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High
Fidelity Review Feature:
Hi-Fi Show and AV Expo 2003 Report
High-Resolution Formats:
Slow, But Steady Growth Predicted |
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| Pioneer's
John Bamford at the 2003 Hi-Fi Show and AV Expo. |
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High-resolution audio formats, hybrid discs and new hardware
were all high on the agenda at this year’s Hi-Fi Show
and AV Expo, held at the Renaissance and Le Meridien Hotels,
London, this past weekend, September 26-28.
Pioneer
The show’s main high-resolution related event was the
Pioneer press conference, during which John Bamford presented
in his usual charismatic style.
“Software growth is very slow, and it is slower
than we predicted,” he admits. “A
couple of years ago we were predicting what was going to happen
with DVD-Audio and SACD software, and we were wrong. Today
we are least one year behind those predictions. Regarding DVD-Audio,
studios are taking a lot of time to acquire the new tools to
create the new discs. We thought that after two years there
would be 1,000 DVD-A titles, whereas in fact today there are
about 500-600. Similarly, we also thought that by the time
SACD passed its third anniversary there would be 3,000 titles,
when today in fact there are only about 1,500 around the world.
So it’s not that it isn’t happening, it is just
happening slower than we predicted, and I reckon this is going
to be ‘slow-burn’, guys. In short, there is a business
there and this business is growing, and it is not going to
go away.”
On the hardware side Bamford paints a rosy picture: “For
the last couple of years we have been producing affordable
universal players. And what a party we have had. Every Pioneer
salesman is very glad to be a Pioneer salesman, because they
are selling products which are in great demand. Thousands of
them! Indeed, the new award-winning DV-565A received over 3,000
pre-orders even before they have even arrived at the docks.”
Notably, Bamford also announced the launch of a new i-link-equipped
A/V receiver, the VSX-AX5i. “And very soon we
will have a new flagship model, the DV-868AVi with both HDMI
and i-link. Approximate price in the UK will be £1,100-£1,200.
The prototype landed at customs 48 hours ago.”
Like Pioneer, Meridian also brought its latest products
out in full force, the new G Series visible to all in the main
foyer of The Renaissance Hotel. Not only that, but MLP and
Meridian supremo Robert Stuart was also on-hand to answer any
questions.
Meridian Audio: DVD-Audio hybrid “this year”?
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| DVD-Audio
panel discussion. |
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Seeing Mr. Stuart in attendance, HFR did not hesitate to question
him about the state of DVD-Audio hybrids - since this is likely
to become a crucial issue regarding the long-term uptake of
the format. But guardedly, all he would say, is: “I’m
sure it’s about to happen, but an announcement hasn’t
been made yet.”
Well, coming from him, that sounds very positive indeed. This
was further corroborated during a panel discussion attended
by Dolby Labs’ UK MD, Tony Spath, Sony’s marketing
manager for Europe, Eric Kingdon, Alan Clarke from Linn; Pioneer’s
John Bamford, and, of course, Meridian’s Bob Stuart.
When I put to them the need for a hybrid DVD-A flipper, there
seemed to be general agreement - well, certainly no denial
from anybody on the panel. Moreover, Stuart affirmed that,
yes, it would be for DVD-Audio, and not only that, but all the major record companies – which would even include
SACD champion Sony – were behind its development.
Indeed, Sony’s Eric Kingdon even went so far as to say
(albeit, semi-jokingly) that he’d “welcome” the
opportunity to discuss CD royalties, presumably for the CD
flip-side of such a hybrid. However, Meridian’s Stuart
mentioned later to High Fidelity Review that the CD patents
were about to expire, and was therefore puzzled at Kingdon’s
statement. Stuart stressed that he couldn’t say anything
more than that “at this stage”.
He was also optimistic that a title in the hybrid format would
be out “…this year”. In
short, it seems there’s a lot more going on behind the
scenes than he was at liberty to say. Let’s wait and
see.
It is worth mentioning that at Meridian’s exhibit, there
was an impressive line-up of its new “G-series” audio
and home theatre products. For DVD-Audio in particular these
included the new G91DH / G91S DVD-A preamplifier/tuner and
the G98DH / G98AH DVD-A player.
MHR Smartlink: High-Resolution Connectivity
Both the Meridian G91 and G98 include the MHR “Smart
Link” functionality, permitting encrypted, lossless digital
interconnection of multi-channel sources and Meridian surround
controllers, including
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| Robert
Stuart of Meridian Audio. |
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the G68. The configurable G91 DVD-Audio player/controller forms
the heart of an integrated system,
comprising audio/video disc player, stereo digital preamplifier,
and AM/FM RDS/RDBS tuner in a single component. The addition
of a pair of Meridian digital loudspeakers or active speakers
(or a G Series amplifier and passive speakers) completes an
effective two-channel A/V set-up. The G91 further functions
as a multi-channel home-theatre system via its optional configurations
with MHR Smart Link digital outputs to either the G68 Surround
Controller or a set of Meridian’s DSP loudspeakers. Andrew
Samalionis, marketing manger pointed out that the G68 basically
replaces the combination of the 568 and 562V at a similar price
point, but it also includes room-correction and adds a tuner.
Topping the G Series disc designs is the G98 DVD-Audio Transport.
This can be configured with either MHR Smart Link digital outputs
for connection to a Meridian processor or digital loudspeakers,
or with six channel analogue outputs for use in other systems.
