Coping in an Age of Uncertainty

Players are here to play THE MUSIC YOU LIKE. Most of the issues (I like Jazz) are in CD only. You will hardly find your favorite new music in SACD or DVD_A. So why bother with these players.
Get the best CD player you can and it will deliver about the best sound you can imagine. I got an Audiomeca Mephisto IIX, and beeing able to get any player I could possibly wish at dealer cost, I found this one to be the very best. And very elegant and beautifull at that.
I think that the SACD and DVD_A fight will end in both formats disappearing, because remember, players with Hard Disks are coming, and THAT is the future.
What I do not understand is why the SCAD and DVD camp did not license to everybody and just issued all new music as SACD hibrids (at the same price of CD). That would have been a way to bring the new format into the homes and make it popular. Because lets face it, whichever new format which does not become popular will sooner or later die. Remember the way of quadrafonic sound, Kodaks Disk Film, Betamax,etc.

I have difficulty deciding whether all this format stuff is a marketing ploy or an actual technologic break through. Figure, the resolution of cd compared to vinyl (despite other drawbacks) is not an improvement at all. Is that what we're doing, trying to get closer to vinyl resolution in a digital format? How much digital resolution would that take? Maybe we're just trying to get to the digital resolution that will fool our ears into thinking we're listening to analog. I have no doubt that it can be done, but when? I'm convinced that a major factor in CDs success is the convenience factor not any real sonic factor, considering that most CD players are inadequate at reproducing music at any satisfying level. Even with SACD and DVDA, doesn't the trend seem to be going in the opposite direction, ower resolution and more compression? Will there be a time when very few people remember what good sound was all about?

I have difficulty deciding whether all this format stuff is a marketing ploy or an actual technologic break through. Figure, the resolution of cd compared to vinyl (despite other drawbacks) is not an improvement at all. Is that what we're doing, trying to get closer to vinyl resolution in a digital format? How much digital resolution would that take? Maybe we're just trying to get to the digital resolution that will fool our ears and brain into thinking we're listening to analog. I have no doubt that it can be done, but when? I'm convinced that a major factor in CD's success is more the convenience factor than any real sonic factor, considering that most CD players are inadequate at reproducing music at any satisfying level. Even with SACD and DVDA, doesn't the trend seem to be going in the opposite direction, lower resolution and more compression? Will there be a time when very few people remember what good sound was all about? I plan on sticking to CD's for the foreseeable future and if my Luddite tendencies get the better of me I may even retreat to the warm arms of vinyl. The vinyl stuff (cartrdges, arms, turntables, preamps) has never been better. Nothing like this stuff existed when I gave up vinyl! I have purchased some of the best digital gear and have had it heavily modded but something is still missing!

Rja, I certainly do not see things as you do, I do find satisfaction in CD playback, as many others. Digital playback is just another form of music reproduction, I wouldn't say it is in 'competion' with analog playback. You assume the analog playback methods available are 'perfect', they are not. IMO digital playback created audiophiles, revived audiophiles or kept them interested. Sure, there are those, as yourselves that don't like it, but you still have LP's you can play.

If you don't care for digital playback, that is your right. The new formats are, amongst other things, trying to progress reproduction. I am sure others would like to add more to that but my point is noted.

Brianmgrarcom, You're certainly welcome to your opinion. I am not attempting to start an argument or change anyone elses opinions, I was merely expressing my opinion on this thread. If you like CDs; great, I'm glad you're happy. I have to admit a certain level of cynicism and skepticism in this digital format discussion. Yes, CDs can sound alright if you have an excellent CD (sound quality) and superb playback equipment. As for excellent sounding CDs there are definitely many out there but they are far outnumbered by the mediocre ones. And how many superb playback systems are out there? I would bet a small percentage compared to all the nasty sounding mass market (read cheap) CD players out there. How about the sound of a bad CD on a cheap player? My point is that most poeple don't care or don't know the difference. And, the trend seems to be toward lower resolution formats like MP3. If this is true how can DVDA or SCAD become successful as mass media? Basically I'm saying the demand of the masses does not exist for a higher resolution format. At the same time most audiophiles, including myself, are finding sonic fault wth standard CD word length and sampling frequency. The possiblity exists of course, of creating a demand. But a compelling reason, like the convenience factor of going from LP to CD or VHS to DVD doesn't exist. Even if demand were somehow created a higher resolution would have to be backward compatable. Not to mention the pricing structure of higher resolution formats. If most poeple could care less about sound quality why would they be willing to pay more for software?
Here's are the conditions, in my opinion, that would need to exist before DVDA or SACD could take off.
1. Find some compelling reason or benefit (other than sonic improvement) for consumers to switch to a new digital format in order to create demand.
2. Closely related to above: convince the mass market that the new
format is not merely a marketing ploy to replace old formats and thus increase corporate profits. This one involves trust, a real tough one.
3. Backward compatablity; ie. ability to play CDs. Again, closely related to #2.
4. Pricing structure for high resolution hardware and software similar to current pricing of CDs and equipment.
5. Selection of DVDA, SACD or another format as the industry
standard format for the foreseeable future. No one wants to be the sucker who owns the losers (read Beta) hardware and software.
Remember Minidisc, DAT and the Digital Cassette? Are you a gambler?