PS3SACD.com

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Fri, 1 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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PS3 truly offering 3D

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 21:00:00 GMT

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

Sat, 3 Jan 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Yet another SACD-compatible Blu-ray Disc player is coming to the market, and a budget on 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 site 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

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 12:00:00 GMT

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 between January 6 and 16.

PlayStation3 cheaper but still loss-making, says iSuppli

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 USD 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

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 GBP 11.99/EUR 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.

The Police on Blu-ray Disc

Tue, 22 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sting has always been a bit of an early adopter when it comes to new disc formats for releasing his music on. 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.

By the way, Certifiable is also issued on DVD-Video and Bring on the Night has been reissued on Blu-ray Disc.

Hybrid DVD/Blu-ray Disc launched

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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.

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

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

'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.

Two RBCD flavours merged?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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.

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 (while still maintaining backward 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.

PS3 and Japanese models

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 20 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.

PS3 "Movie Pack"

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 symbolic price of �300. In case you were wondering: Like all recent bundles, this concerns a model without SACD or PS2 compatibility.

Sony BD/DVD/SACD Home Theater Systems?

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

While wondering what's taking Sony so long to release an SACD-compatible Blu-ray Disc player other than PS3 and focusing on the ES series, we may have been sleeping all along. Here are three 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 feature specifications:

* BDV-IT1000ES

* BDV-IS1000

* BDV-IS50

Read on...

Denon BD/DVD-Audio/SACD player

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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?

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

We wish you a very joyful Thanksgiving Day and an equally enjoyable Black Friday. We hope these special offers may help achieve that.

PS3 BD/game bundle vote

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 on BD, without the remote -- suggested retail price $399...

Black Friday is almost here

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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. Check them here.

PS3 turns two

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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.

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

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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)

Blu-spec CD: yet another attempt at a high-quality audio format

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

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. Read on...

Firmware v2.52 issued

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:00:00 GMT

SCE has issued system software v2.52, reportedly fixing a flaw with the USB/Bluetooth keyboard.

Firmware update v4.30

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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.

Amazon PS3 Gold Box Event

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, PlayStation 3 items will be featured in the Amazon.com Gold Box. The identities of each deal will be revealed one at a time. To find out how it works just read on.

Yet another 80GB PS3 bundle

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 JPY 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

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The Rush SACDs that were to be expected at one point never materialized (Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs got a license for Permanent Waves 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

Thu, 9 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 black, white and 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 CECHKxx 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.

First ever PC with SACD support

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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. But what can it do precisely? Read on...

New Pioneer A/V Receivers

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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."

WipEout HD release imminent

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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). Read on...

Three new Marantz receivers

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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 prices are $1199, $799 and $549, respectively.

Oppo: First BD/DVD/SACD/CD player other than PS3

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Oppo has beaten Sony's Home AV division 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.

Top-of-the-line Sony receiver

Fri, 5 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Mon, 1 Sep 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

SCEE will release at least two new bundles in Europe -- one with a movie, the other with Gran Turismo 5. Reportedly, the bundles (&eur;399 and &eur;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

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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). Previously, only DSD output via i.Link was available.

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.

Read on...

PS3 Amazon Gold Box Event

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, August 27, Amazon will have a dedicated PS3 Gold Box Event. PlayStation 3 items will be featured in the Amazon.com Gold Box. The identities of each deal will be revealed one at a time.

Here's how it will work:
At 12:01 AM PST the first deal will be the Gold Box Deal of the Day. Its special discounted price will be available all day only on Wednesday, August 27 (or until we run out.)
Starting at 6:00 AM PST, the second deal will be featured as a Lightning Deal.
Each of the remaining deals will also be Lightning Deals that follow at 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, and 6:00 PM PST.
Discounts on each deal will be available only while supplies last.

Amazon Blu-ray Disc sale: up to 50% off

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

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."

Last of three Genesis SACD boxes about to be released

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The last of the three Genesis SACD boxsets is finally available for order. "Genesis 1970-1975" contains remasters of the first couple of albums: "Trespass", "Nursery Cryme", "Foxtrot", "Selling England By The Pound" and "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway".

