[Castanza]

I just called our local Sony Dealer, claims to be factory direct. He said that there are not any sacd players available through Sony anymore. He carried them up to last year. He said he read in a trade magazine, that they were discontinuing making the SACD software. Is this true?

[Rob Babcock]

I haven't heard that from any credible source, but there is supposed to be an SACD II coming out pretty soon.  This has been designed with video to basically compete w/DVD-A.  Of course, no one I know gives a damn about the video content of DVD-A, including myself: I only turn on the monitor if the disc won't play automatically.  Brilliant, huh?

So, is Sony sabotaging SACD?  Do the Powers That Be want high res digital MC & stereo to fail?

[SWG255]

If Sony is trying to kill off SACD at this juncture, they're either throwing in the towel vs. DVD-A (I hope not), or they've really gone off the end. It seems obvious to me that hi-res formats are one of the few things the record industry has left to save their current marketing and distribution method of business. Right now it's not easy to make a bit-for-bit copy of these discs, I'd think the record companies would be trying to get everybody and their proverbial brother to buy a hi-res player and lots of discs for it.

I haven't heard that from any credible source, but there is supposed to be an SACD II coming out pretty soon.  This has been designed with video to basically compete w/DVD-A.  Of course, no one I know gives a damn about the video content of DVD-A, including myself: I only turn on the monitor if the disc won't play automatically.  Brilliant, huh?

So, is Sony sabotaging SACD?  Do the Powers That Be want high res digital MC & stereo to fail?

[rexxe]

Supposedly SACD II has a stronger encryption technique than SACD as well so as to prevent copying....

--Rexxe

[Rob Babcock]

Wouldn't be suprised if stronger copy protection was an issue.  Still I hate to see them change now- people are just starting to realize SACD exists, why the hell pull the rug now?  Computer geeks are used to things having a very short shelf life, but buyers of consumer audio aren't going to be willing to repurchase their entire catalogs every 5 year!

This could really leave the door open for DVD-A, but the formats backers seem to myopic to take advantage of the situation.

[Sa-dono]

I have not heard anything about Sony dropping SACD. I would find it highly unlikely that they would do so yet.

As far as copy protection goes, anything the industry tries will be useless. Why? People will always find a way to hack the protection. Also, and more importantly, as long as you can listen to your music through analog outputs, someone can make a copy in the same way. Does no one remember tapes? While it would be more time consuming, it would not prevent piracy (as obviously sound quality is not very important).

[randytsuch]

I just called our local Sony Dealer, claims to be factory direct. He said that there are not any sacd players available through Sony anymore. He carried them up to last year. He said he read in a trade magazine, that they were discontinuing making the SACD software. Is this true?

I have heard the opposite.
Sony is coming out with a new ES SACD player, here is a thread on it at AA, http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/hirez/messages/160331.html

Sony is also pushing the all in one machines that have SACD players, and include a digital preamp/amp.  People here have given these machines good reviews, especially give the price.

I have also heard Sony is finally going to start making hybrid SACD's, and will stop making single layer SACD only disks.

There are more and more companies making universal players, so it would be strange for Sony to throw in the towel now.

Randy

[Ears]

Your local Sony dealer told you an obvious lie.

 There was a poll recently that had 32% of audiophools owning sa-cd and only around 5% or less owning dvd-a.

Around 50% had neither and another 15-20 % had plans to buy an sacd player.

Don't quote these exact #'s but there at least close to the results.

There was also mention of 59 different sacd players available from at least 14 manufactuers and several manufactuers about to release new models.
If someone feels like checking the exact #'s, I believe the survey is available online at Stereophile.

sa-cd 2 was rumoured to happen in september and I have not heard a factual thing about it....more like another lie.


Not only is sa-cd selling to audiophools, it holds a considerable advantage in models to choose from and titles over dvd-a, and the #'s reflect this.