SACD and Blueray/HD DVD

Laurence wrote on 3/14/2006, 3:27 PM
One of the possibilities that nobody seems to mention is that the two new hi def DVD formats might go the same way as the two competing hi def CD formats, in other words, they might not catch on at all. Think about it. SACD seems to have won as a format, but do you or does anyone you know actually have one of these players? Can you buy the discs anywhere if you do?

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/14/2006, 4:12 PM
I do.
Many DVD/CD players have SACD decoders built into them. But you're right, it hasn't caught on, because:
1. Marketing difference wasn't immediately audible.
2. Cost was too big a factor.
3. Audio isn't that big a deal to most folks. Look at the success of MP3 as a great example.

Video can't be compared to that. It's a whole different animal. Anyone viewing SD on a television at home can immediately see a difference when they walk into a Best Buy showing 720p or 1080i or 1080p on a closed circuit system. Plus, it's all the rage. You never heard ESPN, Fox, CBS, ABC, Discovery, National Geo, CNN, A&E, etc say "Audio in SACD" before. But you're seeing all of them advertise HD, very aggressively.
BD is clearly the winner here already. This was evident at CES, which is where the winners and whiners are determined, and even though Toshiba is trying, the manufacturers aren't making any new announcements about switching. BD also has support at the highest and lowest ends of the production spectrum, which HD-DVD doesn't. This is just like the whole 1630 vs several formats CD master market that happened in the audio world years ago, and it will be the same here, IMO. The power player will win. The BD Consortium is huge, and if it wasn't for Sony making Micro$oft angry at them, none of this would even be a footnote in history, I don't believe.
apit34356 wrote on 3/15/2006, 12:31 PM
DSE hit the nail on the head! MS is very pissed about not being able to control the copyright protect software, using Java for BD even made them madder! With a major investment war going on with the gaming market, MS did not want any serious threat to their home media center and their future "pay as you play music\video\gaming" schemes. Too many players outside their direct control, Itunes, CBS....etc.... too many $$$ escaping their grip.
mr.beebo wrote on 3/15/2006, 12:45 PM
They're both right Laurence. I have sacd as well and I rarely use it. Few people sit in a room and soley listen to their music anymore. My kids are usually screeching thru the house so I may as well have saved a buck and kept the hi fi. Look down any street and you if you don't see a blackberry then its an ipod.