SACDs

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PanaPlasma

Blu spec or shm has nothing to do with mastering. The album (cd rip) will be identical to the original US or European "cd". It just the "material" that is different.

Due to the crisis in the music industry, Japanese record companies use the latest UK or US mastering. It's too pricey for them to make their "own superior mastering" like back in the 80's and 90's.

Except the shm-sacd's: most of them are flat transfer tapes


Don't forget nowadays Western "cd materials" are very bad. Compare an early '80s cd (e.g. Dire Straits on the Vertigo label) with a modern cd, and you will cd what I mean. The "old cd's" were far more solid, resistant for scratches, "burning" on cd was slower - so less errors,...
.
I bought many "recent cd's" over the last 10 years, that I couldn't rip due to various errors (as a result of "bad production": burning, cheaper materials,...).

In a few years we'll laugh about these discussions, when everything is digital (less chance of any kind of errors)

I'm still waiting for the ultimate player for digital files. Computers are far too noisy, wireless high res streaming = hiccups, and dedicated players like the Olive 4HD en 6HD are buggy and overpriced.

That is incorrect, Blu-spec CD's are identical in every way, shape and form to regular CD's, including the material. The ONLY difference is that the master CD used for replication is burned with a blue-violet laser, something I just stated further up this page.

Don't confuse Blu-spec with SHM.

[Pondosinatra]

I see that sa-cd.net has listed The Doors and Fleetwood Mac's rumours (pre-order).

While it still annoys me that Sacd is stuck in the 70's/80's for Rock, I'll definitely be picking these two releases up.

[danfaz]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

I see that sa-cd.net has listed The Doors and Fleetwood Mac's rumours (pre-order).

I picked up Hotel CA (just got my shipped notice today). Have the Perception box set, so I'll pass on The Doors. Rumours is tempting...

[Pondosinatra]

My only question with these releases is that they're all imports from Japan - so obviously not a release from the studio that did the original album.

So are these top quality releases? Or are they the sonic equivalent to a cheap-ass blu-ray upconvert release of an 80's movie???

[PanaPlasma]

Most of the highly priced shm-sacd's are flat transfers without additional brickwalling, limiting,...

More and more sourced from the Original Master Tapes. Sometimes Japan Copy Tape.

Some Japan copy tape releases sound very good: Dire Straits,... etc.


The Warner hybrid sacd's are imo just re-releases of the previous dvd-a's (most of them already available at HDtracks). They have some compression etc.

[danfaz]

Originally Posted by PanaPlasma

The Warner hybrid sacd's are imo just re-releases of the previous dvd-a's (most of them already available at HDtracks).

Are the HDTrack offerings multi-channel?

[dobyblue]

Just ordered the SACD of Wish You Were Here from Acoustic Sounds, pre-order.

Also pre-ordered:

Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman

Also Ordered:

Nat King Cole - After Midnight MONO SACD
Nat King Cole - Love is the Thing MCH SACD

I couldn't resist ordering a couple of the NKC SACD's after Steve Hoffman's glowing recommendation - http://stevehoffman.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=257964

All 5 discs are from Analogue Productions.

[Jimbo976]

Go ahead and delete this if not allowed...

I see that SACD's can now be backed up in a full quality 1:1 ISO images via the ps3 ripper software using early model ps3 hardware.

Does anyone plan to backup their library? I have an old ps3 that has the yellow light of death. I'm going to try to fix it myself to use it for this.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Go ahead and delete this if not allowed...

I see that SACD's can now be backed up in a full quality 1:1 ISO images via the ps3 ripper software using early model ps3 hardware.

Does anyone plan to backup their library? I have an old ps3 that has the yellow light of death. I'm going to try to fix it myself to use it for this.

I don't do stuff like that.

I take care of my Discs and they don't have problems.

If I thought I needed a backup, I would buy 2 copies.

[PanaPlasma]

Originally Posted by danfaz

Are the HDTrack offerings multi-channel?

No multichannel at hdtracks.

[hakstone]

I've been wondering if the escalating cost of sacd is because the format will be replace by lossless blu-ray ?

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by hakstone

I've been wondering if the escalating cost of sacd is because the format will be replace by lossless blu-ray ?

