Coping in an Age of Uncertainty

I agree with Bluechriss that for people with alternative tastes that redbook is going to be the standard for quite awhile. The CD burner revolution for small labels and bands is another stronghold of what's going to be longevity for this format. I am looking to upgrade my player and I am only looking at players that have strong redbook CD playback. I could care less about the useless fancypants formats. I don't listen to audiophile dreck and if I want to expand my Dylan or Stones or any other classic rock catalog, I'm gonna do it through Sundazed or any of the other LP reissue labels putting out killer vinyl right now. I got the Sundazed Stooges LP reissues and I don't see Elektra putting those out on SACD or DVD-whatever anytime soon. I find it annoying that Stereophile is ready to give high rankings to players "in their expected format", meaning that SACD players that sound like garbage with redbook cd's get class A. Wotta joke! Here it is a couple of years past the beginning of this thread and here I am saying, I'm coping with redbook very fine thank you by not getting caught up in any hype. I will let the equipment sort out the resolution and leave my expectations at home. Never really twigged to CD's till the last few years and now the system improvements and remastering have gotten pretty good for my tastes. Sure things could be better but that's inherently the way that we are. Never satisfied? Welcome to the human race. Just don't let your expectations overwhelm the fact that things are pretty good. I can get records that I used to have to look years for (and yes there are some things that annoy me because they aren't available, Tim Buckley's Starsailor being one of the more incomprehensible gaps in the catalog)and between LP's and CD's I do pretty damn well. I'll worry about the so-called digital wars when the dust clears. For now upsampling helps me out and I get what I need.

Well, I agree with Letch that when I read a review for a multi-format player that has received kudos for one format but not the others.....I turn the page. I also agree with him that the sound of the CD's in today age represent a quantum leap from when they first came out in the 80's. The sonics from that first period was well....it left a little to be desired.

However, that stated, I am excited about the new formats IF they represent a considerable improvement in sonics. I do think that audiophiles will step up to the plate if they are convinced of the merits of the new technology. That should translate into a driving force for a broader distribution of titles.

But then I suppose a counter argument could be made with the fate with MSFL's abandonment with LP's. The quality was second to none but the criticisms (from high and low sources) is that the title selection was not up to snuff. Hence Mobile fidelity is no longer making LP's...

quality sound from digital source components is far more dependant on the software than visa versa. a first generation cd player sounds infinitely better with a recently mastered cd than a new cd player using the same music mastered even 5 years ago.....there are thousands of examples with the major labels alone...the improvements on the hardware side have been oversold as remedies to a consumer willing to pay anything to get satisfaction from their hi fi.

I, too, agree largely with Letch. I go for good vinyl first, then redbook CD if it's not available. Unfortunately, that means I buy more CDs than I really want to!

As for SACD.... well, I must admit to having bought two remastered titles, both Dylan ones. On my Arcam, the CD layer sounds really great (much better than original redbook release), so I'm not ready yet to buy a SACD player, although I am curious to hear what the SACD layer sounds like on a SACD player.

What have i done in the age of uncertainty? I integrated my HT system and stereo, with the HT gear upstream, so it doesn't compromise my main system. I prefer stereo, but I also enjoy movies, multi-channel audio and music dvd-v (e.g. Roger Waters The Wall, Calle 54, The Last Waltz).

I looked at mid-priced universal players and decided they were too compromised for the money and too immature as a technology (i.e. none from audiophile companies). So I bought a dirt-cheap Pioneer DV-563a for now. It doesn't sound as good as my CD player, even with SACD or DVD-A discs, but it plays them, and it feeds an NAD HT receiver (upstream of my stereo preamp).

I have found that m-c does not require the same sort of care (equipment and setup) as stereo to provide good results. I'm not after ultimate fidelity. I just need to meet a certain standard so that the equipment doesn't interfere with my enjoyment. I obsess over my stereo, but not the HT m-c gear. It's mid-fi and it's fun, and it sounds pretty damned good most of the time.

Sometimes I think I should have bought the new Pioneer DV-57AVi, because it would have given me better hi-rez sound and the possibility of future upgradability (connection to a hi-rez DAC via HDMI or firewire), but it was a lot more money and it wasn't available when I bought the 563. Besides as I said at the beginning, the market is not mature, and I've elected to wait and see while I collect some hi-rez titles.

In the meantime I can play vinyl or any digital disc, stereo or multichannel. I buy music based on content, availability and price. If and when hi-rez and/or m-c matures, I can easily change my priorities.

Dan Bonhomme