Bly Ray audio does it have a future

[naitphile]

I have dabbled with sacd but always found it a bit of a faff as I did to reset the channel levels after telly use in the end deciding it is easier to use the av for telly and films and the hifi for music...

Today i decided to try again and listen to 'songs from the big chair' on blu ray audio....sounds very very good could be prepared to use this more........but will it take off...anyone else tried it?

[PaulStewart]

Hi Robert,

When the record companies launched Pur Audio on Blu Ray I was sent a few for review, the craziest was when they asked me to write about the ability of the new format to reproduce fine nuances of sound, they sent me White Light/White Heat by Velvet Underground and Never Mind the Bollox Here come the Sex Pistols..... As I said to the PR people at the time these were just as grungy as the original Vinyl but hardy definitive. Later I got some better stuff and it is as good as any other Hi Res digital file in sound quality. Nicer than CD but I will stick to vinyl

[naitphile]

hmmmm there are more offerings out there now (still only about 300) but not all have 5.1 dts, it was interesting the children enjoyed the sounds coming discreetly from different speakers....but I am inclined to agree with you it will be hard to maintain a music collection across disparate formats

[PaulStewart]

I have the 5.1 SACD of Big Guns the career spaning double album of Rory Gallager. This sounds so much better in stereo :laugh: Thing is, the tracks never were intended for surround sound. It's a hybrid and frankly the CD layer, as its un-pissed about with sounds better than the 5.1 hi-res layer mixed down to stereo

[roob]

Rush's early back catalogue will be released next year on vinyl and Pure Audio Blu-ray, all 14 albums.
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/rush-hi-def/
I have about 8 Blu-ray audio discs they are all excellent apart from Bob Marleys Legend.
I only play them back in hires 2 channel mode in the main system.

[Accudazed]

"Bly Ray audio does it have a future?" Sadly, I don't think so. CD's, Blu Ray, SACD are all living on borrowed time I'm afraid as EVERYTHING moves to PCs and internet land.

SACD might survive due to its 'audiophile' credentials but that will invariably mean a limited catalogue and sky high prices. I've seen new SACDs selling for over £50 which is just too much.
(NOTE - Newton's First Law of Audiophile Hifi: PURCHASE PRICE = genuine retail price + three naughts)

The way things are going is a worry for me:


Vinyl - expensive (although you get free snap, crackle and pop!), limited choice
SACD - expensive, limited choice
Internet streaming - will become the dominant format for music. Cheap(ish) now but wait till the buggers have full control...
The next 'big thing' which forces you to throw everything away and start again


So, enjoy Blu Ray whilst you can and stock up on spare lasers for your player!

Cheers

Steve

[Macca]

"Bly Ray audio does it have a future?" Sadly, I don't think so. CD's, Blu Ray, SACD are all living on borrowed time I'm afraid as EVERYTHING moves to PCs and internet land.



This is true. But it will take a while yet.

[struth]

dont think cd and dvd etc will die the death of vhs. theres too many discs around. high end may become shorter on the ground and thus more expensive. cd.dvd.bluray.cdrom will outlast me.

goes with the disc staying that variations like sacd etc will remain a high end and expensive option but as long az discs are with us people will provide hi res stuff for a limited market just like high end vinyl

which i'll grant you may not be saying much:eek:

[Jimbo]

Don't think blu ray audio will succeed, bit too late to the digital party. For those who like the 010101010 stuff I think Downloads especially high Rez stuff and probably streaming will be the future.

For myself, i will stick to vinyl as I can see there will be plenty enough of it around to see me out even though I wont be able to get everything I want on this ancient format:)

[Macca]

My impression from reading the forums is that even the serious enthusiasts are going into streaming at an increasing rate. Even if they are at retirement age. If the old guard are going that way and the younger generation will start off with that then that doesn't leave many 'physical media' types left.

Except conversely all those old guard brigade who ditched their vinyl when CD came about are now getting back into it and buying turntables to replace the one they sold 30 years ago, as an adjunct to streaming. And the kids are buying vinyl too. So who knows what will happen there but it still seems to me like physical digital media must die within a generation if not sooner.

[struth]

no doubt that phyisical media is on a steep decline re selling but there are so many out there that i dont see a lack of machines being an issue as happened to tape both audio and video.

[Macca]

You can still buy an Elcassette or a Betamax vcr if you want one so I agree all the legacy stuff will be around for years yet.