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

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has today announced a new PS3 SKU with a 160 GB HDD. The PAL model will be introduced on October 31 at a recommended retail price of &eur;449. SCEA confirms that also the US will get a 160 GB model and apart from the Hard Drive capacity it'll have the same specs as the new 80 GB model. That means no SACD and no PS2 compatibility.

1 year of PS3SACD.com

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

PS3SACD.com is one year old today. We want to thank everyone who has contributed to its success: all visitors, everyone who's responded, all shoppers and especially everyone who has posted on the forum. Thanks for your continued support. Count on us to proceed with the same enthusiasm and dedication.

Amazon Summer Sale

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Amazon.co.uk has a Summer Sale with deals for movies (DVD), music (CD) and video games. The promotion runs until August 31st. Amazon.de meanwhile has SACDs on offer.

New Onkyo AV Receivers

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Onkyo has launched some new 7.1-channel AV Receivers with DSD input via HDMI. They support DSD processing as well as "Direct Mode". Other features include DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD decoding, THX certification and Windows Vista compatibility via a front USB port. The US gets the TX-NR906 (no SRP announced yet). Presumably this model is virtually identical to the Japanese TX-NA906X. Derived from this is the Integra DTX-9.9 (� 367,500). Similarly, the Onkyo TX-SA806X formed the basis for Integra DTX-8.9 (� 262,500).

>Firmware v2.42 issues

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Firmware v2.42 is reported to have some issues. No further details are given but apparently it's less serious than the fall-out from v2.40.

New Sony receiver with DSD input

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony demonstrates its continued commitment to the DSD audio format by introducing a new A/V Receiver with DSD input via HDMI: the STR-DA4400ES. The 7.1-channel receiver has got six HDMI inputs and a Cross Media Bar (XMB) user interface. Supported audio codecs include Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. Too bad PS3 still doesn't output these except converted to PCM. The ES series modle will be available in August for about $1,500.

Firmware v2.42 issued

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony has issued a minor firmware update, v2.42, to "improve the playback quality of some PlayStation3 and PlayStation format software".

New 80GB PS3 model coming to PAL land

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The as yet unnamed new 80GB model will go on sale in all PAL territories, simultaneously on August 27, says SCEE. The price will be &eur;399 in Europe, �299 in the UK. It will replace the 40GB SKU.

New 80GB PS3 model

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Although Sony hasn't said so explicitly, it looks like the newly announced $399 80GB model of PS3 will not have SACD playback. After all, except for the Hard Disk capacity the specs are the same as of the current 40GB model, according to the press release. It also means no hardware emulation for P2 compatibility (nor software emulation, for now). There's no confirmation of the typenumber yet. As soon as there is, we'll update the overview in the FAQ. Until that time, expect confusion about the specs of "the 80GB model", now that there are two.

Amazon 3 for 2 BD promtion

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

If you're a PS3 owner you may be interested to know that Amazon currently runs another "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" event for some 100 selected Blu-ray Disc titles.

Yazoo remasters in 5.1

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Mute Records has recently issued remastered versions of Yazoo's albums that include a brand new 5.1-channel mix. Sadly it appears that unlike the Depeche Mode remasters Mute didn't choose SACD with DVD added: It's a boxset with three plain CDs and a DVD with the surround mixes. Still, this probably makes for some interesting music.

Firmware v2.41 issued

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

As predicted, there's a v2.41 firmware release. Sony issued it yesterday to address the issues introduced with v2.40.

Firmware v2.40 withdrawn

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, SCE put firmware v2.40 online. This release was highly anticipated because of many new features. Within hours however, users reported problems and Sony was forced to retract it. We expect we'll see a version 2.41 shortly. We'll keep you posted.

Firmware v2.40 due

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 21:00:00 GMT

System software version 2.40 is due tomorrow. New A/V features include upconverting of video content (from 1080i to 1080p) on self-recorded Blu-ray Discs -- so-called BDAV discs -- as well as HDD, SD cards and Memory Sticks. New among the audio features is support of DTS-ES and DTS-96/24 for DVD and DTS-ES Matrix for BD playback. Also added is support for MP3 Surround, a feature we suggested in our recent editorial.

