Universal & Sony to Switch from CD to SACD ?

[bmoura]

Well, Stereophile has quite the rumor on their web site tonight at www.stereophile.com/shownews.cgi?1353 !

Rather than just mentioning that Universal Music will be releasing their first batch of Hybrid SACDs shortly (July 16), they say Universal and Sony will soon announce plans to switch from CD to SACD production on all music discs!

Hmm, that certainly changes things in the Hi Rez world if their story is on target.

[larryclifton]

I hope this works. Remember that RCA took this approach when it rolled out the CD-4 Quadradisc, to release only one version for both quad and stereo buyers. RCA's commitment was so great that they even started a new numbering scheme. The first Quadradisc, Hugo Montenegro/Love Theme from "The Godfather", was APD1-0001.

However, many quad records got exiled to the quadraphonic bin, which you could usually find near the comedy section. (That's how I got interested; I accidentally found the quad section while looking for Smothers Brothers LPs.) And stereo buyers did not understand the meaning of "compatible". (That's what the "C" in "CD-4" stands for.)

Will music stores, real and virtual, know enough to not segregate SACDs from the CDs, as many do now, and will the great unwashed masses understand that these will play on their CD systems? We've been here before, and it didn't work out so well last time.

Larry

[bmoura]

We will see. Stay tuned for Thursday's SACD Press Event. We should know more then.

[Cai Campbell]

It was a big mistake for RCA to assume that CD-4 would be adopted as "be all" format, especially considering that CD-4 LP's have less dynamic range than conventional LP's.

However, this is not the case with SACD hybrid discs. This can work! I hope it succeeds. It will sure make it easier (and hopefully cheaper) to get SACD discs.

[winopener]

Not to cool down the excitement, but i've read the same news on the sursound mail list and people there are skeptical both about the news in itself *and* also about the reporter.
I will like to see thousand of MC sacd titles, but that's not going to happen soon...

[bmoura]

We'll see what happens on Thursday morning when they hold the May 2002 SACD Industry Update Press Event.

In the past those events have been used for major announcements of new SACD hardware and software titles.

I'm expecting to hear some news, but I agree that the Universal story seems a long shot.

Then again, some of the Sursound folks are working with DVD-A, so I don't really expect them to applaud any news involving SACD!

[MCunningham]

"Then again, some of the Sursound folks are working with DVD-A, so I don't really expect them to applaud any news involving SACD!"

The Sursound Archives just happens to be the most professional forum on the web. A large percentage of the members there are in the music business in one form or another. The fact that a large number of them prefer working with PCM rather than DSD is strictly a matter of preference. I'm sure your opinion of them goes a little deeper than you're letting on as I've read their responses to your occasional post. Seems they don't lend much credence to rumors, nor do they think to highly of your posts referencing the AA forum. Since you posted this exact same thing over there, the responses to it have made for some interesting reading. I've noticed you haven't bothered to post any rebuttals there...

[AllAroundSurround]

Ahh! format wars: and so it begins!
I hope they all win more music for all of us!
I just want a unit that will play all the formats with out breaking the bank so to speak!

[The Quadfather]

Amen to that. That's what I'm waiting for before taking the plunge.

The Quadfather

[JonUrban]

Classic thread from a classic time at QQ. Check out the members posting in this one.

[rusinurbe]

A Blast from the past indeed !!!

[Philip Spinner]

Perhaps this can still happen. In Japan.
Phil

[bmoura]

Perhaps this can still happen. In Japan.
Phil

Well, it has happened in the Classical field on a number of releases. I wouldn't bet on it for non-Classical titles.

[Bob Squires Jr]

It seems the SHM-SACDs from Universal are going the way of everything else...
The only new rock releases I see are Mike Oldfield - TB (yet another version!) and 3 Rolling Stones albums.
Everything else is mostly Jazz albums.
These are listed for 10/11 on to 12/11

Exile On Main Street is a good one though.
I'll be hoping to get that one.
Steely Dan - Royal Scam was cancelled.

Cat Stevens - TFTT is now slated for 10/15/11
It's been postponed 4 times.
I'll believe that when I see it.

(Yeah, I know they're all stereo!)

[proufo]

It would make sense --in non-third world countries-- to sell SACDs to those who want physical disks and downloads for everyone else.

[Quad Linda]

I suspect that Royal Scam was cancelled because Aja may have sold slowly. The SHM-SACD of Aja sounds terrible. Citizen Steely Dan box's Aja beats it. I suspect if I pulled out my gold CD of Aja, it also would sound better, though the box sounds a notch better than the gold. This is NOT an indictment of SHM-SACD. Many titles sound markedly better. Depends on how Japan's copy of the master tape, or whatever media it was transferred to, sounds.

