BIG Blu-Ray Audio drive from Universal Music in 2013

[fredblue]

Just sent !

any response yet..!? enquiring minds (and me!!) must know!!!

 

[fredblue]

FNAC have now updated their pre-order listings with details (they're the same blurb for all titles)..
for the titles where there were previously 5.1 SACD's the listings say:

"Formats sonores disponibles sur ce Blu-Ray Audio : 2.0 PCM 24bits /96 Khz 2.0 DTS Master Audio24bits /96 Khz 2.0 PCM / Dolby TrueHD 24bits /96 Khz"

So they're all stereo and no 5.1 if FNAC have the correct info.

Better hang onto those 5.1 Johnny Hallyday SACDs!

 

[fredblue]

I have just emailed the two contact addresses on the Universal Brands & News site asking about 5.1 mixes on these blu-ray audio releases and whether there indeed will be any at all.

I will relay any response I get and post here on QQ.

 

[fredblue]

In the glimmer of hope that I do receive any reply or initiate any rapport/dialogue with these Universal employees I have just contacted, if you have any questions you'd like me to ask them regarding these upcoming blu-ray audio discs, please fire off a list here and I will ask them, thanks.

 

[Dixie4]

any response yet..!? enquiring minds (and me!!) must know!!!

No response as yet, Adam ( I think Universal will release a fair few more 2.0 formats, before they roll out the 5.1's ?? )

 

[fredblue]

No response as yet, Adam ( I think Universal will release a fair few more 2.0 formats, before they roll out the 5.1's ?? )

I'd hoped we might not have to suffer the dreaded "Double Dip" all over again with these new releases.. these really need to get at least some 5.1 out sooner rather than later.

the window of opportunity for these will be relatively short and Universal ought to learn from the mistakes of SA-CD and not have dual inventory of albums (as Sony did) with the same album seeing release in separate stereo, then Surround and then Hybrid releases... all further confusing matters and sinking the formats' chances with 'Joe Schmo Consumer'..!!

I realise that was partly borne out of necessity as the SA-CD technology developed (and Hybrids became a viable reality that could be replicated, rather than just a neat idea) ..but now there is NO excuse! blu-ray can do it all here and now! So lets have a mix of stereo and 5.1 where possible with albums mixed in surround and ready to go from the start..!!

I'll still buy the Supertramp, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Cat Stevens, Nina Simone stereo BDA's now, as they're all such terrific albums and I'm hopeful they will sound excellent in Hi-Rez, plus the anally-retentive completist in me just takes over with this stuff irrespective of the lack of surround.. but I think I'll stop short of buying the Hallyday/Brel/Krall etc at this point if they're stereo-only.

 

[fredblue]

the CDJapan listing for the "Tea for the Tillerman" BDA here:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/s/detailview.html?KEY=NEOIMP-6669

says in its 'Description' blurb..

【こちらの商品は[Blu-ray Audio]です。CDプレイヤーでは再生できません。映像は収録されておりません】 20世紀ロック、ポップスの歴史に燦然と輝くあの名盤が、Blu-ray Audioの最高レヴェルの高音質で登場! 名曲「雨にぬれた朝」、「ワイルド・ワールド」他を収録した1970年の名盤。2010年に制作された40周年リマスター盤のマスターを使用。

Which loosely translates as...

"This Product place is a Blu-ray Audio. You can not play on a CD player. With high-quality sound of the best of Blu-ray Audio reveals "morning wet in the rain" appearance! Masterpieces, that name board shining brilliantly video are currently not recorded] in the historic 20th century rock and popular music, "Wild excellent record of 1970 which recorded the World "and others. Use the master of 40th anniversary remastered was produced in 2010."

Basically it seems to say this BDA uses a 2010 40th Anniversary remastering..

Now according to Wiki, the album has received 2 recent remasters..

"In November 2008, a "Deluxe Edition" was released featuring a second disc of demos and live recordings."

..and..

"In January 2012, a hi-res 24/192 kHz version was remastered using a Ampex ATR100 and a MSB Technology Studio ADC and released on HDtracks.com."

So who's right!? Which mastering does the BDA use!?

A 2008 one? A 2010 one? A 2012 one?

The plot (and the tea) thickens.....

 

[fredblue]

the CDJapan listing for the "Tea for the Tillerman" BDA here:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/s/detailview.html?KEY=NEOIMP-6669

says in its 'Description' blurb..

【こちらの商品は[Blu-ray Audio]です。CDプレイヤーでは再生できません。映像は収録されておりません】 20世紀ロック、ポップスの歴史に燦然と輝くあの名盤が、Blu-ray Audioの最高レヴェルの高音質で登場! 名曲「雨にぬれた朝」、「ワイルド・ワールド」他を収録した1970年の名盤。2010年に制作された40周年リマスター盤のマスターを使用。

Which loosely translates as...

