John, Mo-Fi = Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs. Remember them, the ones who made half-speed mastered LP's and gold CD's? Now, they are making hybrid SACD's mostly. Their only new release that isn't an SACD, it's a plain CD, is John Lennon's IMAGINE tat just came out. They put some care into the albums they release. They may or may not be worth the $ to you...?
The major labels in SACD are lowering SACD prices...well Sony is dragging it's feet, but the Universal labels ( a bunch!) are all selling in the $13 to $17 range. The rest of the labels are small labels and they may not ever lower their prices? May of them already have. A great many of them wanted $25 a disc a few years ago, some stille do, but several of them have dropped their list to $19.99. i.e.- Chesky, Telarc, DMP...Audio Fidelity's stuff lists for 15.99...I think?
If SACD gets bigger maybe we'll see labels like Mo-Fi, Groove Note, and Analogue Productions drop their prices down to the $20 or less territory? Maybe not? They're mostly selling artists that aren't on the hit parade and aren't going to sell big numbers, proably? These labels are making a better product by and large. They may have to maintain higher prices?
There's nothing wrong with how DVD-A sounds. It's on par with SACD IMO. I just don't like the ergonomics and features of the format as much myself. That could be subject to change? They may have a CD side soon?...or come packaged with a CD? We'll see? I buy a few of them just the same....
Sorry to say, many of the best hybrids cost $20 to $30 a pop. For me, many of them were worth it. Many of the ones I've bought were recorded with DSD recorders or got the meticulous care that Mo-Fi or Steve Hoffman gives... Best wishes disc-hopper!
