000 available and so many new ones in each Music Direct listing, hardly dying. |
Hmmm....5 SACD titles from Sony between 12/20/05 to 01/03/06, with another 2 possible. Then Telarc will add another SACD title in January 2006, followed by another 10 RCA Living Stereo SACDs for February 2006.
It's kinda dying. |
While I have always thought vinyl gave the best reproduction of performances, I thought that sacds were second best, because of their sense of the soundstage and superior top end. I must say that dads were very close, however, as were HDCDs.
When RealityCheck came along, however, I must say that I find redbooks rejuvenated. Although I still enjoy my many and still growing collection of sacds, I miss the clarity and drive of RC copies of redbooks. I doubt seriously that there are many selling their sacd collections, but if they are I would strongly recommend they check out RealityCheck copies, unless they are just going back to redbook. |
sacd will be like 8 tracks in 24 months,but they seam to still make players,like its alive and well.i did a post some time ago about sacd players price dropping fast,and im still waiting,lucky for them most of them play dvds or they would be worthless..i have a friend who is a classical music lover,and he still cant get sacd to sound right..he has had over 7 players ,,,its sad...long live redbook |
Robm321, I think that the audiophile community is pretty small. Assuming that there was another format for the past 40 years and if LP were to be released today, it would also not have been accepted by today's consumers.
The only failures are the big corporates who fell flat on their face to grab audience's attention without listining to their voice. If a technology is good and people start to like it, it will latch on, only it might take some time.
I feel that the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are targeted at video more than audio. But if they are targeting the audio sector, then you are absolutely right - your logic applies :-)) |
The same logic applies for HD-DVD and Blu-Ray - If the quality of the SACD or DVD-A isn't enough to get the average consumer to buy it (audiophiles only)- Then why would they buy HD or Blu-Ray? It will fail too.
So, it will be a loooooong wait for the next hi-rez format if there ever is one. |
Yes Jayctoy. And I think in 2009 we will have a forum on Audiogon with the following topics:
Notice how many Blu-Ray collections for sale?
Another sign Blu-Ray is dying
OR
Notice how many HD-DVD collections for sale?
Another sign HD-DVD is dying
Wow..it would be so nice, if we could predict the future. |
Milpai, the pessimist are in the funeral,burying
their SACD's,and crying and waiting for the blue
ray. |
That's where I shop for my stuff - well the Fry's in Fremont, but they have 3 - 5 foot shelves full of SACD and I think one section of DVD-A. |
After all the posts, I am wondering, what the SACD pessemists are doing in this Hi-Rez forum? What did they find it so interesting to come to this forum? If it was me, I would never look back and go to a "promising format" forum :-) Ironic!!! |
In reply to the orignal thread - yeah Seasoned...throwing towel on hi-rez.. went to Frys at Sunnyvale yesterday, and they have a whole NEW section dedicated to just SACD. Never saw that one before. Met a couple of people (probably between 20-30 age group) searching for SACDs. They expressed surprise on this move. I told them about this thread. Nice, keep 'em coming :-) |
I think more people use SACD in stereo. Multichannel is pretty cool when mixed right, but the fact that you have to spend money on long speaker cables, several extra interconnects thins the budget out. I'd rather put all that money into a pair of interconnects, better (stereo) speakers and speaker cables and get better quality than spending the same amount on a lower quality surround system. |
This is just a word of thanks to everyone who is dumping their SACD collections! Keep them coming!!! |
Milpai,
Having done 50 cds now, I am glad I bought the machine. I only wish that the cleaning process were not so tedious and so necessary.