"This Product place is a Blu-ray Audio. You can not play on a CD player. With high-quality sound of the best of Blu-ray Audio reveals "morning wet in the rain" appearance! Masterpieces, that name board shining brilliantly video are currently not recorded] in the historic 20th century rock and popular music, "Wild excellent record of 1970 which recorded the World "and others. Use the master of 40th anniversary remastered was produced in 2010."

Basically it seems to say this BDA uses a 2010 40th Anniversary remastering..

Now according to Wiki, the album has received 2 recent remasters..

"In November 2008, a "Deluxe Edition" was released featuring a second disc of demos and live recordings."

..and..

"In January 2012, a hi-res 24/192 kHz version was remastered using a Ampex ATR100 and a MSB Technology Studio ADC and released on HDtracks.com."

So who's right!? Which mastering does the BDA use!?

A 2008 one? A 2010 one? A 2012 one?

The plot (and the tea) thickens.....

...and are any of those remasters over the last 5 years any good...?!?!?

 

[fredblue]

well, here's the first batch at a glance in all it's glory, according to FNAC..

there's 36 of them.. but interestingly a fair few that have appeared as pre-order or placeholders elsewhere are nowhere to be found here..

http://recherche.musique.fnac.com/n...l=-1.0&PageIndex=1&ItemPerPage=60&ssi=0&sso=1

 

[fredblue]

titles that appear as placeholders/pre-orders elsewhere which FNAC do not list, include:

Queen - A Night At The Opera,
Lang Lang - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,
Milos Karadaglic - Latino Gold

 

[Dixie4]

Well i'm in a panic over receiving my SITKOL disc !

I've just received a replacement copy of Rolling Stones GRRR ! My first copy had a high pitched buzzing sound from the front left speaker, after the first track.....the replacement is exactly the same ! So clearly suggests it's not a faulty disc !
Anyone had problems with this disc, or have a possible solution ?

 

[fredblue]

Well i'm in a panic over receiving my SITKOL disc !

I've just received a replacement copy of Rolling Stones GRRR ! My first copy had a high pitched buzzing sound from the front left speaker, after the first track.....the replacement is exactly the same ! So clearly suggests it's not a faulty disc !
Anyone had problems with this disc, or have a possible solution ?

firmware all updated on your BDP?
tried different streams?
tried it in another player?

 

[fredblue]

titles that appear as placeholders/pre-orders elsewhere which FNAC do not list, include:

Queen - A Night At The Opera,
Lang Lang - Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.2; Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,
Milos Karadaglic - Latino Gold

oh yes and FNAC is listing a different album by Hélène Grimaud from the one in Universal's preview promo clip and listed on Amazon.de..

"Credo" is the French BDA pre-order on FNAC and the previously announced title/listed on Amazon Germany BDA was "Resonances"... hmmm..

 

[Dixie4]

firmware all updated on your BDP?
tried different streams?
tried it in another player?

Do you normally have to update the firmware yourself, Adam ( Oppo 93, as you know ) I've only had one update appear on the screen since purchasing.
Tried all the options you suggested with the first disc I had....will try again & get back to you. Thanks

 

[fredblue]

Do you normally have to update the firmware yourself, Adam ( Oppo 93, as you know ) I've only had one update appear on the screen since purchasing.
Tried all the options you suggested with the first disc I had....will try again & get back to you. Thanks

I don't recall. I think my BDP prompted me the last time there was an update but you could try manually checking for one by going into the menu's?

 

[fredblue]

I don't recall. I think my BDP prompted me the last time there was an update but you could try manually checking for one by going into the menu's?

the PS3 tends to be pretty good with these BDA's (never had one play up with it on the Tom Petty's, Pink Floyd's, Aqualung, etc., so far) ..so if you've got a PS3, maybe give that a go? if not, I'm running out of ideas sorry!

 

[Dixie4]

I don't recall. I think my BDP prompted me the last time there was an update but you could try manually checking for one by going into the menu's?

The firmware notification is set to on.

I've just tried it on my Sony, and still got the same problem. Like the first disc, it appears it will play 2.0 PCM 24/96 ( Providing you don't try to skip a track !!...if you do, just get high pitched buzzing again. ( FED UP !! )

No PS3

 

[fredblue]

The firmware notification is set to on.

I've just tried it on my Sony, and still got the same problem. Like the first disc, it appears it will play 2.0 PCM 24/96 ( Providing you don't try to skip a track !!...if you do, just get high pitched buzzing again. ( FED UP !! )

No PS3

how about Dolby/DTS streams? have you got the Oppo set to bitstream or do the decoding itself?

 

[Dixie4]

how about Dolby/DTS streams? have you got the Oppo set to bitstream or do the decoding itself?

I've just skipped through the PCM, with no glitches....tried Dolby, playing back at present, although tried to access DTS, and this time no sound at all.
I believe it's set to bitstream, but haven't double checked

Just tried DTS again, getting high pitched buzzing.

 

[fredblue]

I've just skipped through the PCM, with no glitches....tried Dolby, playing back at present, although tried to access DTS, and this time no sound at all.
I believe it's set to bitstream, but haven't double checked

Just tried DTS again, getting high pitched buzzing.

'ow queer..!! :yikes