Thread: Universal Music 25 new "Blu-Ray Audio" format titles for May

Posts: 925
Page: prev 1 ... 31 32 33 34 35 ... 93 next

Post by old-dog-newtricks October 5, 2013 (321 of 925)
With the imminent release of these titles which will no doubt be joined by others would it not be sensible for this site to embrace them and treat them as equivalent to SACDs? I know it was always our hope that SACD would triumph over all formats but clearly that has not happened. That SACD is still a major force in the hires market is surely in part due to the support and efforts of SA-CD.net and we can be proud of that. If companies as much into hires formats as 2L support blu-ray audio surely we should welcome the existence of a sister format. The end result is that we get a format supporting hi resolution 'studio quality' capable of surround sound. The fact that Universal have chosen to ignore the demand for mch is deplorable and disappointing but surely we could apply more pressure by discussing releases on blu-ray audio alongside SACD and perhaps win the argument for mch releases. Onebitaudio is not afraid to list blu-ray. Maybe the time has come for us to do the same? I realise that this might seem heresy for some as DSD is seen by many as superior to PCM (even up 192khz?) but I for one will want to read a serious critique of each blu-ray release as it may be the only format in which some recordings appear in future. It could equally be just another blip on the road to DSD downloads. In which case the above suggestion will apply to those instead. Personally I would prefer disc formats and SACD but I live in the real world.

Post by ChocolateFingers October 6, 2013 (322 of 925)
Yep - very much agree with your thoughts. I can't see many more Rock & Pop SACDs being produced now, apart from MoFi and Analog Productions. I do hope Blu Ray Audio succeeds where SACDs didn't. I feel that this is the only way for the record companies to go with back catalogue material.

Post by Claude October 7, 2013 (323 of 925)
ChocolateFingers said:

I do hope Blu Ray Audio succeeds where SACDs didn't. I feel that this is the only way for the record companies to go with back catalogue material.

I rather predict that hi-rez downloads will become the dominant audiophile format, because more hifi fans own streamers or DACs than *high quality* Blu-ray players. The general public with their $100 Blu-ray players is not the target audience for audiophile music releases.

Post by nucaleena October 7, 2013 (324 of 925)
Claude said:

I rather predict that hi-rez downloads will become the dominant audiophile format, because more hifi fans own streamers or DACs than *high quality* Blu-ray players.

Claude, don't know where you get your facts about hi fi fans from. My guess is that the middle aged and older customers for hi fi and discs will resist the computerisation of music with all their might - except for the simplest use of low-res MP3 files, of coutse. They'll find plenty of arguments about running a computer in one room and speakers and TV in another etc etc to justify retention of both beloved equipment and the physicality of their media. But give it another 20 - 30 years when we're all dead and you may be right (exept that the next generation is going to grow up with their parent's habits....)

Post by Claude October 7, 2013 (325 of 925)
I don't think those people who stick to their habits buy SACDs or Blu-ray discs either. They continue to buy CDs (including hybrid SACDs only for the redbook layer).

Audiophiles who want state of the art sound are more tech-savy and willing to adapt to music files.

Even on rather conservative discussion boards like the Steve Hoffman forum, there is now as much discussion about new HDtracks releases than about new SACD releases.

In 20-30 years, I think they won't be music files to download and handle, but only streams with a pay-per-listen and subscription model. And vinyl records of course :-)

Post by ChocolateFingers October 8, 2013 (326 of 925)
Well, even the BBC are talking about Blu Ray Audio!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24441979
I'm surprised that the pilot launch in France shifted 500,000 discs. We might not all think that this is the perfect Hi-Rez format, but I thought the record companies would never get beyond MP3s...

Post by old-dog-newtricks October 8, 2013 (327 of 925)
ChocolateFingers said:


I'm surprised that the pilot launch in France shifted 500,000 discs.

If you take out the Mylene Farmer then the average is 7500 copies each which is not so impressive.
It still makes me mad that the guy from Universal gives out so much misleading information and that the press swallow it whole. I think the clue to all this may be that they are copy protected discs and the industry would prefer that we share lo-res junk and that they sell only high cost hard discs or high cost high res downloads. My understanding is that although SACD is copy protected it became possible to rip them quite easily even using a humble PS3 (which, by the way, Mr Universal never cost anywhere near £832). Perhaps that is why the majors dropped SACD like a hot potato.
Still no sigh of activity from Warner or Sony (maybe they will trounce Universal by issuing new release material or multi-channel.) MDT still have had no release dates for any of the Universal stuff and there are very few on Amazon UK yet or if they are there they are difficult to find.

Post by fredblue October 8, 2013 (328 of 925)
old-dog-newtricks said:

If you take out the Mylene Farmer then the average is 7500 copies each which is not so impressive.
It still makes me mad that the guy from Universal gives out so much misleading information and that the press swallow it whole. I think the clue to all this may be that they are copy protected discs and the industry would prefer that we share lo-res junk and that they sell only high cost hard discs or high cost high res downloads. My understanding is that although SACD is copy protected it became possible to rip them quite easily even using a humble PS3 (which, by the way, Mr Universal never cost anywhere near £832). Perhaps that is why the majors dropped SACD like a hot potato.
Still no sigh of activity from Warner or Sony (maybe they will trounce Universal by issuing new release material or multi-channel.) MDT still have had no release dates for any of the Universal stuff and there are very few on Amazon UK yet or if they are there they are difficult to find.

7,500 avg. per title is really not bad, rather respectable in fact, particularly for back catalogue and hi-Rez...

..and I'm not being snarky or rude [just not me :-)] but..

- you do know how few copies need to be shifted on an average week for an album to hit Number One here in the UK now?

- there was a thread on the Steve Hoffman forums (can't find link at min. sorry I'm still looking) where someone formerly and seemingly heavily involved in Sony's SACD programme from the start commented that the old Sony Single Layer SACDs were pressed in quantities of 5,000 at a time, with some titles never seeing a repress.

7,500 copies shifted under the following circumstances =

- in a matter of months,
- in France,
- in just one store (FNAC),
- with little fanfare,
- of a bare-bones rehash of an old Johnny Hallyday album..

..doesn't seem so dismal after all.. does it?!

Post by rammiepie October 8, 2013 (329 of 925)
I still think, in comparison to Hi res downloads, that the physical disc (whether SACD/DVD~A or BD~A) with its lush packaging and glossy booklets still represents value for the investment.

But unlike (for instance) BD~V, the perceived limited edition status will keep prices of hi res physical discs rather high which translates into smaller sales.

I do believe that Universal "blew it" with their BD~A launch with their vague advertising campaign and scarcity of distribution channels and lack of 5.1 with the exception of a few "select" titles......really wish Universal had personnel in charge of this launch who truly loved Hi Res and multichannel sound and understood the market.....but such was NOT the case.

What I do find reassuring is that the latter part of 2013 HAS seen an increase in the release schedule of almost ALL hi res physical disc formats which is a move, IMO, in the right direction.

But we should all be aware that all these hi res releases are for a niche market and doubtfully, that won't change anytime too soon!

Post by old-dog-newtricks October 8, 2013 (330 of 925)
I agree with Rammie that there is still lots of life left in SACD with many of the old labels still committed and some I have never heard of before. Linn announced the other day that their new Brandenburgs had gone straight to No2 in he classical charts. (Sadly no review on here yet.) It will be interesting to see if any of the labels currently committed to SACD will 'jump ship'. I am sure some may want to did a toe in the water.

Page: prev 1 ... 31 32 33 34 35 ... 93 next

Closed