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WelcomeWelcome to PS3SACD.com. This site aims to be the most extensive Super Audio CD resource for PlayStation3 users. Considering it seems to be the only dedicated SA-CD site for PS3, we're confident it actually is.
NewsMultiple new bundles Several new bundles have been announced, all of them with the current (SACD-less) 80GB model: Two in Europe, both priced €399; one with inFamous, the other with Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty. The latter includes a second DualShock3 controller. The US gets a $399 bundle that includes MLB09 The Show and a Blu-ray Disc of the Quantum of Solace movie.
New details about Marantz SACD/BD player New details of Marantz' pretty universal player UD9004 (earlier coverage here) have surfaced, including this picture which nicely shows an equally sized Super Audio CD and Blu-ray Disc logo snugly sitting side by side.
More pictures, including rear panel and inside views, can be found here. The UD9004 may not be going to be the most expensive SACD player ever, it will likely be the priciest BD player so far at some 5,500 euro. Judging by the back panel, this unit will fit excellently with the AV8003 pre-amp and MM8003 multichannel power amplifier combination (previous coverage here), as opposed to the earlier SA8003 SACD player which is stereo only. Marantz' other BD players including the new BD7004 don't feature SACD playback. Meanwhile there is still no announcement of BD/SACD player from Pioneer or Sony, other than PS3.
DSD downloads by 2L Norwegian music label 2L, who we've covered frequently following their string of releases on dual-disc (no, not DualDisc) SACD + Blu-ray Disc of high-resolution multichannel recordings, offer downloads in many formats on their website. These include both high-resolution and multichannel options, such as 24-bit 192kHz stereo FLAC (losslessly compressed PCM) and 24-bit 96kHz 5.1-channel FLAC. Most interestingly however, 2L also offers some DSD downloads of the Nordic Sound sampler of 2009. Unfortunately, these files are not in the DSF flavour of DSD that PlayStation3 (and the Sony SCD-XA5400ES) can handle. 2L has not yet answered queries from us as to whether they'll consider issuing DSF files but when we discussed these downloads with an engineer at Korg (we asked "aren't these in professional DFF format instead of 'consumer' DSF format, making it impossible for PS3 owners to use these files?") he gave us the following interesting answer: "These are in DSDIFF format instead of DSF format. AudioGate can handle both formats, and can create DSD-Disc from any format including PCM using its strong format converter. VAIO can also play back DSDIFF files as well as DSF files, so I think it's better to have DSDIFF downloads than having nothing at all. DSF file format is quite a new format, and currently, there aren't any software or recorders (besides ours) in the studio or in the record company that can handle DSF format, which makes it hard to start DSF downloads. With the debut of AudioGate v2.0 at the AES Munich, the industry is now aware of DSF/DSD-Disc, and it's starting to change. Other companies who have been developing DSD equipment are trying to support DSF, so I believe it's just a matter of time." If you're interested in creating DSD Discs to play on your PS3, check our DSD Disc guide.
New DSD writing software from Korg and Sony Korg has issued a new version of AudioGate (v2.0.0) which enables you to burn a DSD Disc as well as an audio CD with ease. All you have to do is to import your recordings, insert a blank disc, and hit the newly added "Burn Disc" button. AudioGate will do the rest for you, and you'll get a DSD Disc which can be played on PS3 -- all models, not only SACD-capable models -- and Sony's SCD-XA5400 ES series SACD player.
You can download this software for the following platforms: Sony meanwhile has released an update of the DSD Direct Writing software for VAIO PCs, version 1.0.00.04130. It solves the issue of not being able to create a DSD Disc after PxEngine is installed.
New 2L title 2L, the classical music label from Norway that released the first music-only Blu-ray Disc, bundled with a hybrid SACD, has issued a fifth title in this dual format: Flute Mystery by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy.
All PS3 models will play most of the audio versions included in this; if you've got the right model you'll be able to access every individual version.
Minor firmware update SCE has issued system software version 2.76. According to their blog, it "improves the playback quality of some PS3 format software". That means games.
Oppo BDP-83 confirmed to play DVD-Audio Oppo's first Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-83 we reported about earlier, is finally confirmed to perform DVD-Audio playback -- a feature Oppo had all the while planned to implement but until now couldn't commit to. This makes it very much a universal disc player (counting out some obsolete formats like HD-DVD and LaserDisc) and the first BD player to support both SACD and DVD-Audio. The only other DVDA-compatible BD player thus far was the Panasonic DMP-BD10A. Other SACD-compatible BD players include those from Marantz, Denon, ezGear and of course PlayStation3. PS3 may be capable of playing DVD-Audio too but it will require a hack to do so. It's not yet proven it's feasible.
New Depeche Mode album out in 5.1 The band from Basildon have recorded a new studio album, Sounds of the Universe. Mute Records have released it today. The label has been a staunch supported of SACD, issuing their previous album Playing The Angel, the live album 101 and remasters of all nine preceding studio albums on the format (see the end of this page) but no more: SotU comes in various editions including, besides the basic CD album, a deluxe edition on CD+DVD and a deluxe box set consisting of three CDs, a DVD, two 84-page hardcover books, posters, postcards and other trinkets.
The DVD included with both deluxe editions contains a 5.1 mix of the entire album as well as the 'B-sides' from CD 2 in 24-bit 48kHz DTS and Dolby Digital. Perhaps the lack of an SACD edition should come as no surprise after Mute reissued Yazoo's complete works, In Your Room, on CD+DVD instead of SACD.
Pioneer introduces SACD player with DLNA Pioneer has announced a new SACD player for the Japanese market, or rather an SACD receiver because this device has an integrated amplifier. The product has an ethernet port and is DLNA-compliant. That doesn't mean however that it will send SACD music through the home network: Like PlayStation3, the PDX-Z10 is a DLNA client, not a server -- you can access media (DRM-free audio in MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and FLAC format) stored on your local network. We're still hoping a future PS3 software upgrade will add the server possibility.
An iPod connection is also integrated but it's not iPhone-compatible. An optional Bluetooth 2.0+EDR adapter is available separately. In the area of sound quality Pioneer claims use of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technology. We suspect this refers simply to the DSD processing. Note that the amplifier is stereo only.
