Leading Hardware Manufacturers, Music Labels Show Growing Support For Super Audio CD Format

23-Jan-02

Key representatives of leading consumer electronics manufacturers - including Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Philips, Pioneer, Sharp, Sony and Yamaha ñ gathered in support of the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) format during a press event hosted January 8th at the 2002 Consumer Electronics Show.The event also included an update from the Universal Music Group (UMG), revealing for the first time some of the SACD titles being prepared for release this spring.Sony Music Entertainment, which already has produced more than 150 SACD titles, also announced its latest SACD distribution programs and in-store promotional strategies. In addition, leading music retailer Tower Records reaffirmed its commitment to the format by announcing the creation of a dedicated SACD demonstration room at their new, state-of-the-art Sherman Oaks, Calif. Store.Expanding Hardware SupportìThe SACD format is clearly gaining acceptance throughout the consumer electronics industry,î said Shizuo Takashino, president of Sony Corporationís Broadband Solutions Network Company. ìSony is extremely pleased that the format is attracting significant support, not only from the consumer electronics companies, but from the professional recording community as well.îIn addition to products from format co-developers Sony and Philips, prototype multichannel SACD players were shown from Onkyo and Yamaha. These products will complement existing hardware models available from such manufacturers as Marantz, Pioneer and Sharp as well as high-end components from such companies as Accuphase, ClassÈ, dCS, Lindemann, Linn and Luxman.ìPioneer has been pleased with the marketís response to our initial SACD model, which was the industryís first universal player,î stated Matt Dever, vice president of product planning for Pioneer Electronics (USA). ìWe believe that multichannel SACD will provide an opportunity to expand the market for high-resolution audio.îMany professional companies, such as dCS, EMM Labs, Genex, Sadie, Merging Technologies, Mytek Digital and Tascam are also in the process of introducing production tools that utilize SACDís revolutionary Direct Stream Digital (DSD) 1-bit encoding technology. This results in music reproduction that is remarkably faithful to the original source material.Software Support GrowingSenior Vice President of Royal Philips Electronics Guy Demuynck noted that the establishment of the Sonopress replication facility in G¸tersloh, Germany was one of the key factors in the development of the format. He stated that this facility, which provides hybrid SACD replication, has increased manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for SACD hybrid discs.ìSACD is being warmly embraced by the music industry due to its outstanding sound quality and superior content protection,î said Demuynck. ìPhilips is confident that software will continue to rapidly develop in 2002 and beyond.îAccording to Larry Kenswil, president of UMG eLabs: ìWith its many benefits for consumers and recording artists, Super Audio CD has the potential to become a standard in the industry. UMG believes that our initial SACD titles available this spring will help drive the growth of this high-quality, secure music format.îAbout 600 SACD titles are currently available worldwide. These span all music genres and are offered from such major labels as EMI, Sony Music and Virgin Records. SACD titles are also available from nearly two dozen independent labels, including AudioQuest, Chesky, Delos, DMP, FIM, Rounder, Telarc, Vanguard and Water Lily Acoustics.Strong Retail SupportSony Music Distribution Chairman Danny Yarbrough also announced a new demonstration and display program that highlights the SACD multichannel experience.ìSony Music has been a strong supporter of SACD from the beginning,î said Yarbrough. ìOur new kiosk already has been placed in more than 1,000 locations nationwide by such retailers as Best Buy, Circuit City, Tower Records and Tweeter.Yarbrough added that Sony Music Distribution has launched an aggressive radio and print advertising campaign that will help introduce consumers to the broad range of SACD titles in the market.According to Russ Soloman, founder and chairman of Sacramento, Calif. - based Tower Records: ìSimply put, SACD is all about recapturing the passion and excitement inherent in music. Once most people come into our stores and hear it, they say itís like listening to their favorite albums for the first time again. Weíve even created a special listening room for this experience in our new Sherman Oaks store.î