Kevin C Brown

That Crest "apology" has been out a while, and is complete B.S.


My stupid DSOTM broke all the way across.


Oh, on another HE2003 SACD note, maybe this is new, maybe not, maybe belongs in the source section, don't care. But Sony had a (new) SACD only (no DVD-V) player, the SCD-XA9000ES. Brushed Al faceplate, but I couldn't tell you much more than that. They didn't even know what the ballpark price would be. They also said there was a firmware fix for the chroma bug on the 999ES. They had a video guy and an audio guy there. I was impressed by what they knew. (Compared to most rooms, where a lot of eqp companies were represented by local dealers who didn't know squat about their products.)

Keith- Ya out there? The Sony dude said they they have looked at doing a universal player. He said not for 2003. But maybe after that.

He said, and I shall quoteth him dost thouest, "Why should we add DVD-A? That format isn't going anywhere." But he did recognize, and he said Sony does too, that people still would like that capability in a player along with CD, SACD, DVD-V, etc.

And now back to your normally scheduled programming...

If it's not worth waiting until the last minute to do, then it's not worth doing.

KevinVision 7.1 ...

Stephen Best

"Moura reports exactly what he is told, i.e. playing the role of lapdog mouth piece. A good reporter does a bit of research of his own, and maybe provides a bit of editorial of his own. From all of Moura's work I have read, he seems quite unable to do either of these tasks, hence the amateurish nature of his work."

Given that Brian receives no payment for his contributions, the blandishment "amateur" may be somewhat appropriate. FWIW, I think Brian does a good job of providing hi-rez information. If it wasn't so, people wouldn't be reading his stuff to whine about it here.

Stephen Best
SACDinfo.com

KeithH

Lee, regarding the 100,000 copies of Dark Side of the Moon sold, I'm sorry, that doesn't impress me. Let's forget about the number for a minute. What really bothers me is how sales figures of hybrid SACDs are taken as an indicator of the success of SACD or as a marketing lesson for other big-name artists. Give me a break! Remember, this disc also has a CD layer! Had Capitol/EMI stayed with the '92 remaster on CD and only released the new disc as a single-layer SACD, and 100,000 copies had been sold, I would have been impressed. Seeing that 100,000 copies (or approaching 100,000 copies) have been sold as a single-inventory hybrid disc, I will not begin to take a position of what that means or what that could mean for the future of SACD or the future of marketing headline artists.

My:
Main Stereo and HT Systems ;
Second Stereo System ;
Equipment List ; DVDs, SACDs, and more ;
Planned Upgrades and Additions


\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

KeithH

Regarding Brian Moura, I wholeheartedly agree that he is nothing more than a regurgitator of SACD news. I don't recall ever seeing his posts or articles containing research or an alternative viewpoint. Perhaps he feels he is doing right since he is often the first to share the news. Still, he has an obligation as a journalist of doing research, going the extra mile for the alternative viewpoint, and providing a balanced view. He does none of this. I guess he really isn't a journalist.

My:
Main Stereo and HT Systems ;
Second Stereo System ;
Equipment List ; DVDs, SACDs, and more ;
Planned Upgrades and Additions


\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

Jeff Ulmer

This is pretty much where my "misleading" comment comes from...

Why can't it just be said that more and more titles are appearing in high res and be done with it?

What also bothers me about a lot of the spin we are seeing is that there is no mention of the quality of these releases, just sales numbers. I would rather hear of ten completely stellar SACD releases that may have only sold 10 copies, than knowing that the industry is just churning out disc after disc with no real standard for quality of presentation. I have the same complaint with DVD in a lot of areas, so this isn't limited to one format. I prefer quality of quantity, and the format alone is no guarantee that the product is any good.

On a positive note (I think), I have finally seen a SACD player that falls into a more affordable range up here. Once the universal players are a little more widespread, I too will likely join the hi res world, so don't dispair, the rest of the world is coming, just not as fast as some may wish. Sony would do well to do some aggressive hardware marketing (ie low price points for good machines) if they want the format to get going.

DVD Reviewer, digitallyOBSESSED.com | Othyrworld

KeithH

Jeff asked:



I have no problem with that point of view. I am glad to see the number of titles growing, though I have been disappointed with the rate of growth. Still, small steps are better than sitting still.

Unfortunately, discussions here and elsewhere often morph into SACD versus DVD-Audio or sales figures and what they (might) mean. Frankly, I don't care if we see Avogadro's Number of Dark Side of the Moon SACDs sold.* All I know is that I bought one copy and am enjoying it. Whether one other person in the entire world or one billion others buy it makes no difference. I enjoy the disc for the music and could care less how many sell because I can't control it.

* I don't really care, but it would be cool to be able to say that 1 mole of a disc has been sold.

My:
Main Stereo and HT Systems ;
Second Stereo System ;
Equipment List ; DVDs, SACDs, and more ;
Planned Upgrades and Additions


\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

Man-Fai Wong

Lee Scoggins

I guess we will never agree then because this it is obvious to me how important unit sales are as a "case study". I am told that the Stones success in large part led to the Dylan releases.

You just keep downplaying the success of SACD and I will keep listening to and enjoying the music.



If people here have read HFR closely, then they know that Brian does a lot more than parrott just what others are saying. I think he's doing a good job. You can tell by his reporting that he is asking some insightful questions. This is clearly something lapdogs don't do.

I am quite pleased no one has present ANY factual evidence against Brian Moura so far.

Just more allegations and slanderings, the product of a lack of debating skills.


Because that is boring Jeff. This forum thrives from people offering different viewpoints and perspectives. I think it is healthy for people on the Forum to want to see Super Audio succeed. This is a great format and we should be able to champion it just as DVD lovers do that on the other boards. If 100K is not impressive to you, fine, but I know major record producers that were pleasantly surprised by the volume and I am sure it will lead to even more releases.

no fears alone at night she's sailing through the crowd
in her ears the phones are tight and the music's playing loud
~skateaway

Jeff Ulmer

I think it is great that people are excited about the format. However, when people keep using obvious falsehoods (like using sales numbers that they admit have no hard data to back up who is buying or why) to try to impress me about its success, it simply gets tiring.

So it's best to falsify the data to better your results?How about taking the most popular non hybrid release and going by its numbers, that way you can at least have an accurate picture o the demand for the SACD layer and size of market. Using a general release with a tag along SACD layer as your poster child is nothing more than riding the coat tails of a reissue. If the format can stand on its own, why rely on a disc that is selling more to those who haven't even heard of SACD?

DVD Reviewer, digitallyOBSESSED.com | Othyrworld

John Kotches

Lee,

When a "reporter" covers only one side of the issues, there isn't much to debate is there? Please cite for me the DVD-Audio articles that Mr. Moura has authored for High Fidelity Review.

While you're at it, since Mr. Moura is a "reporter" and is attending the HE Expo, please show me his coverage of the Saturday DVD-Audio press conference that was held offsite at Dolby's facilities in the SF area. Apparently "Enjoy the Music" made it to the conference, since one of their staffers attended. ETM also mentioned the DVD-Audio room sponsored by a number of companies, wheras any mention by Mr. Moura of this is completely MIA.

BTW, before you say I only write about DVD-Audio stuff, you should do a little research on what I've written:

Review 1.

Review 2.

In the July 2003 issue of WSR, you'll see Greg Rogers' and my joint review of the Meridian 598DP, which is the first print article I've done for a player of either format.

Regards,

Surround Music Enthusiast / Curmudgeon in Training
Opinions are my own, not representative of the publication I write for.