New IR remote control options for PS3 In the beginning, there was the official Sony PS3 Blu-ray Disc remote. With this, you could conveniently use your PlayStation3's excellent media playback capabilities (including Super Audio CD and of course Blu-ray Disc) without having to resort to the awkward use of the game controller for this. Now while most consumer A/V devices use infra-red signals for remote control PS3 relies on BlueTooth. This eliminates line-of-sight problems associated with normal remotes but rules out use of most other remotes. A number of companies have devised different solutions for this. Nyko has introduced a dedicated product for PS3, the popular 'Blu Wave' remote which uses regular IR transfer and a receiver in the form of a USB stick to get the signal into the console. An affordable and effective solution.
Logitech is about to release a special PS3 adapter PS3 for their Harmony range of universal remotes, the E-R0001. The company has yet to issue detailed information about the introduction date, price and exactly which Harmony remotes will be compatible but has admitted the product plans after details leaked via the FCC site. With a Harmony remote and this adapter you should be able to conveniently control BD and, presumably, SACD playback on your PlayStation3 as well as a host of other devices. Audio Authority meanwhile has issued a more generic solution that should work with just about any programmable remote, the C-1071 BlueBeam IR-to-BlueTooth converter picured below. Don't be mislead by the USB connection here: that's a power supply option, as an alternative to a powerpack or batteries. The converter doesn't need to sit next to your console; it relays the control signals by up to 30 feet via a wireless BlueTooth connection. The adapter supports many functions including macros (that you can create using a PC set-up utility) and discrete on/off, making it a good choice for custom installers and system integrators.
Gundam on Blu-ray Disc + Blu-spec CD If you've got a PS3 and are interested in anime as well as Blu-spec CD (besides Blu-ray Disc) then this Japanese release may be just the thing for you: Gundam 00 Complete Best. The standard version consists of a CD and DVD but the deluxe version is issued by Sony on Blu-spec CD plus Blu-ray Disc.
Firmware v2.70 released SCE has today issued system software update version 2.70. In the audio department, they've added a Dynamic Normalizer. For video, they've added the possibility to offload movies purchased from the PlayStation store to an external hard disk. You can later restore these to the internal hard disk when you want to play them again. You can also transfer videos purchased from PSN for PSP* to PS3 for playback. Other improvements deal with online functionality. Japanese readers check this overview. * PlayStation Portable -- not Pit Signal Processing
2L continues BD/SACD releases Hot on the heels of the Nordic Sound sampler follows the fourth BD/SACD combo release by 2L, Mozart/Grieg vol II: Werke für 2 Klaviere by the Dena Piano Duo. The album with music in 5.1-channel and stereo, produced entirely in DXD, was released last Friday. Owners of the right PS3 models can enjoy every version included on either disc, of course.
25 jazz albums to be reissued on SACD After the Fantasy 45 series and 25 titles in the Blue Note Reissues, Analogue Productions will in the course of 2009 release 25 albums in the Impulse! Reissues series.
The first two titles by Gil Evans and Charles Mingus will be issued in April.
Marantz next with BD/DVD/SACD player After Denon, Oppo, ezGear and of course Sony's PS3 Marantz is the next brand to release a Blu-ray Disc player that supports SACD, reports bluray-disc.de. The UD9004 ('UD' stands for Universal Disc player, we presume) will be presented at this year's High End show in Munich. As soon as we've got pictures or pricing information we'll let you know.
New MoFi SACDs Pop/rock music news: Mobile Fidely Sound Labs will reissue several vintage albums on 'Ultradisc UHR™ SACD' shortly:
All are Original Master Recordings hence in stereo.
SACD/BD sampler from 2L Lyndberg Lyd, the Norwegian record company known in short as 2L, has released a third Super Audio CD/Blu-ray Disc combi pack. It's a sampler titled The Nordic Sound and it includes a selection of recordings by the artists from the 2L stable. Most tracks were originally recorded in DXD and have been converted to DSD for SACD and downsampled to 192 kHz for BD. The two discs contain the exact same music. The album is also available for download -- not in DSD format but as 320 kbps MP3 and 24-bit FLAC with a choice between 96 kHz stereo, 192 kHz stereo and 96 kHz 5.1-channel.
Earlier two-disc SACD/BD releases by 2L include Divertimenti and SONaR.
HDMI-to-analog audio converter Japanese company Lancerlink has introduced a nifty little device that a lot of people may have been waiting for. The HD-R121AD takes HDMI input, decodes multichannel LPCM (7.1, 5.1 or 2-channel) and feeds the decoded signal to multichannel analog audio outputs.
On the other side the HDMI signal comes out again so you can easily still feed it to a display, for instance.
This must be welcome news to owners of an AV receiver without HDMI who are not yet ready to replace their AVR but wish to use it with a PlayStation3 or other Blu-ray Disc player. It seems like an odd product choice to use mini jacks instead of regular 'RCA' type connectors but conversion cables are probably bundled. The dimensions of the box must have played a role here. Then again, why not make it a little larger to facilitate normal plugs? Wo do not know whether this product is going to be sold outside of Japan but it's for sale here and the company web site provides links to Amazon Japan for most of their products. Update: The product is also available in the west, only under different brand names. In the UK for instance it is sold as the Cypress CLUX-11SA HDMI v1.3 repeater with audio decoder from vendors such as CYP and Letropacks.
Sony plans hybrid PS3 game/movie discs According to an article in Video Business, Sony plans to introduce BD discs with a movie as well as a PlayStation3 game on them, thus better using Blu-ray Disc's 50-GB capacity (and competing in a way the Xbox360 and Wii with 9GB per disc cannot follow) but especially providing more value for money. The movie and game will, of course, be 'tie-ins'. Though details are still sketchy, Sony's statements suggest the movie could be in full HD resolution with a portable digital copy for transfer to PSP. Interesting plans. May we suggest adding in some more interesting content, for instance a nice 5.1-channel soundtrack of the same movie and/or game?