Gaucho might not have sold well either, being 2ch, and there being 5.1 SACD, DVD-A & DTS already. I've not heard the SHM-SACD of Gaucho.

Royal Scam is the lowest selling Steely Dan album.

Linda
What was this thread about, again?

It seems the SHM-SACDs from Universal are going the way of everything else...
The only new rock releases I see are Mike Oldfield - TB (yet another version!) and 3 Rolling Stones albums.
Everything else is mostly Jazz albums.
These are listed for 10/11 on to 12/11

Exile On Main Street is a good one though.
I'll be hoping to get that one.
Steely Dan - Royal Scam was cancelled.

Cat Stevens - TFTT is now slated for 10/15/11
It's been postponed 4 times.
I'll believe that when I see it.

(Yeah, I know they're all stereo!)

[cupboy]

Gaucho might not have sold well either, being 2ch, and there being 5.1 SACD, DVD-A & DTS already. I've not heard the SHM-SACD of Gaucho.

I think the SHM-SACD of that title sounds excellent. I compared it to the stereo on the standard SACD and it beat it out big time.

Other people don't seem to like it as much as me though.

I never did buy Aja, but it's because I don't like the music on it. Would not have bought Royal Scam either. Actually, other than Gaucho, I probably don't like the group much. Just a bit too laid back, although I do like White Horse*.

*Let's see if anybody gets this.

[Quad Linda]

I had White Horse. Got rid of the nag when I cut my long blonde hair and went back to my natural brown. I got saddle sores from riding around in the buff.

Linda Godiva
The water will change to cherry wine and the silver will turn to gold.

I think the SHM-SACD of that title sounds excellent. I compared it to the stereo on the standard SACD and it beat it out big time.

Other people don't seem to like it as much as me though.

I never did buy Aja, but it's because I don't like the music on it. Would not have bought Royal Scam either. Actually, other than Gaucho, I probably don't like the group much. Just a bit too laid back, although I do like White Horse*.

*Let's see if anybody gets this.

[Bob Squires Jr]

Although it may be sacrilege to say so here, other than Can't Buy A Thrill & Pretzel Logic, (Gaucho wasn't bad)
I wasn't much of a Steely Dan fan. I like Fagen's solo efforts much more. Morph The Cat was my favorite of the 3.
I have the Aja SHM-SACD and it isn't all it's cracked up to be, unfortunately.

But, hopefully Warner will continue to release the DVD-A stuff to SACD for those who can't get the DVD-As
and maybe.... (hoping) they'll pop out a few new ones.

[Quad Linda]

The SHM-SACD of Aja is an abomination! Who's Next, Blind Faith, and Wheels of Fire are poor,as well.

As for the Steely Dan catalog, Can't Buy a Thrill is the best. Aja, Countdown, & Pretzels Logic are the other
great ones. They never did a bad album.

Linda

[John Svensson]

Yep Linda, the first 3 albums were great (stereo or quad)....Katy Lied ? not so much. I have a fondness for The Royal Scam as it was the first Stelly album I really got into at the tender age of 16.....don't know if I'd pop for a SHM SACD though.
Larry Clifton, there's a name you don't hear around here anymore, what became of him? I remember getting his "Quad For Sale" list back around 1995. John

[Quad Linda]

John, I suggest you listen again to Katy Lied. It would be my next fave after the four I listed. I had heard how bad the sound was on the original vinyl. As explained by Fagen, the recording equipment didn't cooperate. And we all know and love them for the perfectionists they are. The first copy I bought was the MoFi 1/2 speed LP, which I still own. I wasn't nuts about it when I first heard it, other than Bad Sneakers, which got radadio play. The more I got into it, the more it smacked of the many wacky characters I've known in the music and hi-fi businesses. Lot's of meaty stuff here and an eclectic cast of characters: Babs and Clean Willie, the MIGHTY Hal Blaine, Doctor Wu, Denny Dias, Rick Derringer, Rose Darling, Michael McDonald's 1st Dan appearance, Daddy, Phil Woods and another roll of YOUR gold teeth.

I recommend this album WITHOUT reservation. Give it a few more spins. These guys never did a bad album.

Linda
Are You With Me, Dr. Wu? ... Are You Crazy, Are You High, or Just an Ordinary Guy?

Yep Linda, the first 3 albums were great (stereo or quad)....Katy Lied ? not so much. I have a fondness for The Royal Scam as it was the first Stelly album I really got into at the tender age of 16.....don't know if I'd pop for a SHM SACD though.
Larry Clifton, there's a name you don't hear around here anymore, what became of him? I remember getting his "Quad For Sale" list back around 1995. John