Patternlou, I would not go so far as to say that "stereo SACD is a dud," but I have only heard mc sacd under limited circumstances where the hardware was very expensive and quite unimpressive sounding IMHO. I am unlikely to ever invest in the necessary equipment for mc. |
I like SACD, and will not be selling any soon. I enjoy multi-channel the most, and the hi-rez aspect is a bonus. I think you need to commit to a full high quality multi-channel system before you experience what SACD and DVD-A have to offer. Don't scrimp on the center and surround equipment. I like my redbook CDs, and have a long list that I wish were in SACD or DVD-A. SACD stereo is a dud! |
Tbg, did you buy the RC machine or do you get it done for extra $$. I do understand that the RC process does take some extra effort. |
I think realitycheck needs a realitycheck. |
Hififile, I have Take Five on 45 rpm LP and have done a RealityCheck copy. Both are better than my SACD. |
For me SACD may survive as a format in that it sounds more like vinyl, it has that relaxed yet lively invigorating quality of real musicians making real music and that's a nice thing. Happy listening! |
What great responses. I have been listening to the Ayre C5Xe with both SACD and redbook CD. I took several twin copies I have on both SACD and redbook and did a comparison on the AYRE C5. SACD absolutely sounds better than the same redbook disc. On Brubeck's 'take five' the cymbal's have the drumstick to metal transient attack with the SACD. I only get the cymbal tones (softer attack) on redbook. I have had many similar experiences with other titles and SACD always sounds better to me. I plan on buying many more SACD's! |
Classical1, check this thread and you will be glad:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?gmusi&1119226415&openmine&zzMilpai&4&5#Milpai |
I just heard the Cary last night at an NJAS meeting, where Dennis Had spoke with us at length about it. It's quite an accomplishment. I still like my heavily modified Sony SCD 777ES at least as much, though I do want to hear them side by side, it will be an interesting comparison. When you hear DSD SACDs played back through a player that is up to the sonic level of the better redbook playback units, you can hear what the fuss is about (the same is true of 24/96 recordings as well). Sadly, the audiophile community, which really is the only one which should be clamoring for improvement in the digital standard, is not big enough to make a difference to the industry and in any case has mostly chosen to sit on the sidelines on this one. I fear an MP3-type future. |
The new issue of TAS says something to the effect that had the new Ayre C5xe been released a few years ago SACD would be a lot more popular. To my ears there's often a huge improvement over redbook. I'll definately keep buying them and as I too said before-- those that have bailed, plse send me your SACDS |
Milpai, I do agree with your last statement. You
are right on the money. |
YES!.....listen to SACD on the cary 306 sacd and you'll be begging for more releases |
So, here we are again..on yet another thread of SACD dying. Lets start a thread on how "audiophile" is dying. How people rant about formats rather than music - which is the jist of this hobby.
I don't know if SACD is dying or Blu-Ray is dying or Black-ray is in birth, etc. I like this format and will continue to support it at the forums I visit. On some recordings the SACD scares me with the realistic sounds it throws.
BTW, all the pessemists, what SACD player do you have? I am sure you guys have a universal player which is a jack-of-all and master-of-none. So you don't know how a SACD actually sounds. |
Whoever the doubters are - you do realize that we are all dying a slow death as well. Last I check immortality is at 0%. Should we all lay in our coffins next to our SACD collection? Everything comes and goes, but it's here now and for many years to come, and yes you are still missing out. |
Bring back 96/24, baby! ;~)
jz |
No prob R_F_Sales, I am not seeing any overt signs of impending death of any formats either. Besides, I mostly listen to music by long dead musicians. . . so I am not really worried about impending demises. |
Guidocorona, Sorry, I just flew of the handle and started into my rant. Guess you were poking fun and it went right over this head of mine! Most of what I was responding to was this general wave of negativity that is so prevalent on A'gon with a small group of fellows who feel that every format, every piece of equipment, every kind remark made has something wrong underlying it. It gets a bit old. For me records, TT's, tubes, drum & wires it's all good and I'm enjoying it immensely. Cheers! |
Oh shucks, I did not catch the Ketch. That's too bad, as I once almost purchased one. |
Guido, my friend you might as well do the Pavarotti
version SACD Blue. |
All I know if I find any SACD of my favorite Artists , I will buy it.
There just is not enough to choose from, If its dying it is because it was never supported by the Labels. |
Guido, I assume you meant "kvetch". A ketch is a sailboat. |
Bonn, I will be delighted to do the eulogy for poor SACD. . . I will take the opportunity of doing a vinyl eulogy at the same time. Overall this will force me to live quite a bit longer than what the actuarians are planning for me!