New DSD Recorder For those interested in making recording DSD Discs (or even actual SACDs, but you'll need yet more stuff for that), Korg has this month introduced a successor to its MR-1000 1-bit DSD Recorder: the MR-2000S. With its rack mounting brackets (if not its reported list price of $2,499) it is squarely aimed at professionals. The device can handle 2 tracks, so for 5.1-channel recordings (which is supported by SACD but not by DSD Disc, so far) you'll need three of these products working in tandem, something enabled by an OS upgrade.
As a consumer you may want to stick with the 'prosumer' MR-1 DSD-Recorder.
New firmware update soon Sony has announced it'll issue system software v2.60 shortly. New media features include DivX 3.11 playback and a Photo Gallery application. Some previews are posted in the US PlayStation blog.
More PS3 bundles coming Limited edition decorated PlayStation3 models just keep on coming, in Japan at least. Two weeks ago we saw units with Biohazard 5 and Yakuza themes, this week we get (well, it's really coming April 16 but it was announced today) a PS3 in Final Fantasy XIII style.
It's a 160-GB model, which does not feature SACD playback, just like the 80-GB model that comes in the Killzone 2 bundle which will be heading to Europe soon.
LaserDisc news LaserDisc news? In 2009? Well, Pioneer has announced it'll stop production of LaserDisc players after 29 years, since it's become difficult to obtain certain components. Pioneer has been a staunch supporter of the LaserDisc format. So staunch in fact that many people believe they invented it while in fact Philips deserves that credit. Another common misbelief is that LD is a digital format. The video is really analog, and the first couple of years (until after CD had become a successful spin-off product) even the audio was analog. The only digital thing on the the disc was the time code (for CLV discs) and the frame number (on CAV discs).
Apparently it took Blu-ray Disc to succeed where DVD failed: killing of the first-generation optical video disc. It also means Pioneer will not come with a super-multi-format player that supports LD, CDV, VCD, SVCD, DVD and BD (although the company has made players that support CD, CDV, LD and DVD), let alone one that also supports SACD. A pity. We would have loved a player that spanned four generations of optical disc (12 inch, 12cm infra-red, 12cm red and 12cm blue). In a way, Pioneer has been a champion of multiformat players, being one of the first brands (if not the first) to introduce a product that supported both SACD and DVD-Audio. There's never been a LD player with SACD playback but the two formats do have something in common: LD uses an FM-modulated A/V signal, which is very similar to the pulse-density modulation system that forms the basis of DSD. Pioneer has also more or less pioneered (no pun intended) the use of optical discs for use with home videogame consoles (if we overlook CD-i and 3D0 for a moment) before the advent of PlayStation 1, in 1993, to be exact: the LaserActive system, a hybrid of a LaserDisc player and a Sega Genesis/MegaDrive, which played Mega LD, a special type of LD-ROM disc. LaserDisc, we salute you. We will remember you fondly.
BD-Audio... At PS3SACD.com we don't usually pay much attention to classical music (of which lots is released on SACD) but we'd like to mention we noticed Surround Records, a US label, last year has started releasing classical music mixed in 7.1-channel 24-bit 96-kHz DTS-HD Master Audio, on (mostly audio-only) Blu-ray Disc and initially even on HD-DVD. Remixed probably because we recall seeing most of these titles released earlier in 5.1-channel on DVD-Audio. The product notes on Amazon state: "Please note that this record was originally produced for 5.1 and presented for 7.1 surround sound reproduction to provide you with unique acoustic reality experience."
The current catalog (see overview) includes music by Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Vivaldi, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Wagner, Grieg and Nina Rota. We expect to see more releases in the future. Where, for instance, is the BD of Uncommon Mozart? Surround Records has also issued other music on BD in 7.1, such as this ambient piece Mysterious Aqua - Music Experience in 3-Dimensional Sound Reality.
For more information refer here.
Two new decorated consoles Two new PS3 bundles are launched in Japan and both are decorated. One nicely, the other gorgeously.
Both come with DualShock 3 controllers (one with two, the other with one) and 80GB HDD capacity but, we must assume, without SACD or PS2 compatibility.
PS3 truly offering 3D Various reports (this one by Kotaku uses a brilliant photoshop job) indicate Sony will start offering 3D content on PlayStation3 starting this year. This may sound odd because PlayStation content is already generated in 3D since the days of PS1 but what is meant here is stereoscopic video output. What surprises us is that everyone seems to expect using monitors that require glasses, mimicking the techniques used in movie theaters like anaglyph 3D or polarization (where this is probably the only feasible solution) while there is technology available that doesn't force the user to don any glasses, such as the autostereoscopic displays offered by Philips' spin-off 3D Solutions. These monitors use a lenticular screen, like the 3D postcards you may remember from decades ago. The other thing that struck us in these reports is the statement by Neil Schneider, President and CEO of Meant to be Seen (MTBS) that “the best part is console support will only need a bios upgrade to work.” “We are told that the ability to add this capability via bios may be unique to Sony PS3 versus the other console solutions.” BIOS? Does PS3 have a Basic Input/Output System? Isn't that Wintel PC territory? We assume they mean a system software update, but never mind. Exciting news is that the 3D output shall work with both games and (special) Blu-ray Discs. 3D-BD still needs to be standardized but we wouldn't be surprised if PlayStation3 turns out to be the first player capable of decoding such discs, and the only player that can be upgraded to do so. We're looking forward to PS3D.
More BD/DVD/SACD players coming Yet another SACD-compatible Blu-ray Disc player (following Denon and Oppo) is coming to the market, and a budget one at that. The ezGear BluCobra EZ3000 (no, we hadn't heard it this brand before either) is a Profile 1.1 i.e. BonusView BD player. Outputs include HDMI 1.3 though it's not clear whether DSD streaming is supported. The player is announced for March (2009 we assume though the EZ000's product page currently states 2008 but hey, the year is still fresh and we all have to get used to it still) with a reported MSRP of $400.
Wishing you a Blue 2009 We wish you a happy new year with lots of interesting releases in terms of music, movies and games to play on PS3. To start the new year of well, Amazon.com runs a special buy two blu-ray discs, get one free promotion (on select titles) between January 6 and 16.
PlayStation3 cheaper but still loss-making, says iSuppli More than two years after their cost analysis of the first-generation PS3 console, industry watcher iSuppli has done a tear-down of the third-generation PS3 hardware and concluded that the bill of material (BOM) has decreased from over $840 (for the 60GB model) to $449 for a current unit -- we presume they used a 40GB model.