Sony BMG: BD Music survey and contest

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony BMG Music Entertainment has already released a number of music video titles on Blu-ray Disc and clearly is considering issuing more. Surround sound, high-resolution audio-only content is an option here. You can have a say, and could win 12 BD titles in the process. Fill out this survey to enter the contest (for US residents).

Firmware news

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Version 2.40 is near but there's v2.36 as an intermediate update. Meanwhile, PS3 Hacks has posted the elusive v2.00 -- the only version thus far that on the fly converts SACD's DSD audio to DTS Digital Surround sound for output via optical wire (see coverage from November or the FAQ). We are not aware of any tricks to downgrade the system software version so until then this is only useful for those who are still at v1.93 or lower.

SACD-compatible 80GB PS3 back in store

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Metal Gear Solid 4 is out and bundles with PlayStation3 are available in the main markets but there's an important difference: in North America, the MGS4 bundle contains an (SACD-compatible) 80-GB model while in Japan and Europe you can only get the 40-GB model instead.

High-Definition Week

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Our partner Amazon runs a 5-day "High-Definition week" promotion. That's HD video, not audio, but potentially relevant for PS3 owners.

Create your own DSD Discs

Sun, 1 June 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Always wanted to make your own SACDs? Well, you can't but what you can do at home is make DSD Discs, the closest thing to it. Basically they're DVDs with DSD audio on them. Read our comprehensive guide on how to make them.

Dead Can Dance SACD Collectors Box

Sat, 31 May 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The SACD reissues of all nine Dead Can Dance albums will soon also be available in a nice slipcase. The collectors box set will be released on June 30.

Amazon Blu-ray Summer Sale

Thu, 29 May 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Amazon.com has a BD 'Summer Sale', with 50% off selected titles, including "300", "The Terminator", "Bladerunner (5-Disc Complete Collector's Edition)," and "Weeds -- the Complete 2nd Season."

PS3 firmware upgrade v2.35

Sat, 17 May 2008 21:00:00 GMT#_20080517

Sony has issued a new system software update, v2.35. As usual with 'intermediate' there are no new features, only 'stability improvements'. Remarkably, it doesn't solve the widely report GTA-IV bug either.

Invisible Home Cinema with Sony Bravia Theatre furniture

Thu, 8 May 2008 21:00:00 GMT

For those who wish to have a 5.1 surround sound set-up without all the cables and the numerous speakers, Sony Europe has introduced some new models of its Bravia Theatre furniture pieces. With their 'hidden speaker' they promise 'invisible home cinema'.

Firmware v2.30 adds DTS-HD Master Audio

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:00:00 GMT

System software version v2.30, announced last week, has become available today in Japan, Europe and North America. The key new feature is DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. That means that instead of feeding the bitstream to your receiver via HDMI the PS3 will convert the signal to high-resolution multichannel PCM for output via the same port. Of course, your receiver must be able to handle that audio format otherwise it's still no use. Read more about our view.

BBC iPlayer for PS3

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Today, an (unofficial) BBC iPlayer for PS3 has become available. Note: it will only work in the UK.

Buy 2 Blu-ray Discs, Get 1 Free

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 21:00:00 GMT

If you're a PS3 owner you may be interested to know that Amazon currently runs a 'Buy 2, Get 1 Free' event for select Blu-ray Disc titles.

Great new Marantz gear for BD/SACD/PS3

Thu, 3 Apr 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Marantz has developed some very nice kit to accompany PlayStation3 as well as other Blu-ray Disc players and especially SACD players. Among its many fancy features the AV8003 can count 4 HDMI inputs, DSD input via HDMI, XLR audio inputs for SACD plus Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD decoding. The AV8003 is not an AV receiver -- it's a 'networking AV PreAmp/Processor'. In other words, it requires a separate power amplifier. This is where the MM8003 comes in -- an 8-channel power amp.

All nine Dead Can Dance albums on SACD

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

After all this time, Dead Can Dance's complete set of albums is about to be released on SACD. The nine albums are scheduled for release on June 2. Other reports may mention a March 24 date but that was for Japan and has been postponed. The discs will be hybrid but stereo-only. You can (pre)order all nine titles from our music page.

