I wont even ask about prince since his albums havent even been digitally remastered on cd yet but where are some of the other artists at with releasing their catalogue in 5.1 or 7.1 or whatever surround sound. Queen released the Game and ANATO on 5.1 and just released A night at the opera again this week for the 30th anniversary on dvd with video's for all the tracks and an audio commentary. I don't know I guess the whole dvd-a thing probably won't catch on. Don't ask me what will catch on because I dont know. It definitely wont be digital music via the internet, I dont want to say the quality will never match disks but its probably a few yrs away atleast. Some advice, I listen to records for all older albums because when they get remastered and people, usually not involved in the original mixing of the album remix them, you may or may not get the same sounding composition. That's one reason I hear things on records I dont hear as clearly on cd's. Logically, it's not because records are a superior format but because the mixes are slightly off...

"Superior" audiophile formats never became a mainstream choice, and digital downloading is already the way... no more "predicting" needed there.

Surround music formats, such as DVD-Audio, and SACD, simply did not catch on with the general public. The releases have slowed to a trickle (despite such excellent product like the new Talking Heads box set).

I think 2 things have happened. One, listeners are getting used to the diminished audio quality from downloads and I-pods. And two, to fully enjoy those formats, the person has to, in the words of one Home theater magazine :"sit still like a deer in headlights" to fully appreciate surround music, and most listeners do not get their music that was anymore. Fewpeople actually sit and listen in their home, instead doing most of their listening in the car or through portable players

Forreal that's why I buy CDs... I can listen to them in portable devices, my car, and my home stereo (which is rare).

And try taking one of those sa-dvd-r-a's to a DJ and find out the radio station or bar can't play it.

jjhunsecker said:

That's the killer right there.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

jjhunsecker said:

I agree with this though I am one of the few that enjoys 5.1. I have many cds/dvds in this format. It's a selling point for me. But I enjoy sitting down and actually listening to a album. It's an old school thing. Those who are old enough,will remember the excitement of a getting a new album and sitting there with like-minded friends listening to the whole release, from start to finish. It made the whole thing an expierence and not so disposable. But as stated earlier most people don't listen to music that way anymore. Seems everything is instant gratification.
A good 5.1 cd/dvd will make you feel like your "inside" the music, if it's done right. Not all are. And I wouldn't say it's for everyone.
Good examples are:
Queen - A Night at the Opera
Bjork - Vespertine
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi...
Peter Gabriel - Play (DVD)
NO Quarter - Unledded (DVD)
just to name a few...

id rather sit down and listen to a record from start to finish, the sound of vinyl is warm and beautiful and clean

TheRealFiness said:

and crackly, and skippy

CinisterCee said:

if u dont take care of yo shit then yeah

no , eventually records will get warn out , no matter how good you treat them
[Edited 11/22/05 8:49am]

Dewrede said:

for real.

I for one love both sacd and dvd-audio, when done correctly it can bring out things that the stereo mix only hinted at. When I got into this last year xmas I thought I was a 2 channel purist cause most of the 5.1 mixs I had heard were not discrete but audience ambience. Now I would say a 5.1 mix if my preference

Music is a personal choice. I have an 40gig ipod and it has its use for me ( gym or when getting together with friends to listen to music, but the sound even @ 192AAC is still ok @ best.

I prefer a great mix and mastering of a redbook cd to itunes. That being said A universal player that will suffice 75% of listeners is avail from pioneer for $178. While is suffers from some bass management and time alignment it will get the job done for a high rez curiosity

A list of a few titles which are jaw droppers in my household for demo with friends are:

Talking Heads-Brick (this is a must have period)

Pink Floyd-dark side. although it is in Billy Joel territory for being completely ruined by radio playing the same 5 songs this mix is damn good.

Beck Sea Change- superb with the best surround discrete mix I have ever experienced

Steely Dan-Gaucho.... just warm and the background horns with Michael McD voice perfect.

NIN-downward... is pretty explosive

My advice is try it out and see. For less than $500 beans you can have a universal player and 10 discs to try out.