Lee Scoggins
Senior HTF Member
Well I had a great time in NYC today even though they have not invented air conditioning here....
Let's get three big news items out:
1. I heard from a Sony insider that Sony is trying to get Bruce Springsteen albums lined up! Apparently there are ongoing negotiations.
2. I heard from another industry insider that the reason that some big albums are held up is the lawyers from the Harry Fox Agency which represents the artists. They want three times the royalties for a hybrid SACD which disrupts the economics. Now we should blame Harry Fox instead of Sony.
3. MoFi is about to announce new SACD selections from Rounder Records. They would not say what the albums were but they have been mastered and artists rights are being negotiated. It sounds like some good titles. Announcement due within 2 months, maybe one if all goes well.
Highlights from the show:
1. The Sony Qualia 004 reading 1080I from a BluRay device and projecting 1920x1080p onto a Stewart StudioTek 130 (also raved about by Joe Kane). I can't tell how amazing this SXRD-based picture was. The preview intro text was like 3D! The black levels were deep, wet, and better than any film theater I have seen recently. The colors were so real. It was like being on the set of the movie. It's a cliche but it was in many respects like looking through a window to see the action.
2. Sony audio to go with the above. They linked their new 9000ES receiver (the size of a breadbox) to 9 (!) Wilson Audio Series 7 speakers plus a huge washing machine-sized subwoofer. Sounded even better than the last demo I heard in 2002 with 7 Wilson Watt/Puppies.
3. Joe Kane giving a top notch video essentials based presentation on the new $12K Samsung projector. I have never seen 720P look so good. Perfect colors and calibration as you would expect.
4. Good audio in a number of rooms: Naim, Reference 3A, Innersound (a bit bright...wish they had Maggie), Avatar OBRX, many new small players. Seemed very NYC focused with many good local dealers on hand showing their wares.
5. Best overall sound: Sound By Singer JM Lab Grand Utopia Be with BAT amplification playing Super Audio discs.
6. Great disc selection. Picked up some new Chesky SACDs and David's new CD, picked up the new Jacintha Bossa Nova (literally assembled by hand on the spot at the Elusive Disc booth). I also got the new Groove Note Stan Getz "Spring is Here".
7. Bob Harley, editor of TAS, was manning the Music Direct booth and siging his 3rd edition of the Complete Guide to High End Audio. His wife Mona was there and they are the nicest people. Bob says TAS is having good circulation and people seem to be responding positively to the new direction of the magazine.
8. Also met with Robert Rives Bird of Rives Audio. He makes the Parc room correction device which is superb and he also offers top-flight design packages for people with home theater and listening room design.
I will add more later. I am quite tired from all the walking...

Let's get three big news items out:
1. I heard from a Sony insider that Sony is trying to get Bruce Springsteen albums lined up! Apparently there are ongoing negotiations.
2. I heard from another industry insider that the reason that some big albums are held up is the lawyers from the Harry Fox Agency which represents the artists. They want three times the royalties for a hybrid SACD which disrupts the economics. Now we should blame Harry Fox instead of Sony.
3. MoFi is about to announce new SACD selections from Rounder Records. They would not say what the albums were but they have been mastered and artists rights are being negotiated. It sounds like some good titles. Announcement due within 2 months, maybe one if all goes well.
Highlights from the show:
1. The Sony Qualia 004 reading 1080I from a BluRay device and projecting 1920x1080p onto a Stewart StudioTek 130 (also raved about by Joe Kane). I can't tell how amazing this SXRD-based picture was. The preview intro text was like 3D! The black levels were deep, wet, and better than any film theater I have seen recently. The colors were so real. It was like being on the set of the movie. It's a cliche but it was in many respects like looking through a window to see the action.
2. Sony audio to go with the above. They linked their new 9000ES receiver (the size of a breadbox) to 9 (!) Wilson Audio Series 7 speakers plus a huge washing machine-sized subwoofer. Sounded even better than the last demo I heard in 2002 with 7 Wilson Watt/Puppies.
3. Joe Kane giving a top notch video essentials based presentation on the new $12K Samsung projector. I have never seen 720P look so good. Perfect colors and calibration as you would expect.
4. Good audio in a number of rooms: Naim, Reference 3A, Innersound (a bit bright...wish they had Maggie), Avatar OBRX, many new small players. Seemed very NYC focused with many good local dealers on hand showing their wares.
5. Best overall sound: Sound By Singer JM Lab Grand Utopia Be with BAT amplification playing Super Audio discs.
6. Great disc selection. Picked up some new Chesky SACDs and David's new CD, picked up the new Jacintha Bossa Nova (literally assembled by hand on the spot at the Elusive Disc booth). I also got the new Groove Note Stan Getz "Spring is Here".
7. Bob Harley, editor of TAS, was manning the Music Direct booth and siging his 3rd edition of the Complete Guide to High End Audio. His wife Mona was there and they are the nicest people. Bob says TAS is having good circulation and people seem to be responding positively to the new direction of the magazine.
8. Also met with Robert Rives Bird of Rives Audio. He makes the Parc room correction device which is superb and he also offers top-flight design packages for people with home theater and listening room design.
I will add more later. I am quite tired from all the walking...