Business Week quotes an iSuppli analyst, Andrew Rassweiler, stating that Sony has in many cases combined two or more chips into one, or integrated some low-level chips. More precise: When it was first released, the PS3 sported a total of 4,048 different parts, including those in the handheld controllers. Now, that number has come down by about 30%, to 2,820. "At the end of the day the PS3 is doing the same thing it did before, but with two-thirds as many parts." Of course this statement is not entirely true. SACD playback and PS2 compatibility have been sacrificed in the current generation to save costs. One thing that surprises us about the BW article as well as coverage by Gamasutra and other publications is the conclusion that the PS3 is near break-even. Even if we neglect the difference between BOM and manufacturing price -- the factories will want to earn some money on production, especially since Sony has outsourced manufacturing of PlayStation3 hardware to contractors like AsusTek, Hon Hai Precision, FoxConn Electronics and Maintek -- there is a (likely larger) difference between that and the retail price, a difference called dealer margin. No retailer would be prepared to make shelfspace available for a product they couldn't make a profit on. Even though they may settle for a lower margin on hardware than on games and peripherals, Sony will still need to supply them the hardware at a price well below the $399 street price. We can understand most games publications focus on the big three platform owners, the game developers and publishers but we're surprised Business Week and even iSuppli seem to ignore distribution.
WipEout HD free trial demo Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has released a playable demo of WipEout HD in the PAL PlayStation Store, as announced on ThreeSpeech. We can strongly recommend this title, not just for its fantastic visuals and gameplay but also, if not foremost, because of the brilliant soundtrack, remixed in 5.1. See our earlier coverage. There's an in-game upgrade for the store trial to the actual game at £11.99/€14.99. We assume the availability of the trial version is temporary but no timeframe has been disclosed. Release in other territories has not been announced either. Merry christmas!
The Police on Blu-ray Disc Sting (or at least his record company, A&M) has always been a bit of an early adopter when it comes to new disc formats for releasing his music on. We've got LaserDiscs of Nothing Like the Sun - The Videos, The Soul Cages Concert, Unplugged and The Police's Every Breath You Take - The Videos; a 'CD-i Digital Video' of Ten Summoner's Tales (even though it's not very interactive and practically works like a Video-CD it's really a 'Green Book' disc, not a 'White Book' one); a Video-CD of Fields of Gold - the Best of Sting; DTS-CDs of Ten Summoner's Tales (we do not cease to wonder why this 5.1-channel mix was never issued on SACD) and Brand New Day; a DVD-Audio of Nothing Like the Sun; SACDs of Brand New Day, Sacred Love (released in America on DVD-Audio instead) and Every Breath You Take - The Classics plus DVD-Video releases of Bring on the Night and ...All This Time, oddly without a DTS soundtrack. Now there's Certifiable, the live registration of a concert in Buenos Aires from The Police's reunion tour, released on Blu-ray Disc and presented in 1080p high-definition video, with 96kHz/24-bit audio in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and 2.0. It comes with two audio CDs. There's a great review of it on The Digital Bits here.
By the way, Certifiable is also issued on DVD-Video and Bring on the Night has been reissued on Blu-ray Disc. The Bits reviews it here.
Hybrid DVD/Blu-ray Disc launched A group of Japanese companies has announced they've developed a hybrid DVD/BD disc. Unlike we suggested two weeks ago, it's not a double-sided 'flipper' disc with DVD on one side and BD on the other but a single-sided disc that uses much of the same principle as the hybrid CD/SACD disc: there's a fully reflective layer that can be read with the old format's laser frequency, hidden behind a semi-reflective/semi-transparent layer that's transparent i.e. invisible at the old frequency but reflective at the new frequency; in this case a red laser of 650nm for DVD and a blue laser of 405nm for BD, respectively (for some more illustrations see the coverage by AV Watch).
BD/DVD Hybrid Disc structure It's been a while since we last heard of hybrid disc structures in the HD era of blue lasers -- probably since Warner's Total Hi-Def (THD) format, a HD-DVD/Blu-ray Disc combination which never materialized. We're surprised it comes this late -- some two years after the launch of Blu-ray Disc. Late, because one would expect such a hybrid format to be a temporary vehicle to help the transition from the old to the new format. Perhaps the consideration is that the early adopters don't need such a hybrid but to conquer the masses it is needed. Parallels with 'single-layer' SACD and the hybrid SACD come to mind. While we will not engage in predictions about the success of the hybrid DVD/BD (we think it's an interesting and viable idea) we will say we don't expect the format to have particular relevance for BD's appeal for audio applications. After all, what should the DVD layer add here? DVD-Audio content? Likely, the installed base of BD players already eclipses DVD-Audio's. No, for audiophiles only a hybrid with CD or rather SACD (or both) like we proposed would be needed but a relative niche format can do little to help a fledgling mass-market format truly break through. On a positive note, it seems that PS3 is compatible with the new disc. That suggests that at least this format has been anticipated for long. It's not clear whether PS3 can play both layers and if the UI offers an option to switch between them, like with hybrid SACDs. That's important because the content of the one layer is not necessarily just a lower-resolution version of the other's. Besides, you may like to do A/B comparisons. We'll report back as soon as we know more.
SACD top 10 of 2008 'tis the time of the year for overviews so here's a rundown of the ten best-selling SACD titles as far as our statistics go:
The most popular hardware year-to-date sold through this site is: If you're still thinking what to ask or give for Christmas, rest assured these are all fine choices. If you're looking for something different, you may take a look here:
Two RBCD flavours merged? Although we made a suggestion in this direction just over a month ago (in our coverage of Blu-spec CD) we doubt this is what gave them the idea. Two of the process improvements introduced to create better 'Red Book' CDs have been combined now. JVC's 2K HD technology, an improved mastering process, is combined with a MemoryTech disc replication technology that uses glass (which is harder and supposedly clearer) instead of polycarbonate as substrate material, an approach similar to SHM-CD. The resulting disc is referred to by the two as K2 HD Mastering + Crystal Disc. For more details and graphs refer to this (Japanese) article.
