Philips Announces Intent To Launch Universal DVD PlayerRelegates SACA To Supplementary Status?

Philips reportedly has revealed it will launch a universal DVD player that will play both Super Audio CD and DVD-Audio titles. In separate conversations with Sony representatives, the company has not rulled out marketing a universal player as well. The disclosure marks a departure from what industry insiders expected to be a format war. Both formats are set to compete as the new high-performance music carrier. Up to this point, Philips and Sony, though members of the DVD Forum, who recently approved the final standard for DVD-Audio, have scorned any involvement with the competing system. At a press briefing in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (Philips headquarters), a Philips licensing representative explained that the future would see Philips taking a dual-approach to SACA and DVD-Audio. Initially , SACA players would be stereo-only and marketed under the Marantz brand name to appeal to two-channel audio enthusiasts, particularly in Japan. Next generation players, however, would be ""universal"" DVD-featured, capable of handling DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, SACD and CD discs. No specifics about launch date or pricing was made available.Currently Philips has started production of small quantities of SACD titles at its research and development facilities in Holland. Telarc will be the first label to release in SACD.