sz
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Post by sz on Sept 6, 2014 9:17:31 GMT -5
Does anyone know if Emotiva (my favorite company) is developing ERC4 with SACD playback capability? I own lots of SACDs and was always interested in a dedicated player that came from Emotiva. Anyone hear that this is in developing stages? Would be a perfect match for XMC-1!
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Post by MukAudio on Sept 6, 2014 9:27:30 GMT -5
I was surprised that the ERC-3 was made (although I think that was partially due to lack of parts availability in the ERC-2). With everyone going to digital files and media servers, I would be surprised to see a 4.
The SACD functionality has been requested before. As I recall, the licensing was cost prohibitive.
Mark
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 10:00:28 GMT -5
The ERC-3, as I am sure you know plays red book layer of hybrid SACDs, but having full blown SACD capability would be nice. Some think, SACD is on it's way out. But I am not so sure as it seems it is still limping forward. But since BD Audio is coming on, I would like to see Emotiva make a dedicated SACD/BD disk audio machine that is an audio player only. Stripped down with no video circuits at all. No built in dac, with all circuits unnecessary for audio reproduction removed. Just a super quality transport that uses an external DAC, pre/pro, or A/V for it's sound engine. With the advent of the Exasound e28 hopefully we will see more mult-channel DACs.....again making on a dedicated "audio only" SACD/BD HD player only the transport necessary.
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sz
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Post by sz on Sept 6, 2014 13:06:33 GMT -5
The ERC-3, as I am sure you know plays red book layer of hybrid SACDs, but having full blown SACD capability would be nice. Some think, SACD is on it's way out. But I am not so sure as it seems it is still limping forward. But since BD Audio is coming on, I would like to see Emotiva make a dedicated SACD/BD disk audio machine that is an audio player only. Stripped down with no video circuits at all. No built in dac, with all circuits unnecessary for audio reproduction removed. Just a super quality transport that uses an external DAC, pre/pro, or A/V for it's sound engine. With the advent of the Exasound e28 hopefully we will see more mult-channel DACs.....again making on a dedicated "audio only" SACD/BD HD player only the transport necessary. How could the license be cost inhibitory when there is no real crazy demand for SACD format to begin with. I'm not sure how much Bluray audio will catch on but I'd think bluray licensing fee would be far greater than SACDs. Given that Bluray might be ditched all together in favor of direct streaming or downloading services, I'm not sure such a transport would be even worthwhile from a Emotiva's business standpoint. Since CDs and SACDs have been around for so long, I'd think supporting SACD makes sense in next version of ERC. As an audiophile, how many of you would rather listen to SACD's multichannel, immersive sound VS just 2 channel hybrid SACD which is essentially the same as listening to regular CD? Why tease by offering support for hybrid SACD and wimp out on supporting SACDs which matters most for audiophiles? At the end of the day, Emotiva is founded upon the idea and passion to serve audiophiles of 21st century right? |
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sz
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Posts: 54
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Post by sz on Sept 6, 2014 13:14:07 GMT -5
The ERC-3, as I am sure you know plays red book layer of hybrid SACDs, but having full blown SACD capability would be nice. Some think, SACD is on it's way out. But I am not so sure as it seems it is still limping forward. But since BD Audio is coming on, I would like to see Emotiva make a dedicated SACD/BD disk audio machine that is an audio player only. Stripped down with no video circuits at all. No built in dac, with all circuits unnecessary for audio reproduction removed. Just a super quality transport that uses an external DAC, pre/pro, or A/V for it's sound engine. With the advent of the Exasound e28 hopefully we will see more mult-channel DACs.....again making on a dedicated "audio only" SACD/BD HD player only the transport necessary. How could the license be cost inhibitory when there is no real crazy demand for SACD format to begin with. I'm not sure how much Bluray audio will catch on but I'd think bluray licensing fee would be far greater than SACDs. Given that Bluray might be ditched all together in favor of direct streaming or downloading services, I'm not sure such a transport would be even worthwhile from a Emotiva's business standpoint. Since CDs and SACDs have been around for so long, I'd think supporting SACD makes sense in next version of ERC. As an audiophile, how many of you would rather listen to SACD's multichannel, immersive sound VS just 2 channel hybrid SACD which is essentially the same as listening to regular CD? Why tease by offering support for hybrid SACD and wimp out on supporting SACDs which matters most for audiophiles? At the end of the day, Emotiva is founded upon the idea and passion to serve audiophiles of 21st century right? There are a great deal of reference quality recordings on SACDs made by Pentatone Classics and some of them even make use of historic, legendary quadraphonic recordings made by engineers from Philips in mid of 1900s, and they sound fantastic to this day. Personally, I have enjoyed bluray audios made by 2L studio which jump to my mind as being reference quality material. What are some of your bluray audios that you'd consider reference worthy? Any suggestions are appreciated. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 13:46:04 GMT -5
sz - "Given that Bluray might be ditched all together in favor of direct streaming or downloading services, I'm not sure such a transport would be even worthwhile from a Emotiva's business standpoint." ============================================================================ This is a good point, and I think that even a combo/stripped down SACD/BD Audio player might only work if it was really cost effective to do....and even then....  The question is...where is the market going? By what medium will music providers make the most money? I believe that because of streaming that even for the mighty Oppo time may be limited. At first there was black/white TV. Then color. Then HD. Then 5.1...ect., ect. A lot of advancements in streaming in recent years. I believe that audio streaming is advancing equally as well. Many companies are jumping into the "streaming pool" and more will come. It's becoming a technology to focus on. First it was MP3's at 192kbps (I believe). Then 320kbps. Now 44.1/16. Qobuz was talking about that it would not be hard for them to stream at 96/24. Eventually, we will get to have 192/24, and DSD in multi-channel. Where where physical media then? In a museum? |
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Post by AudioHTIT on Sept 6, 2014 13:53:24 GMT -5
But think about the licensing cost, the reference universal player (Oppo) starts at $500, one of the most competitive brands feature wise is Sony - who was part of the development group for both SACD and Blu-ray, and presumably either owns the licenses or gets a good deal on them. This certainly helps Sony keep the price down on their players (and drives the Oppo up).
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Post by jmilton on Sept 6, 2014 14:21:01 GMT -5
Shiny discs are not going away. Neither are LPs, for that matter. No one will buy a BD Audio only device, because BD audio discs contain menus, pictures and often lyrics.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 14:25:16 GMT -5
But think about the licensing cost, the reference universal player (Oppo) starts at $500, one of the most competitive brands feature wise is Sony - who was part of the development group for both SACD and Blu-ray, and presumably either owns the licenses or gets a good deal on them. This certainly helps Sony keep the price down on their players (and drives the Oppo up). Good point! I never thought about Sony having an advantage in this light. But you are right. I have found the Sony S790 a force to reckon with at 149.00 |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 14:37:44 GMT -5
Shiny discs are not going away. Neither are LPs, for that matter. No one will buy a BD Audio only device, because BD audio discs contain menus, pictures and often lyrics. e "No one will buy a BD Audio only device" - Maybe not the masses, but audiophiles might? Many audiophile audio devices don't have visual capability. Those visuals are not important to me for SACD. Neither are they for me on BD Audio. Eliminating video circuits could reduce cost and improve fidelity. It could me done. But ultimately I think you are right. Most marketing to be profitable targets what the masses want. |
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The question is...where is the market going? By what medium will music providers make the most money? I believe that because of streaming that even for the mighty Oppo time may be limited. 