While we applaud combining these two technologies rather then letting them exist side by side for us it doesn't go far enough. There are more 'competing' technologies that really are no substitute for one another but actually complementary. Most importantly, it's still a red book CD with 16-bit 44.1-kHz stereo PCM sound. Why pursue (sub)marginal improvements in this format while since nine years there's a standard that's a major leap forward in terms of fidelity (yet still maintains compatibility with CD players) -- Super Audio CD.
Many of the RBCD improvements listed in our earlier article below could be applied to the CD layer of SACD, some even to the SACD layer or the overall disc yet the only real combination we've seen are a couple of hybrid SACDs where the CD layer is HDCD-encoded, mostly by Fim (First Impression Music).
PS3 and Japanese models Occasionally we check our site statistics to see what search terms people use to find our page and one of the terms that shows up in the top twenty this month is the phrase "Japanese models". We could imagine these searchers are actually looking for photo models rather than product types, so in order to not disappoint these people when they visit this site we'll post a picture here of a couple of charming Japanese booth babes.
Of course it's completely on topic since they're posing with an equally pretty PlayStation3 and not just a gratuitous image to beautify the page, let alone some shameless attempt to increase the site's ranking. If we find a picture of a Japanese model holding an SACD disc for sure we'll post it here too.
PS3 'Movie Pack' One more bundle for the holiday season, for Europe that is: a 'Movie Pack' consisting of an 80GB PlayStation 3, DualShock 3 and a BD copy of 300, for the surely symbolical price of £300. In case you were wondering: Like all recent bundles, this concerns a model without SACD or PS2 compatibility.
There's a similar movie pack with I Am Legend bundled.
Sony BD/DVD/SACD Home Theater Systems? While wondering what's taking Sony so long to release an SACD-compatible Blu-ray Disc player other than PS3 (like Oppo and Denon have) and focusing on the ES series, we may have been sleeping all along. Here are two Sony-branded integrated systems (BD/DVD/CD players with integrated AV receiver) usually referred to as Home Theater Systems or, outside of North America, Home Cinema Systems, which all appear to offer SACD playback, according to the SonyStyle site:
Some of the other details make us wary. The feature list shows "SA-CD : Yes". Yet it also says "DVD-Audio : Yes". While it's not impossible this is correct, it's unlikely. It would make this the first Sony product ever to support the 'rival' format. Sometimes such things do happen. At some point Sony DVD players have started offering DVD-RAM playback -- the above products included, apparently. In this case however we suspect the product manager who filled out this table may unintentionally have overstated the capabilities.
Perhaps "DVD-Audio : Yes" means it can play the DVD-Video-compatible audio tracks that all such discs have (any DVD player can) and maybe "SA-CD : Yes" means it can play the CD layer of a hybrid SACD. With the feature list drilling down to such a deep level of detail it's remarkable they haven't specified it like "Hybrid Disc (SA-CD/CD) : No/Yes" (or ~Yes/Yes, whichever applies). Especially considering the list does include the following lines:
Which may shed an interesting light on the shape of things to come. While at it, may we suggest a hybrid BD/SACD perhaps? While making it a hybrid BD/SACD/CD with Blu-ray Disc on one side and Super Audio CD and Red Book CD on the other is theoretically feasible within the boundaries of the standards but it sounds extremely challenging. Just the 'DSD layer' on one side and BD on the other must be perfectly technically feasible and no more complicated than a BD/DVD hybrid (which, admittedly, we have yet to see). It would be a perfect option for a label like 2L Music, who have released two (classical) titles each consisting of a Blu-ray Disc and a (hybrid) SACD: Divertimenti and SONaR (discussed in this thread). In the case of another Home Theatre System, the DAV-IS50, SACD (which may very well be supported in an HTS without BD playback) is indicated on the features page but denied on the specifications page, which is inconsistent and confusing. We'll check with Sony and let you know as soon as we learn more. Update: One of our readers reports he has inquired with Sony Customer Service who confirmed the SACD playback for the BDV-IS1000 yet upon delivery of the system it turned out it actually didn't support SACD. Update 2: We've got confirmation from Sony HQ in Japan that the two BD systems play neither SACD nor DVD-Audio. The pages referenced above should be adjusted shortly.
Denon BD/DVD-Audio/SACD player Denon today announced it's first Blu-ray Disc player that supports Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio as well as of course DVD-Video and plain old CD -- the oddly named DVD-A1UD. (Would 'UD' denote Universal Disc player? That seems like such a moving target.) Denon's previous BD player was called DVD-3800BD.
The set will support BD-ROM (BD-Video and BDMV), BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, DVD-R/RW, SA-CD, CD, CD-R/RW. There's no mention of VCD or SVCD (but who wants to play such low-resolution formats in this HD age?) nor of DVD+R/RW (though there's a good chance those will play anyway). There's no HD-DVD which may disappoint some and lead to other to debate this is not a truly universal player but Denon's never been in the HD-DVD camp. Furthermore there's support for DivX6, WMA, MP3 and JPEG. The set also features an SD/SDHC slot. Of course it has HDMI output but it's not clear whether DSD streaming is provided on it or only via the proprietary 'Denon Link'. BD-Live (profile 2.0) is promised as an upgrade. Until then you'll have to make do with BonusView (profile 1.1).
The DVD-A1UD will be available in black and silver from January 2009 on at a price of ¥546,000. It may beat the Oppo BDP-83 to market by a narrow margin. These are the first BD players besides PS3 that play SACD as well as BD. It's also the first BD player since Panasonic's first-generation DMP-BD10 that plays DVD-Audio, and likely the first BD player to support both high-end audio formats. But perhaps the reason for the slight Oppo delay beyond the 2008 holiday season is they're still working to make it DVDA-compatible, regardless of the significant price difference. The Denon price translates to $5,875 while the Oppo will cost something between $499 and $999.
In the meantime we'll stick with the wonderful media player that is PlayStation3 while hoping next year's Sony ES range will bring us a BD/SACD player. A BDP-SA5500ES perhaps?
