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hiredfox said:
Let's not kid ourselves of an absolute distinction between SACD and BD-A. The notion of SACD being the realisation of single bit technology was ruined by the failure of Sony / Philips to insist on a standard as per red book. Subsequently the format has been ruined by PCM derived recordings being converted to DSD only for its usefulness as a carrier to access the huge extra capacity of DVD discs.
Many like me wish the S/P consortium had gone that vital extra step.
Help is on the way, hiredfox, in the form of PS Audio's new DirectStream DAC. For $5995.00US, you can convert ALL you incoming PCM recordings to 1 bit DSD.
Now, ALL your RBCDs can sound like SACD!
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Post by zeus March 8, 2014 (22 of 352)
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rammiepie said:
... BD~A is capable of surprisingly robust fidelity!
Overall sound quality isn't in question as anyone who has listened the 2L's BD-A discs on half-decent equipment can attest. For multichannel listeners SA-CD and BD-A are closer than many imagine given that most receivers operate in the PCM domain anyway. What is of issue to me is whether it makes sense to move the site in this direction, whether there's enough titles/momentum to justify it and importantly that the distinction can be made clear enough here for those who have a strong preference one way or the other. Being pragmatic it would increase the revenue base for the site (something that is in everyone's best interest) and provide a buffer in case of a format shift. All things to think about.
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zeus said:
Overall sound quality isn't in question as anyone who has listened the 2L's BD-A discs on half-decent equipment can attest. For multichannel listeners SA-CD and BD-A are closer than many imagine given that most receivers operate in the PCM domain anyway. What is of issue to me is whether it makes sense to move the site in this direction, whether there's enough titles/momentum to justify it and importantly that the distinction can be made clear enough here for those who have a strong preference one way or the other. Being pragmatic it would increase the revenue base for the site (something that is in everyone's best interest) and provide a buffer in case of a format shift. All things to think about.
If that's the case (increased revenue for the site), then I'm 110% for it!
What's NOT to like?????
Every vendor on this site carries BD~A discs, anyway......so really, why not?
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Post by sgb March 8, 2014 (24 of 352)
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hiredfox said:
Let's not kid ourselves of an absolute distinction between SACD and BD-A. The notion of SACD being the realisation of single bit technology was ruined by the failure of Sony / Philips to insist on a standard as per red book. Subsequently the format has been ruined by PCM derived recordings being converted to DSD only for its usefulness as a carrier to access the huge extra capacity of DVD discs.
Many like me wish the S/P consortium had gone that vital extra step.
In total agreement.
Many of us aren't getting any younger; I, for one consider SACD the last different format on which I care to spend money. When I bought my first player and software almost 15 years ago, the differences I perceived were large enough to embrace the format despite the scarcity of selection. The problem today, IMHO, is that most of the new classical recordings I have purchased over the past several years are terrible sounding.
My hearing, furthermore, is deteriorating quickly. I see no need, thus, to investigate these new downloads—especially since my vintage audio system isn't set up for such. LPs, CDs and SACDs will just have to do; and with over 6000 items in my collection, I don't think I could listen to all of them in the remainder of my lifetime. I would hope, though, that if this Blu-Ray stuff were to be added here that it would be compartmentalized to avoid the frustration of sifting through all that added dead wood.
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One more question comes to mind, Zeus/Polly: Would this changeover predicate a name change for the site?
And with SONY and Warners coming on board this year, better get "cracking" as I'm sure the current list of available BD~As will double in the upcoming months (One Bit Audio shows 85 BD~A titles currently available and counting)!
Good Luck!
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Reference has been made to Blu Ray audio being the potential focus if the site encompasseds Blu Ray. It's Blu Ray video/audio which has most engaged me, however. The splendid concerts, the palpable feel of orchestra and audience excitement are often stunning, adding a new dimension to hi rez's "you'll think you were there" attributes. And leaving DVD way behind in just the way that SACD has left RBCD behind for most of us here.
And that's not counting the opera discs, - often at less than half the price of a SACD or RBCD opera (especially on Universal) AND with pictures. True, some Blu Ray's carry poor stage productions, in which case I sometimes just turn off the picture and wallow in the sound, - equal to most SACDs with PCM provenance at, as I said, half the price.
Another thing to bear in mind is that many of the artists on Blu Ray are of the first rank compared to many on SACD. Bigger is not always better but my collection can once again boast recordings by such Universal stalwarts as Barenboim and Rattle, Kozena, Netrebko and Kaufman. And I mustn't forget the marvelous gift to the world of Abbado's majestic, wonderful, Mahler symphonies set with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, - making Blu Ray worthwhile even if it carried nothing else.
I fully intend to stick with SACD, especially for DSD recorded discs, which to my ears are and have always been superior to PCM, and for studio recordings where I can listen to music without the (occasional) distractions of live music making (e.g. "busy" camera angles on some discs). But I do find myself supplementing my SACD purchases with Blu Ray more and more.
So, and fairly obviously, my vote is definitely a YES for SA-CD net inclusion of Blu Ray music discs (incl opera and concerts).
I think that such a move would, in addition to expanding revenue for the site, rejuvenate the site and make it even more topical and relevant.
oh, P.S. I would NOT want to see Blu Ray reviews and forum discussion quarantined from SACD as per SGH's suggestion. The music is what counts more than the format and I'd want to access reviews and discussion in one place, without messy and confusing duplications across the site, not to mention the additional work required to separate entries for two formats. Those who don't want to read Blu Ray reviews can simply move on to the next review and the next thread.
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Post by nickc March 8, 2014 (27 of 352)
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I would be quite happy if we included blu-ray here, I'm quite catholic in that sense.
Zeus's intimation regarding increased revenue would be another fillip.
Paul, have you seen the new Peter Grimes bluray live from Aldeburgh Beach? The movement on my disc seems a bit jerky but what an event!
Nick
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My impression is that if Blu-Ray Audio were brought aboard, it would only be discs where there is a high-resolution audio presentation (24/44.1 and above) which is not synchronized with a video presentation beyond still images. This distinction is a tricky one, but I think an important one.
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Post by zeus March 8, 2014 (29 of 352)
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In case anyone wants to explore (or were otherwise unaware) here's a current list of BD titles included in the database ... at this stage because they also include an SA-CD:
/bd.php
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Post by nickc March 8, 2014 (30 of 352)
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I agree there is a distinction, but I respectfully disagree and think all Blu-rays should be up for inclusion: think of all the operas we could discuss!
As a wise man once said, when the head of the camel comes in the tent door, the rest of the body is sure to follow!
N
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