The Super Audio CD format is still being pushed in an aim to be the successor to the Audio CD. Several new manufacturers such as TEAC, Cary and Goldmund have now launched their brand of SA-CD players and music companies including Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group are continuing to offer high fidelity stereo/surround sound SA-CD titles.
According to the RIAA, 1.3 million SA-CD albums have shipped in the US in 2003. 12 million SA-CD discs have been sold since its launch with the leader being the Rolling Stone's "Remastered Series selling over 2.2 million copies on SA-CD. Upcoming SA-CD titles include Sting's "Brand New Day" and several other popular artists.
So far over 2,000 SA-CD titles are available worldwide with around further 100 new titles being sold worldwide each month. Approximately half contain surround sound tracks with 240 been released by Sony music over the past 4.5 years. Currently there are 26 manufacturers offering Super Audio CD compatible equipment comprising a total of 118 products.
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Besides the traditional CE manufacturers who continue to launch products at a wide range of price points, several high-end companies, such as Cary, Goldmund and TEAC recently introduced players to the market. And music companies, like ABKCO Music & Records, Sony Music Entertainment (SME), and Universal Music Group (UMG) continue to offer a variety of noteworthy stereo and multichannel surround titles. Sales of SACD titles remain strong, with several milestone recordings leading the way, including the Rolling Stones' "Remastered" Series (with more than 2.2 million units sold), Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" (800,000) and ABKCO's Sam Cooke reissue series (300,000). In fact, according to year-end statistics published by the Recording Industry Association of America, more than 1.3 million SA-CD albums were shipped in the U.S. in 2003. This brings the total installed base of SA-CD discs to over 12 million (life to date). Read the full article here. |
While both Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio aim to offer high fidelity multi channel audio playback, both have its useful features and drawbacks. Both are incompatible with each other, have strong anti-piracy measures, require suitable playback equipment and require either analogue amplifiers or DRM compatible digital speaker systems.
DVD Audio can be backwards compatible with DVD players with a compatible session and CD players as a double sided disc. DVD-Audio discs can be played back in a PC with DVD-Audio playback software. However while SA-CD can have a 2nd layer for CD players, only SA-CD specialised equipment can playback titles and consumers cannot record home made SA-CD's. SA-CD's cannot be read let alone played in a PC.
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Source: Music Industry News Network