From October 2003, prices for the G91DH DVD-Audio player controller
will range from £3,500 to £3,895 (circa $7,000)
depending on configuration, while the G98 DVD-Audio transport
will be available for between £3,350 and £3,625
(circa $6,000) – again, depending on configuration.
At the Sony Stand…
While
most hi-fi exhibitors at the show were content to display their
wares in stripped-out, yet cramped guest rooms (hardly the
best environment in which to demonstrate audio and video kit!),
Sony hired a much larger conference room on the lower ground
floor to display an impressive looking array of audio and video
products. On one wall were the latest amplifiers, another wall
featured plasma and LCDs, while close to the entrance were
SACD, CD, and DVD players. Moreover, beside the SACD players
was a large poster displaying recent releases by major artists.
While not embarking upon a press conference or presentation,
Sony did provide press its corporate message in written form.
A cut-down version of the release is as follows:
“Four years after the European introduction of SACD
players in 1999, a vibrant business model has developed in
Europe.
All sectors of the audio industry are reporting strong demand
for the new digital audio format.
“With majors such as Universal Music, Sony
Music Entertainment, EMI/Virgin and BMG releasing a rich variety
of new albums from international recording artists as well
as local superstars, together with re-mastered versions of
classic works there is a steady flow of music from all genres
being made available on Super Audio CD.”
“Universal Music reports that shipments of
the Rolling Stones Re-mastered Series have exceeded two million.
Likewise, EMI reports that shipments of the multi-channel re-mastered
Super Audio CD version of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side
of the Moon’ have topped the 500,000 mark.
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| Sony
SACD display at Hi-Fi Show and AV Expo 2003. |
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“With CD sales showing a worrying downwards
trend across Europe, Super Audio CD provides a welcome boost
for our future business,” comments Dirk de
Clippeleir, director, new formats at Universal Music International. “It
is still relatively early days for the format, but its multi-channel
capabilities linked with the CD compatibility of the hybrid
disc creates a compelling customer proposition which appeals
to all kinds of music lovers from classical to pop and rock.
“Currently, there are 867 titles available in
Europe of which more than 70 percent are hybrid discs. Another
growing trend is evident in terms of multi-channel releases
with most new releases, and around 50 percent of all albums
featuring multi-channel mixes.
“Industry reports show strong sales of SACD
with the European installed user base having doubled from one
million to two million in the last eight-month period. There
are now more than 65 SACD models available from 28 manufacturers.
Several other manufacturers are expected to announce plans
to introduce SACD players before the end of the year.
“The biggest selling category of [SACD] player
is home theatre systems which combine Super Audio CD with DVD-Video
in a single unit. Sony has made SACD standard in all of its
Home Theatre systems.
“For the last 20 years, CD has served the market
tremendously well and whatever replaces it must offer the consumer
a considerably enhanced proposition. It must respect consumers’ investment
in CD music and offer significant added value in terms of multi-channel
home entertainment. As CD’s developers, Philips and Sony
recognize this. Super Audio CD has taken many years to develop
and now we are beginning to see the fruit of our labour in
terms of a rapidly evolving business in Europe,” explains
Jos Bruins, Marketing Director at Philips Standards and Intellectual
Property. “We believe that Super Audio CD will
reinvigorate the entire music industry in Europe. Not just
the consumer electronics sector – it offers the same
potential to the music recording industry and retail sector
as well.”
At the show, Sony displayed its new 9000 Series hi-fi components.
This comprises a flagship multi-channel digital amplifier (TA-DA9000ES),
together with the SCD-XA9000ES Super Audio CD player.
Like Pioneer and Meridian, Sony equips its latest multi-channel
amplification with an i.LINK (IEEE 1394) interface, providing
a high quality single-cable-connection to the SCD-XA9000ES
SACD player. This interface supports SACD’s native DSD
signals! Very interestingly, the new models also include time
delay and bass management features within the “DSD domain”!
[most SACD players perform bass management within the DSD domain,
so this is not new - SMR] The TA-DA9000ES and SCD-XA9000ES
will be available from October 2003.
Summing Up...
Overall, this year’s show could not be described as anything
spectacular, and in particular those small hotel guest rooms
hardly did any of the equipment justice sonically.
In terms of high-resolution audio, probably the only representative
demonstration, albeit only in stereo, was hosted by none other
than Ken Ishiwata of Marantz fame, who was showcasing the company’s
latest SC-7S1 stereo control amplifier with two monaural MA-9S1
power amplifiers, coupled to a SA-12S1 SACD player. The occasion
also marked the 50th anniversary of the company.
To be honest, however, the Redbook CD and SACD discs that were
demonstrated through this system both sounded impressive, but
surprisingly, the CD sounded no worse than the SACD. Multi-channel
high-resolution demonstrations, however, were something of
a ‘no-show’ at this event, apart from a few bursts
from the Pioneer’s DVD-A/V HT system, before the volume
had to be turned down again to permit conversations to take
place.
In the York Theatre, however, there was a multi-channel demonstration
of sorts, involving a huge stack of Bryston amps (ten 7B SST
at 1,000watts each, one 4B SST at 300watts per channel and
two 14B SST at 1,000 watts per channel) powering the most monstrous
PMC speakers I have ever seen, their BB5XBD-Active across the
front, MB2 in rear and IB2 to the sides. However, this proved
to be a missed opportunity since in many cases the Linn universal
player was running with DTS or Dolby Digital sources, even
though several members of the audience (myself included) offered
the technician the opportunity to spin their own DVD-Audio
discs which they had eagerly taken into the room…
Martin Fendt - 30/09/2003
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