Europe may get another SACD-compatible PS3

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

According to British retailers quoted by CVG, an 80GB model is on its way to the UK (and presumably Europe) to reach shelves by the end of summer. It's unknown whether this concerns a model with the same specs as the American 80GB model i.e. SACD and PS2 compatibility. Sony will not confirm the rumour -- nor deny it, for that matter.

System software v2.20 now released

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

System software version 2.20, which adds 'BD-Live' functionality (see our earlier coverage from March 20) is now available for download from Sony.

Seven suggestions for Sony to reinvigorate SACD

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony has certainly done a lot for Super Audio CD by incorporating it in PlayStation3 but there are more things the company could do that would make existing owners, new PS3 buyers and other people interested in SACD happy. Read our two cents in the new editorial section.

System software v2.20 about to be released

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

System software version 2.20, due 'late March' according to SCEE, will add Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0, also known as 'BD-Live'. Other features include remote play enhancements for audio playback via PSP and a noise reduction setting for BD and DVD video playback.

System software v2.17 released

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Sony Computer Entertainment (Japan) has released a new version of the PS3 system software, 2.17. As far as we know thus far it has no relevance to SACD playback. We also know not what happened to 2.11-2.16 but suspect these were internal release candidates that have not been approved.

Special SACD Offers from Amazon Germany

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Amazon Germany has some special offers for 'High Definition' music: several dozens of SACDs marked off by several euros. The selection includes Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music, Steely Dan, Era and other pop music titles as well as various jazz and classical albums.

New Nine Inch Nails album available in various high-res choices

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Nine Inch Nails have released their new album, Ghosts I-IV. Unlike their previous album, The Downward Spiral, this one will apparently not be released as an SACD. Instead, you can choose between a free high-quality (320 kbps) DRM-free MP3 download of the first nine tracks plus a 40-page booklet in PDF form, a FLAC-encoded (losslessly compressed) download of all 36 tracks priced USD 5, a 2-disc CD set priced USD 10, and a USD 75 deluxe package including a DVD-ROM that contains all tracks in multitrack format (so you can do your own mixing) and a Blu-ray Disc with the album in high-definition (24-bit, 96 kHz) stereo. So no multichannel mix, unfortunately -- although with the right equipment one could make this from the multitrack master...

New PS3 model is just Satin Silver 40GB version

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Suggestions about a 120-GB PS3 thus far have not materialized. SCE Japan has announced a 'Satin Silver' version of the 40-GB unit dubbed CECHH00SS. The specs are exactly indentical to those of the 'Clear Black' and 'Ceramic White' models, meaning: no SACD. SCE America denies plans to introduce this version.

New PS3 model expected

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Reportedly, the 80-GB version is on the way out in favour of a 120-GB version. SCEA has filed with the FCC for a white model. We speculate the new typenumber will be CECHI00 and/or CECHI01. The big question is whether such a new model will retain the high-end specs of the 80-GB edition, especially SACD playback.

20GB and 60GB PS3 phased out in Japan

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

SCE Japan announced it stops manufacture of the (SACD-compatible) 20GB and 60GB PS3 versions, focusing further efforts on the 40GB version (which does not play SACD). The press release makes no mention of the 80GB version.

Firmware update v2.10

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:00:00 GMT

SCE has issued firmware version 2.10 for PS3. New features of the system software include:
Blu-ray Disc profile 1.1 ('Bonus View'x), DivX decoding, VC-1 decoding, Bitmapping type 3 for SACD and upsampled CD playback. Check back on PS3SACD.com shortly for more information or join the discussion in the forum.

Firmware update v2.01

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:00:00 GMT

The joy of having multichannel output from SACD over optical out has lasted only short: about two weeks. Earlier this week Sony released a 'minor update' of the system software, v2.01, to address "stability issues". For all the new SACD users that came on board a fortnight ago it's a major change though: optical output from SACD remains possible but just in stereo. This may explain why the feature wasn't documented in the first place. Apparently it wasn't supposed to be there at all.

To all who don't have an HDMI receiver yet we suggest postponing the upgrading from v2.00 to v2.01 as long as possible and enjoying multichannel SACD while it lasts.

Music page added

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 21:00:00 GMT

We've added a page with an overview of pop music titles on SACD. Like other pages on this site it's a case of work in progress. We aim to expand the number of vendor links but you can already have a look and click through.