I wish that were true, but I don't think we're going to see a lot of Blu-ray audio discs.

All of the following factors are conspiring against any substantial use of BD audio:
- the failure of SACD and DVD audio
- the success of MP3 inferior quality downloads
- major declines in back catalog CD prices (I was in a record store the other day and most back catalog midline product is now selling for $4-$5 an album.)
- the decline of physical retail
- the overall decline of the recorded music market (now less than 50% of its peak)

SACDs are probably expensive because the labels are making few and they're becoming rarer. If BD was going to replace SACD, SACD prices would probably fall, not increase.

I think we'll continue to see concerts on BD with lossless audio formats, but BD-Audio (only)? Not much of a chance, except from a few niche labels for esoteric music. Of course, if there is a company that gets interested in doing this, they can lease masters from the labels. Most vinyl releases are not produced by the major lables themselves -- rather they're licensed to labels like Sundazed who handle the manufacturing, distribution and marketing.

[Lyle_JP]

Originally Posted by hakstone

I've been wondering if the escalating cost of sacd is because the format will be replace by lossless blu-ray ?

The escalating cost is just a matter of economy of scale. SACDs hybrids are no longer sold alongside or mixed in with regular CDs or stocked in great numbers at music stores (which are, themselves, a thing of the past). The pressing runs are very small, so the per unit cost must be much higher to make a run worth it. Also, the target market is the audiophile niche, who tend to spend far more on equipment and software than the average music buyer.

[danfaz]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

SACDs are probably expensive because the labels are making few and they're becoming rarer.

That's why I'm trying to scoop up as many artists I really like before the prices get even more over-the-top. I just ordered two Elton John domestic SACD's for $27 shipped! Just can't hang with $60 per disc from Japan (although I would like to hear them).

[richieb1971]

Its likely that HD resolution audio via download will take off before SACD or BDA. Once internet speeds generally pick up and hard drives get significantly bigger there is no reason for them not to.

Pressing discs of any kind incurs quite alot of financial outlay. I think if its just the cost of remastering in HD resolutions the tide will eventually turn in that direction. You can always copy the data to a disc if you so prefer.

Does it make any difference if you have a media player playing the content or a disc player? Thats the question as a consumer.

[Jimbo976]

The vast majority of folks are happy with MP3's though and just want them to put on their ipod. They likely can't tell the differece from a 192kbs MP3 vs a 24/192 high-res file. I doubt any kind of high res audio is ever going to become more than a small niche product but it would be nice if I was wrong.

[richieb1971]

If that high res MP3 is sent to a high end audio system from the Ipod surely it would sound the same as SACD.

Once portable devices have the power to do such things I'm sure a lot of people would appreciate the difference. Especially if the cost was only 20 cents more per MP3 or $3 more per album. Instead of paying $60 for a SACD.

I am sure a few of you want privilege of ownership as discs are prone to going out of print. Some of you may want artwork etc. SACD and BDA may even benefit from an MP3 system that supports that as more titles will get Hi res treatment. I'm all for more choice.

[dobyblue]

Not likely, because one is still PCM and the other is DSD.

Not sure what a "high rez .mp3" is, but I've never seen a 24/192 .mp3

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

The vast majority of folks are happy with MP3's though and just want them to put on their ipod. They likely can't tell the differece from a 192kbs MP3 vs a 24/192 high-res file. I doubt any kind of high res audio is ever going to become more than a small niche product but it would be nice if I was wrong.

Most people use ear buds to listen to music, which hinders people's ability to tell the difference between a 256kbps iTunes song and a lossless track. If we all walked around with cans on our heads, I'm sure there would be more desire for high quality audio, but as it stands, there is no need.

The iPod has made music a portable format. The only way studios will ever be able to bring back that home listening factor is by giving people BD-A releases that provide a tangible difference over iTunes. Its always going to be a small market, but that doesn't stop labels from pressing vinyl.

[hakstone]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

SACDs are probably expensive because the labels are making few and they're becoming rarer. If BD was going to replace SACD, SACD prices would probably fall, not increase.

Prices would fall if there were BD, but there aren't.
Seems like they're milking the last of a dying format.
I'm a big fan of sacd, but can't justify the prices.
Wishful thinking that my classic favorites will someday be lossless.