Based on the data at sa-cd.net, here are the number of new releases through the first 6 months of each respective years.... At the current rate of release, we're looking at a year with over 700 new releases. Granted, much of this "resurgence" is fueled by the SACD programs in Japan. Still, at this relatively late period for SACD, I didn't expected such a "comeback".
It's kind of a chicken/egg thing - the explosion of releases has helped stimulate interest but I don't think it will ever be more than a 5000-pressed-type format.
You understand this is just in Japan, right? Some of these are simply bump ups from PCM transfers made in the USA and duped for Japan. Pointless. Also, unless you have a wonderful player like a first generation Sony which is a true DSD player, your player simply converts the signal to PCM and spits it out which is truly defeating the original purpose.
So if the only people getting the benefit of SACD are the .00001% that may have a first gen Sony SACD player, why did you take the time to do the NKC's in SACD? Was it for the 5 guys in the country with that player? Or are you exaggerating when you say SACD is 'defeating the purpose' if listened to on a modern SACD player? Not meaning to sound confrontational...I really would like your thoughts on this...
It's pretty standard...North American SACDs are about $30-$35 and Japanese ones are closer to $55 each. Obviously there are exceptions but usually the pricing follows those price points..
I'm not surprised. I'm more surprised that Sony seemed to abandon the format a few years ago, presumably because it didn't explode into the marketplace like CD did. Then again they didn't market it well (at all) and there was a competing format (DVD-A). SACD should have been the logical successor to CD, and should have been treated as such instead of being treated like a red-headed stepchild with kid gloves. And Sony doesn't make the only true DSD player, do they? I thought most SACD players did this and only a few converted to PCM, esp with the advent of HDMI connectivity.
Japan Sony Music never abandoned SACD; it continued to release new SACD titles, mostly jazz or classical, until May of this year. I don't know why Japan Sony Music stopped releasing new SACD (at least according to its website). May Japan Sony is allocating SACD production to produce those SHM-SACDs? Aren't the Oppo Blu-ray players true DSD players? Even those "lowly" Sony Blu-ray players are true DSD players when connected by their HDMI outputs. I have the last Onkyo DVD-based uni player, the 506, and it's a true DSD player with either its analog or HDMI outputs.
First, most SACD player don't convert to PCM, and second, even if it does, it's still hi-rez PCM and better than CD.
I really hope it's a new start for that format. I supported this trend however by buying very recently a very fine SACD player (of Arcam); my first one. And at least 40 old and new SACDs in the last month! Pixies! Dead Can Dance! Bob Marley! Talk Talk! Human League! T Rex! Fairport Convention! Yes, even the R Stones which I'm not really into! Dear commercial market, do you hear my demand? I want good money to spend!
I've owned like four SACD players. None were Sony and none converted DSD to PCM for the analog out. DSD-ready standalone DACs are coming stateside too. Weiss before the end of the year, I'm told. A few others .. Already available in Japan.
Indeed. Instead if having japanese labels release $50 stereo-only SACDs from 24/96 PCM copies of the analogue masters, they should release them as 24/96 downloads costing $15-20, through HDtracks or even iTunes.
Except MoFi, Analogue Productions and a bunch of shm-sacd's. Really disappointed with the Warner dvd-a to sacd-reissues.
I do find a subtle benefit in PCM converted to DSD and released on SACD. Of course production in DSD without PCM in the chain has better results, but I wouldn't be so quick to write off the Warner JSACDs until we actually hear them. Edit: and yes I'm pleasantly surprised at the volume of SACDs being released, especially the APO stuff.