Firmware v2.53? Kotaku last week reported about an imminent release of system software v2.53 for PS3 -- supposed to provide full-screen video for Adobe Flash Player -- so we've kept an eye on it but to this date neither SCEA's blog nor their update page (or SCEJ's/SCEE's for that matter) shows any such news, instead still advertising v2.52. Update: A few hours after posting this, v2.53 is up after all. More on AV Watch (Japanese).
Happy Thanksgiving! We wish you a very joyful Thanksgiving Day and an equally enjoyable Black Friday.
Black Friday is almost here In the US it's alsmost Thanksgiving Day and the Friday before that as a form of (recent?) tradition is a national bargain day known as Black Friday. Amazon.com will also have some special offers. In the meantime, PS3 is featured in three different Amazon.com bundles (each with a game, one or more BD movies and PlayStation3 Blu-ray Disc remote control) ranging from $199 to $229. Which bundle will actually make it is a matter of voting. If you vote for the winning combination you stand a chance to buy the bundle at the advertized price. You can vote here. One note: Each bundle features an 80GB model but we cannot tell for sure whether it's SACD-compatible. Considering the packshot shows a DualShock3 controller we suspect it's the incompatible 2008 model. Still, it's incredible value. Compare it to this bundle featuring the same 80GB PS3, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Casino Royale (the first Daniel Craig James Bond movie) on BD, without the remote -- suggested retail price $399...
One 80GB PS3 bundle that is supposed to give you SACD playback is the once-hard-to-get MGS4 bundle. Walmart (no, we're not affiliated with them) now offers it at a mere $399. If they run out you can always look for one here. At the time of writing, the 80GB PS3 Motorstorm bundle is $399.
PS3 turns two PlayStation3 was launched (in the US) two years ago today. That means it's got at least eight more years to go to fulfill Sony's ambitions of a ten-year life span and to outsell PS2 by shifting 150 million units. Let's hope it all comes true and Sony (and other record companies) supply this massive market with lots of SACDs and, further down the road, high-resolution multichannel music downloads perhaps.
Oppo BDP-83 news Oppo has released proper pictures of its first Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-83 we reported about earlier -- the first device since PlayStation3 to support Super Audio CD as well as BD. You can clearly spot the SACD logo, next to a DVD-Video logo. DVD-Audio support is still not confirmed, as is DSD streaming via HDMI.
The release date is not firm either yet but unconfirmed reports indicate it will not make it before Christmas and shift into 2009. For those interested to stay informed about any updates Oppo has created a registration form.
First 160-GB PS3 bundle Europe, or at least Scandinavia, seems to have the honour of getting the first bundle of the 160-GB PlayStation3.
As we reported earlier, although this model is now the top of the range, it is compatible with neither SACD nor PS2. It does come with a DualShock 3 controller and vouchers for four PSN games (GT5: Prologue, Quest for Booty, Last Guy & Super Stardust HD), according to Kotaku. Update: It's been spotted in other European territories as well, notably the Benelux countries.
Blu-spec CD: yet another attempt at a high-quality audio format The Blu-ray Disc format today has given rise to another 'high-quality audio carrier': Blu-spec CD, announced today by Sony Music Entertainment (SME).
No this is not DSD, DXD or high-res PCM on a BD-ROM disc, thus creating something like a BD-Audio disc. It's yet another flavour of good old Red Book CD (RBCD), the original Compact Disc Digital Audio format we've known for over 25 years. If we interpret the information (from the Japanese press release) correctly, the idea is to apply a blue laser (as used with Blu-ray Disc) instead of a conventional infra-red laser to cut a more precise CD master with more perfect pits.
This technique leads to more accurate read-out of the (16-bit 44.1kHz PCM stereo) digital audio signal.
While this is surely an interesting method to improve sound quality, we must note that Blu-spec CD is not really a new format but a new technique applied to an existing format -- CD. It's applied to one specific step of the whole CD making process, namely the cutting of the physical CD master. It competes with other attempts at establishing new standards for making CDs:
And above all, of course, it competes with Super Audio CD for the affection and money of consumers interested in superior sound quality. As you can see from the above overview, all of these approaches relate to different parts of the creation and manufacturing process, so there seems to be no technical objection why all of these couldn't be combined into an ultimate single high-quality carrier. That could be an RBCD but we suggest is be a hybrid SACD. Where DSD-CD, HDCD, XRCD and Blu-spec CD can create a better CD layer, we think use of a blue laser could also make a yet finer SACD layer (typically recorded using a red laser) while the more transparent 'super high material' of SHM-CD and the special silver alloy coating of HQCD would make a better disc overall. The objections are not even political but of course of financial nature. These various process improvements are surely patented and the record companies plan to license them to others, perhaps even each other. Now if only they could get their act together, agree on a cross-licensing agreement and create this ultimate carrier. We're not going to speculate about the name this should take (SHM-DSD-XR-HD-SA-CD anyone?) but of course, we are pessimistic this will happen. More likely in music shops selling physical media, already facing difficult times (not only the brick & mortar stores but probably also the online retailers) you're going to see separate racks for XRCDs, SHM-CDs, HDCDs, Blu-Spec CDs and SACDs next to the regular CDs. Sadly, the consumer will not have much choice other than between the original CD and one of these new formats: as these are 'proprietary' formats, you're not going to see a single album released in multiple formats. If this were to happen, inventory/stocking problems would get even worse. On a side note: a warning is in place here: If you see a title with too many of the above disc format's logos on them, it's probably a fake from China, just like these albums by Abba, the Bee Gees, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Kiss and Enigma (the latter branded as a DSD CD) we've come across. China Record Co likes to wow its customers but it's pure cargo cult.
Sony Music will launch Blu-spec CD in Japan (as ブルースペックCD) by reissuing 60 back catalogue albums in the new standard. And to be sure: as these are essentially Red Book CDs, all PS3 models are compatible with Blu-spec CD. Discuss this topic in our forum.
Firmware v2.52 issued In other news today, SCE has issued system software v2.52, reportedly fixing a flaw with text entry by means of USB/Bluetooth keyboards.
Firmware update v4.30 Sony has issued firmware v4.30 to address playability issues with the James Bond Blu-ray Discs (reported earlier here). Version 4.30? Yes, that's for the BDP-S300 player. As far as we can find, PS3 does not suffer from this issue so no firmware upgrade is needed at this time. Some other BD players do however. See the official Blu-ray Disc Association's page.