RFSALES. . . you probably did not ketch my underlying joke. |
Guys those who are saying SACD is dying, I forgot to
add,to send me all your SACD and bury them with your
players for free, you can also elect cremation, and
I will send you the ashes for a remembrace, sorry
no eulogy.Oh maybe Guido, will do the Eulogy. |
Wait a minute ...is this a episode of Monty Python that I missed entitled "the Audiophiles that say nah"?! Are you fellows kidding me? Better check your statistics on Lp record sales, vinyl is grabbing a larger market share every year. Read your Billboard. Some of you old soaks feel that the world is heading to hell in a handcart while the rest of us are enjoying a heyday in the Lp format with new, reissued, and a strong used market as well. Quite frankly my purchases are through the ceiling. People are selling Lps, SACD's, and everything else because the economy stinks, it's not the format.
Vinyl is dead?! You fellows are so eighties...
Cheers! |
I don't care one bit about comments that anything is dying, but I do think some try to be at the front of the wave.
I have been so impressed with the improvements with the RealityCheck on redbook that I wonder about how wise it is to buy further sacds. I made a RC copy of the hybrid redbook layer of a favored sacd. Comparing the sacd with the RC redbook leads me to favor the redbook, although the sacd sounds smoother and with a wider, less forward sound stage. It is just not a real sounding as the RC redbook.
Will I sell my 500 sacds? Probably not as there may be further improvements in reading them as there have been for redbook. |
I don't care one bit about comments that anything is dying, but I do think some try to be at the front of the wave.
I have been so impressed with the improvements with the RealityCheck on redbook that I wonder about how wise it is to buy further sacds. I made a RC copy of the hybrid redbook layer of a favored sacd. Comparing the sacd with the RC redbook leads me to favor the redbook, although the sacd sounds smoother and with a wider, less forward sound stage. It is just not a real sounding as the RC redbook.
Will I sell my 500 sacds? Probably not as there may be further improvements in reading them as there have been for redbook. |
Having listened carefully to CD, SACD, XRCD, and 33 & 45 rpm vinyl, I don't understand the fetish for vinyl, an older technology that entails additional electro-mechanical transduction processes. Nor do I understand the fetish for tubes as valves that rely on the heating of an element. I suspect it may be part of a popular movement from rational explanation to mysticism that seems to have arisen during the last decade or so. I hope that movement goes away.
Many of you refer to your interest in high-end audio as a hobby, rather than as a means to the end of enjoying music, and in that sense I can understand those fetishes, because vinyl and tubes are so much higher maintenance, and turntables and arms make attractive toys.
db |
Yeap, vinyl's dying as well! |
yes i agree with Robm321.....have you noticed how many vinyl auctions there are on this site and ebay? SACD is going to be around for awhile...fortunatley. |
SACD will go on with the "audiophile" labels and some others. It won't replace CD - mp3 will replace CD. It's already doing so quickly.
Just like the newer LPs coming out with new material and remastered old material, SACD will follow suit. And everyone who is jelous because they don't have SACD will continue with the SACD is dying threads hoping it will go away. But it will plague them for years. Blue Ray, blah blah - don't hold your breath. There is nothing else on the horizon that will replace CD other than mp3 in the next 5+ years and probably longer.
XRCD is good but double the price, so it's not competitive at $30.
HDCD sounds great on my Sony XA777ES as does standard redbook. |
I'm with Kal on this one. Fortunately, there were not all that many SACD only titles released after the first few years. I would imagine that most collections, my own included, only have a few of these titles. If I count the SACD only releases and the hybrids, I have about 200 titles.
What has started me thinking is that my SONY SCD555 ES SACD player is closing in on 5 years and these models have reportedly had a bad habit of breaking down after the warranty period expires and SONY has not been the greatest at servicing these models. If you were to believe all the stories over at Audio Asylum, every SACD player seems to break down quicker than its redbook counterpart. If the SONY does go down, I would be probably replace it with a redbook only CD player, like a Rega or Creek.
Regards, Rich |
SACD dying? That's funny because nobody seems to have told the hardware guys, they all offer SACD players and keep coming out with new ones. That tells me more than a few collections up for sale here.
As for me, I've got a very large collection that I'll keep adding to and have no plans to part with until I die. |
I have no use for SACD until the players outperform the LP playback I have now.
I hope SACD stays alive and improves
Will |
I guess I missed out on the last couple of formats as I was too busy buying Lps. Did someone mention Hi-rez? Cheers! |
