Second-hand DVDAs for $10 US? -- Hey, I could handle that! But have the discs been out long enough for there to be a second-hand market yet?

At the _one_ store I found in Halifax, they had, maybe, a grand total of about 20 DVDAs. Not much to choose from. For many people, for now at least, it will have to be mail-order or bust. (Cheaper by mail too). I would really liked to have gotten a copy of Carly Simon's "No Secrets". That's a beautiful album.


Most of what I'd like to have can be found on Rhino Records re-releases, (at $17.98 US which is far better than the $40 Canadian I have to pay at the local store for the same album), but the buggers won't sell mail-order to Canadians. (!!)

I had that album once (Carly Simon) on stereo vinyl and Quad four-channel vinyl. (And music CD and audio cassette, and yes, I even think eight-track cartridge. Remember those awful things?)

Hopefully things will pick up and prices will come down, or some intelligent, enterprising young programmer will invent some nifty new 'back-up' software. (Although I think that's a bit far off yet).

Bring On The Discs! -- Klingy --

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 13. October 2003 @ 03:46

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 21. October 2003 @ 19:49

Hi Wilkes! (Do any good 5.1 surround mixes lately?) <--- (Just a joke) Good to 'see' you !

I wouldn't count Sony out too quickly - the figures you quote may have little of substancial consequence to do with SACD in general. They've weathered many storms in the past, and risen above several in-house format failures. (Mini-disc, an inferior digital system with it's improved yet inadequate ATRAC compression system, failed in North America and much of Europe, yet still flourishes in Asian countries).

Sony, if they (wisely) will graciously accept 'our' way of thinking, could turn out to be one of our closest allies. Certainly, they have a massive music catalogue much admired in the world, and the technical expertise to turn out TOP-Flight DVDA releases. Surely, they, along with the other Major Record Labels are aware of the Gold Mine they are sitting on, if they're _that_ worried about their $Billion 1st-quarter losses.

Direct, 1-to-1 digital copying. That's what it's all about. That's what's got them all sweating bullets. All you have to do to see the fear in action, is to take a look at the back panel of your Hi-Res player, or take a look at the instruction manual. (See the fear below).

And Warner Brothers too, is protective of their releases to a Paranoid degree. (They paste Walmart-like magnetic strips underneath the clear plastic jewel-box cases which their DVDA releases come in) to make sure nobody steals them from the store. And BMG are 'scared' shitless. And _all_ the Majors. And with good reason.

Title-wise, we have [squat] to choose from right now, even after all these years of format existence, because the labels are fully aware that it's just a matter of time before all-in-one 'complete-solution' backup software packages hit the Web. Agreed? 'They' thought CSS was uncrackable.

And one's computer (sound card) doesn't even have to support Hi-Res playback - it (the computer) merely needs to be able to copy data to blank discs, a relatively simple task.

It's gonna happen. We just don't know when.

In the case of the RIAA-umbrella of labels, it's just a question of greed vs. fear of easy at-home duplication. At what point will their GREED override their intensive DRM initiatives?

Just a matter of time! :-)

From my Pioneer's instruction Manual, witness the Fear in-action:

[From an FAQ section]:

Q: My AV receiver is definitely compatible with 96/88.2 kHz Linear PCM audio, but it doesn't seem to work with this player. What's wrong?

A: For digital copy-protection purposes, some 96/88.2 kHz DVD discs only output digital audio _downsampled_ to 48/44.1 kHz. This is not a malfunction.

To fully take advantage of the high sampling rate audio, [you must] connect the analog audio outputs to your amplifier/receiver.

Q: Why can't I hear SACD audio through the digital outputs?

A: SACD audio is only available through the analog outputs. This is not a malfunction. Some DVD-Audio discs too, only output audio through the analog outputs.

Q: Is it better to listen to DVD-Audio discs through the analog outputs?

A: Some DVD-Audio discs do not output _anything_ through the digital outputs, and multichannel discs are downmixed to stereo for the digital output... [[**Restriction Alert! - DRM In Action**]] ...In addition, high sampling rate DVD-Audio discs (higher than 96 kHz) automatically downsample audio output from the digital outputs.

Using the multichannel analog audio outputs for DVD-Audio have none of these limitations.

Q: My DVD-Audio disc starts playing, but then suddenly stops.

A: The disc may have been illegally copied.

(Well, it's just a matter of time before that little hurdle is overcome too.)

But you knew all this stuff anyway Wilkes. I just throw it out there to anyone who may be contemplating purchasing a new Hi-Res player to let them know what they will be getting.

Not that they shouldn't get a genuine High-Resolution player (they should!). High-Res discs are coming. No question.... they're coming now albeit at a snail's pace. And I'd be fibbing if I didn't mention that I am enjoying this Pioneer player more and more every day! <gg>

WheW! I sure have strayed off-topic again on this one! (So, where are all the new DVDA rock releases anyway?)

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 22. October 2003 @ 05:23

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1. November 2003 @ 07:51