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SACD finally taking-off? non-classical listeners

It looks like SACD might finally lift-off this fall with the Rolling Stones releases. The engineer claims the SACD revisions sound 40% better than the standard on these hybrids.(Ice Magazine)
Meanwhile, there are some interesting releases on DVD-A that are too interesting to forego; Fleetwood Mac "Rumours", and "Crowded House". Both redbook versions of these discs are non-listenable with good equipment.
What is the answer for a "2-Channel Person" who wants great sound without the "snap, crackle, and pop" of the LP?
Is there confidence that both of these formats will exist in two years?
Is the purchase of a dual SACD/DVD-A player foolish, or the only answer?

Please advise,
CB
cbucki
bomarc
501 posts
 
Albert: A very revealing anecdote about the Walton tape. Many audiophiles want to blame the technology for the quality of the software we can buy. But too often it's the mastering work that gets in the way. I'd bet the human element would have done just as much damage in the analogue age, however.
lngbruno
210 posts
 
Albert,

I agree with you on the mastering issue. I have some JVC "xrcd" 20 bit K2 cds that sound great. Why can't this software format be the standard for the mastering engineers to follow and make us 2-channel lovers happy?

My cd collection is about 2,500 and there are many cds that were on labels that are no longer in business. The possibilty of those Artist cds coming out from another label in the DVD-A or SACD format is nil.

What were they thinking??

lngbruno
210 posts
 
Albert,

I agree with you on the mastering issue. I have some JVC "xrcd" 20 bit K2 cds that sound great. Why can't this software format be the standard for the mastering engineers to follow and make us 2-channel lovers happy?

My cd collection is about 2,500 and there are many cds that were on labels that are no longer in business. The possibilty of those Artist cds coming out from another label in the DVD-A or SACD format is nil.

What were they thinking??

bomarc
501 posts
 
Lngbruno: XRCD is not a "format," it's just a marketing term for a very good mastering process involving a little bit of technology and a lot of care. Given that there are few audiophiles out there, it would never pay the majors to spend the extra time/money to do better mastering. So you'll just have to enjoy XRCDs when you can find them.

As for your other concern, even if a label has gone under, somebody owns that music. Rest assured, if they decide there's a market for it on a new format, they'll bring it out. (But don't expect SACD or DVD-A to solve the mastering problem.)
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
A mastering Question:
How is it managed to transfer larger number of digital samples to the smaller number of digital samples to meet red-book CD standard?
Let's have the case that we have two recorded samples together that need to be one sample on the CD with one amplitude that has a value of 2 bits and another amplitude has a value of 20 bits?
There are only three answers:
1. Have one sample with 2 bits amplitude
2. Have one sample with 20 bits amplitude
3. Have one sample with 11 bits amplitude(average)

In all three cases we implement a huge error transfering these samples by either loosing too much information or adding distortions and colourations.

Wouldn't that be easier to transfer it to analogue prior to mastering?
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