Yet another 80GB PS3 bundle Yet another 80GB PS3 bundle, and like all other recent ones it's the model without SACD playback.
It's going to be released in Japan November 27th at ¥46,980 and will come with two DualShock 3 controllers and a copy of Winning Eleven 2009, the Japanese name for Pro Evo soccer.
3rd Genesis SACD box available finally The third Genesis SACD box we reported about earlier (the one with remasters of albums from their earliest years) is actually available from today.
Blu Halloween If you're in the mood for some Halloween/horror movies on BD or DVD you may want to check out this selection.
Firmware v2.50 released Sony has issued firmware v2.50 today. New 'media' features include Flash Player 9 support and more fine-grained volume control. For a complete overview check the ThreeSpeech blog or Wikipedia. There are no new SACD features.
Rush concert on BD The Rush SACDs that were to be expected at one point never materialized -- MFSL (Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs) got a license for Permanent Waves and other albums yet could only do a Gold CD reissue -- but now there's a Blu-ray Disc going to be released of their Snakes & Arrows live album. The concert was recorded over two nights at the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. The complete show plus additional footage will be there.
It will be issued (November 25) on DVD and Blu-ray Disc, both as 3-disc sets. The Digital Bits report the BD specs are not disclosed yet while the DVD will contain Dolby Digital and PCM 5.1 audio. We doubt that, since that would make it a DVD-Audio disc. We'll let you know as soon as we've figured out the details.
Low-cost 80GB model coming to Japan The low-cost 80GB model is also going to be released in Japan by the end of this month (October 30), Sony announced today at the Tokyo Games Show. It will be available in colors Clear Black, Cermaic White and Satin Silver, and in two bundles: GT5 Prologue Spec III and Little Big Planet. Prices will range from ¥39,980 to ¥44,980. The typenumber is going to be CECHL00. As with the western model CECHK~ this SKU with have just two USB ports, no PS2 compatibility and, moreover, no SACD compatibility. To help overcome the USB port limitation, the company has also introduced a separate USB charger with two ports.
New pop/rock albums on SACD SACD releases in the pop and rock genres may be few and far between nowadays but they do keep coming. Universal Music Group has its Deluxe Edition series. Unfortunately not quite all albums in this series contain SACDs. We can think of many where this would have fit excellently, such as ABC's The Lexicon of Love (and some of the tracks have been remixed in 5.1 for the DVD compilation). Yet the series does include a couple of clasic pop albums on SACD including Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, The Who's Tommy and The Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed. UMG now adds to this Black Sabbath's Paranoid (released October 21, 2008)
and Emerson Lake & Palmer's Brain Salad Surgery (released October 7, 2008).
From 4AD (but issued by Mobile Fidelity) comes another Pixies album remastered on SACD: Bossanova (released October 14, 2008), which follows the earlier Surfer Rosa and Doolittle. MusicDirect, who own MoFi, also lists Foghat's Fool for the City on its website; date to be confirmed. It's going to be a numbered limited edition SACD. By the way, if you search Amazon.com for "Foghat SACD" you'll find this interesting sampler: 10 Great Artists, 10 Great Songs. The indication that this is an SACD must however be a mistake because (a) it's a Warner release and (b) its release predates the SACD format by several years... Update: It appears the Black Sabbath release does contains two CDs and a DVD-Video disc with Dolby Digital 2.0 and DTS 5.1 (both regular 48 kHz 16-bit) but no SACD.
First-ever PC with SACD support Another first in the history of SACD: the first-ever PC that plays SACDs. It's the Sony VAIO JS1-series 'all-in-one' lifestyle PC. According to the press release, "this can handle Super Audio CD (SA-CD), allowing the JS1 to record, edit and play music at SA-CD quality, and even upgrade older recordings to the new standard.
What's a little confusing is the drive. The specs mention "Optical: DVD±RW/±R DL/RAM." That could refer to DVD formats this PC's drive is capable of reading but we assume what's meant is this drive can record them. That makes this not only the first PC drive ever to support SACD playback but the first DVD writer drive that's compatible with SACD. What's more, several of the PR pictures show a BD-R sitting in the tray. Now this may not guarantee anything but at least it suggests BD-R playback. More likely we can expect Blu-ray Disc recording. That makes this one of the most universal drives of all time, and the first SACD-compatible BD drive outside of PS3. We'll let you know when Sony gets back to our query. Update: The press release turns out to have been confusing and confused. Confusing in the sense that this PC cannot handle SACD -- the processor could but the drive can't. The author must have been confused because although this PC comes with SonicStage Mastering Studio which can handle DSD, the DSD Disc format still only supports stereo -- not 5.1. The question about the DVD/BD writer remains unanswered. Update 2: Sony Europe press centre has revised the press release per October 13. Any reference to SACD or 5.1 is now gone. Also removed are the pictures showing a BD-R disc in the tray, implicitly answering part of our question about the drive's capabilities. Presumably it's a CD/DVD writer with no BD support.
New Pioneer A/V Receivers Pioneer has recently added two new AV receiver models in Japan and Europe: the SC-LX71 and SC-LX81. Of course, with features like Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio (and likely DSD input -- the brochure isn't explicit about that) via HDMI these receivers are designed to make a nice stack in combination with the BDP-LX71 Blu-ray Disc player and the DVD-LX50 DVD/SACD player. With 7.1-channel PCM input they'll work very nicely with a PS3 too.
Firmware v2.43 relevant for Japan only A new system software version, v2.43, is available. According the the official PlayStation Blog, "unlike previous updates, firmware v2.43 is specific to the Japan region, and only PS3 users there will be required to install the update. PS3 users in all other regions will not be prompted to download v2.43. However, if you manually initiate a firmware update by clicking on “System Update” under the XMB’s Settings icon, the v2.43 update will be available, regardless of where you are located. Users outside of Japan do not need to perform this update if your PS3 system software is on version v2.41 or later. However if you do perform the update, it will not cause any issues with your system or add any new functionality." Reportedly, the changes are for the release of rental content in the PlayStation Store.
