The triumph of mid-fi

For major manufacturers such as Sony these days, the major markets seem to be for DVD video (replacing VCRs), home theater sub-sat systems, and laptop PCs. Walk into a Circuit City or Best Buy store some time and watch what audio equipment the customers carry out the door; for the most part, it's not two-channel stereo. Walk into a CompUSA computer store and you'll see Sony products, and multimedia sat-sub speakers, but no high-quality audio equipment. It's a comment on Sony's market share that they've had sufficient depth of resources to be able to afford developing SACD for what is, at most, a niche market for them. The equipment at the top end of Sony's line is quite good. Could high-end audio manufacturers find ways to improve upon Sony's best? Probably so. Has a large enough catalog of SACD recordings developed to support a consumer market for SACD players sufficient to attract a number of equipment manufacturers, including high-end firms, to develop and market new models to compete with major multinational firms such as Sony? Thus far, the answer seems to be that a market for such products exists, but it's a relatively small one. If you can find a higher quality SACD player than Sony, and have the money to afford buying it, by all means do so. When you're enjoying it, though, just remember that you would probably never have seen this format if Sony hadn't decided to commit their financial resources to developing both the equipment and a market for it. I don't work for Sony, or own any Sony stock. I'm just pointing out that audio equipment companies are part of a multinational industry which primarily rewards economies of scale in manufacturing large quantities of the things that the majority of consumers like to spend their money on, rather than small quantities of higher-quality goods for specialized luxury markets. Whether for good or ill, that's just the way the world is. Wishing things otherwise won't make them so.

Hi-end hardware is one thing...but we all know that newer hi-rez formats will be decided by the general public...not the hi-end audio crowd...and so far they have spoken...SACD and DVD-a are both busts....and not surprisingly....you need a very good system to hear the improved benefits....and for the majority....sacd or dvd-a is just not the quantum leap cd was 20 yrs ago....

In reviewing the discussion on this thread (which I initiated) to date, it seems like most audiophiles concede that the general public determines what will be available in the audio world and unless high end formats like SACD are adopted by this general public, they will not be viable.

I find this viewpoint to be curious in light of the fact that manufacturers of high-end, esoteric gear with absolutely no appeal to the masses, have flourished for years. This proves that there is a viable "high end" market and not everything needs to be reduced to mass market quality to be economically viable.

I think the issue at this point is that Sony wants to recapture the dominance it had with the CD patent (which is expiring) through the SACD standard, and companies are reluctant to relinquish a new standard to them for the price they are demanding. On the one hand, I don't blame them, but audio quality will suffer if we don't make some higher resolution format economically viable.

I, for one, am willing to pay more than standard CD prices for a format that produces sound more like analog but I'm also dangerously close to throwing in the towel and just going back to vinyl if we don't start seeing some high end audio companies begin to produce SACD compatible players

I just saw a report yesterday that CD sales were down another 8%. With CD sales slipping every year to interenet downloads, I think it is crazy to think that a new media format that is more expensive than CD has any chance. If they want to succeed they need to have SACD and DVDA the same price as CD's. The industry is heading towards in home music servers, satellite radio, massive media storage on a recordable memory device such as memory stick by sony or SD by Panasonic. I am heading to CES tomorrow, but I have already heard about some new products from people who are already there. And so far big companies are pushing for 2 way product integration. Units that all talk to each other. Imagine how cool it would be to own one massive music server or mega disc changer, and be able to use it in every room of your house.
One more thing, to the people that think you need a really good system to hear the difference in SACD or DVDA over CD. You are wrong. Go to any store Tweeter, Best Buy, Circuit, wherever and bring a cd and a SACD or DVDA of the same recording. Use the SACD player with the SACD materil first, listen to that and then leave everything the same including the volume, and put a regular CD in the player the sound is tremendously different.
If you have never done this then do not say there is no difference or a slight difference. You need to do that test in that order to make a far judgement.
And to prove it I have done this in many stores using all kinds of gear.

I have also done this in a 12 volt system in a car. I played Fleetwood mack on a DVDA and then took the DVDA out and put the CD in the same player volume level the same, and you can deffinetly hear a big difference. Panasonic makes a DVDA player for the car that also plays DVD, and CD