WipEout HD release imminent The long-awaited PS3 game in the wipEout series, wipEout HD, is due for release worldwide on 25 September, ten days from today, SCE has announced on its blog. As transpired earlier, the game will be PSN-exclusive i.e. only available via the PlayStation Network.
As also reported before, the soundtrack will be in 'Dolby 5.1', whatever that means precisely (we're thinking plain vanilla Dolby Digital or, better for in-game use, Dolby Digital Live). The game will offer the option to race to any custom playlist from your HDD. We're hoping the audio tracks will be accessible outside of the game as well but have to assume by now the soundtrack will not be released on SACD or even DVD (like the soundtracks of the original wipEout game, wipEout 2097/XL and wipEout Pure were issued on regular Audio CD). Songs remixed to multichannel for the game are:
Three new Marantz receivers Marantz has added some new models to its AV receiver range: The SR6003, SR5003 and SR4003. All of them can handle 7.1-channel PCM via HDMI (and as such are well-suited for hooking up to a PS3) while the first two also accept DSD input. List price is $1199/¥120,000, $799/¥87,000 and $549, respectively.
Oppo: First BD/DVD/SACD/CD player other than PS3 In other CEDIA news, Oppo has beaten Sony's Home AV division (as well as Philips, Pioneer, Marantz and other brands) to it: making the first combined Blu-ray Disc/DVD/Super Audio CD player other than PlayStation3. Besides BD, DVD-Video and SACD the product named BDP-83 will also play CD and HDCD. DVD-Audio support Oppo is reportedly still working on. None of Oppo's websites we're aware of has any details about the upcoming multi-format player but people who have spoken with Oppo on the showfloor (they don't have their own stand but exhibit this prototype at the booth of Anchor Bay, whose VRS chipset they're using) say it should be out this winter. We'll post some proper pictures when we get them.
Top-of-the-line Sony receiver At CEDIA, Sony has shown the same ES series equipment introduced last week at IFA, plus another new 7.1-channel, DSD-compatible AV receiver: the DLNA-compliant STR-DA6400ES. It will be available in September for about $2,000 and sounds like a nice companion for a PlayStation3.
Yet more PS3 bundles coming to Europe Also the Little Big Planet PS3 bundle coming to Europe contains the new 80GB PlayStation3, meaning it will not play SACD.
New PS3 bundles coming to the continent SCEE will release at least two new bundles in Europe -- one with a movie, the other with Gran Turismo 5.
Reportedly, the bundles (€399 and €449, respectively) will only make it to mainland Europe -- not to the UK. Be aware that although both include an 80GB PS3, neither provides SACD playback. These are the new 80GB models.
First Sony SACD player with DSD output via HDMI It had been a while since Sony last released a dedicated SACD player but this week Sony hits back with a new potential masterpiece, the ES series model SCD-XA5400ES. While the front looks familiar -- it basically uses the same front panel as its predecessors SCD-XA9000ES (the model with i.Link) and SCD-XA3000ES, SCD-XA1200ES and the DVP-NS9100ES -- its rear panel indicates the internal circuitry of this device must be quite a radical departure. Like PlayStation3, it's no longer got analog multichannel outputs, just stereo (although in the case of this ES model they're balanced outputs). It does however have one important feature that PS3 lacks: DSD output via HDMI. It's the first Sony player to do so (though it's not quite the first brand to do so; see this list). Previously, only DSD output via i.Link was available. It's also the first SACD player (besides PS3) that can handle the DSD Disc format. The new player features Sony's proprietary H.A.T.S. (High-quality Audio Transfer System) that was used previously with i.Link between the SCD-XA9000ES and STR-DA9000ES, and between the SCD-DR1 and TA-DR1.
To enjoy DSD decoding in the receiver, you'll need the new Japanese TA-DA5400ES model, the new STR-DA4400ES model for European and American markets (see below), the earlier STR-DA5300ES (see further below) -- or a different brand altogether. Check this list or our store. The American and European prices for the player have not been announced but some retailers' websites suggest a $1,499 street price. The Japanese price is ¥176,400. We're still dreaming of an ES series player that combines BD, DVD, SACD and CD playback all in one. Until that becomes a reality (PS3 is still the only device in the world playing SACD as well as BD) one will need separate devices and to fill this gap Sony has announced an ES series BD/DVD/CD player, the BDP-S5000ES -- a model that appears to be more worthy of the ES subbrand than the earlier BDP-S2000ES, which had virtually the same cabinet as Sony's other second-generation BD players. The BD player, SACD player and AV receiver look like they make a terrific combination together.
At IFA, Sony has also introduced several other Blu-ray Disc players, including the global models BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 but also the BD-compatible home theatre system (integrated player/AV receiver) BDV-IT1000, possibly a strictly European affair. Update: It appears the SCD-XA5400ES can output PCM via HDMI but will only do so for Red Book CD -- not for SACD; there, only DSD output is provided. There seems to be no setting or option to let the player convert DSD to high-res PCM, while with PlayStation3 this is the only way. This means that for owners of an AV receiver that handles PCM via HDMI but not DSD, the 5400 is not a good choice but a proper PS3 is. For those whose receiver can decode DSD however it's a great choice.
Amazon Blu-ray Disc sale: up to 50% off Amazon has another Blu-ray Disc sale with up to 50% off on titles including No Country for Old Men, The Bank Job and The Prestige. There are further pre-order bargains on Iron Man (Ultimate 2-Disc Edition), Band of Brothers and The Ultimate Matrix Collection.
The promotion ends August 29.
Last of three Genesis SACD boxes about to be released The last of the three Genesis SACD boxsets is finally available for (pre)order.
Genesis 1970-1975 contains remasters of the first couple of albums:
All of the albums are hybrid SACDs with stereo and multichannel remixes. The boxset will be released September 30. It'll be available from Amazon.com at $139.98. We assume the SACD albums will also be available separately.
New 160GB PS3 model Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has today (at the Leipzig conference) announced a new PS3 SKU with a 160 GB HDD -- a big jump, since the 80 GB version was never introduced in Europe and the 60 GB was phased out quite some time ago. The PAL model will be introduced on October 31 at a recommended retail price of €449 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
