BIG Blu-Ray Audio drive from Universal Music in 2013

[Quad Linda]

Let's put it into perspective: Quad eventually tanked, DVD-A and SACD didn't gain the acceptance that the labels had hoped for. Yet, SACD is the defacto current standard for classical and (mostly 2ch) audiophile reissues. DVD-A/V 5.1 albums are far from dead. Blu-Ray-A is slowly, but steadily growing. It appears that the fat lady ain't gonna sing for the forseeable future.

Surround music is far from a mass market product, yet new popular titles appear regularly. Far more product has been mixed, remixed or rereleased in the last two years than from '77 to '97. That truly IS good news. Anyone not capable of Blu-Ray-A or SACD 5.1 is missing some fantastic surround music.

:51banana:

After weeks of SNAFU's with two glass companies, the shelf to hold my power amps is finally made and tempered. Within the next few days, I expect to have my main system connected in my new home. 40 pieces of gear (incl iMac, PC, printer & gateway). Can't wait. When the dust settles, I'll post a pic with my profile.

 

[Neil Palfreyman]

ANATO was my first DVD-Audio (got it back when it first came out, was it 2001? 2002?) so I wouldn't/couldn't part with it for sentimenthol reasons alone!

It may well have been my first as well. I bought it and Fragile at a roundabout the same time (pun intended)

 

[fredblue]

It may well have been my first as well. I bought it and Fragile at a roundabout the same time (pun intended)

ah-ha! nice one!

 

[fredblue]

Let's put it into perspective: Quad eventually tanked, DVD-A and SACD didn't gain the acceptance that the labels had hoped for. Yet, SACD is the defacto current standard for classical and (mostly 2ch) audiophile reissues. DVD-A/V 5.1 albums are far from dead. Blu-Ray-A is slowly, but steadily growing. It appears that the fat lady ain't gonna sing for the forseeable future.

Surround music is far from a mass market product, yet new popular titles appear regularly. Far more product has been mixed, remixed or rereleased in the last two years than from '77 to '97. That truly IS good news. Anyone not capable of Blu-Ray-A or SACD 5.1 is missing some fantastic surround music.

:51banana:

After weeks of SNAFU's with two glass companies, the shelf to hold my power amps is finally made and tempered. Within the next few days, I expect to have my main system connected in my new home. 40 pieces of gear (incl iMac, PC, printer & gateway). Can't wait. When the dust settles, I'll post a pic with my profile.

absolutely Linda! Surround & Hi-Rez of non-Classical repertoire's doing quite nicely (though there's never enough new or "old new" surround for me & there could and should be more!) at least we continually get some stuff unlike when Quad kicked the bucket and there was a looong period without any surround music! dark days compared to now, we shouldn't lose sight of that!

 

[rtbluray]

Apparently, HFPA will announce more titles this week too!

Let's hope for more 5.1 at the very least, and at the most, unreleased 5.1 mixes at that too!

 

[fredblue]

Apparently, HFPA will announce more titles this week too!

Let's hope for more 5.1 at the very least, and at the most, unreleased 5.1 mixes at that too!

DEFFO RT!! I'm keeping everything crossed including my eyes! @: :ugham:

Wouldn't it be cool if the next announcements were U2, Nirvana & ABBA in 5.1..!? :banana:

I doubt it.. more likely to be Brothers in Arms in 5.1.. but still one can dream!

 

[steelydave]

I think the fact that they have announced a 5.1 title, AND made a point of mentioning it as a selling point is an important development. It means that they've heard the customer feedback and are acting on it - hopefully it will sell well and we'll see more 5.1 titles.

 

[fredblue]

I think the fact that they have announced a 5.1 title, AND made a point of mentioning it as a selling point is an important development. It means that they've heard the customer feedback and are acting on it - hopefully it will sell well and we'll see more 5.1 titles.

very true! the constant posting by surround music fans (many of us here I imagine! definitely myself included!) on the HFPA Facebook page asking about 5.1 releases must have had an impact - especially when one considers the French release schedule with just one 5.1 title so far - and here we are with the UK release schedule and the very first release has 5.1 - and is a big name act with a big album, all in 5.1. it's a positive development indeed!

 

[Cheezmo]

I'm just glad it is in FULL 5.1. I'm sick and tired of all those crappy partial 5.1 releases we've been getting.

 

[DuncanS]

I've decided to buy only the 5.1 Blu-rays to start with, even if I've got them on SACD or DVD-A. Maybe coupled with all the requests for 5.1 from people they'll get the hint and release all those surround mixes just sitting there in the can not earning a return on the investment! :banana:

 

[leevitalone1]

DEFFO RT!! I'm keeping everything crossed including my eyes! @: :ugham:

Wouldn't it be cool if the next announcements were U2, Nirvana & ABBA in 5.1..!? :banana:

I doubt it.. more likely to be Brothers in Arms in 5.1.. but still one can dream!

One thing I notice with you guys from the EU is that you like almost everything in music. Me-I would never listen to MJ or Abba. Not even on the radio. Not cutting your tastes-I just find it interesting. Plus I notice Jazz and progressive music is more widly accepted also by folks in Europe. Jimi Hendix had to leave the US to get appreciated, just goes to show you.
And what happend? everyone in the US followed. The 1st time I saw the Beatles it was as a joke on the Tonite show-big joke ha? The clip was the middle of "I wanna hold YH" and them shaking their heads, and singing. I even thought it was funny-but they had the last laugh.

 

[fredblue]

I'm just glad it is in FULL 5.1. I'm sick and tired of all those crappy partial 5.1 releases we've been getting.

like the Quadrophenia 5.1 EP DVD-A, you mean..? you don't get much more partial than that! @:

 

[fredblue]

I've decided to buy only the 5.1 Blu-rays to start with, even if I've got them on SACD or DVD-A. Maybe coupled with all the requests for 5.1 from people they'll get the hint and release all those surround mixes just sitting there in the can not earning a return on the investment! :banana:

it probably won't surprise too many on here who know me that I've already got a good few (Nina Simone, Getz/Gilberto, Quincy Jones, Ella & Louis, among them) of these HFPA BD-A's on pre-order at Amazon UK.. it helps I'll lap up those albums in Hi-Rez anyway but supporting the formats a compelling reason too, so I'll pre-order the Queen BD-A as soon as its up, despite owning the DVD-A & 30th Anniv'y DVD-V already

 

[fredblue]

One thing I notice with you guys from the EU is that you like almost everything in music. Me-I would never listen to MJ or Abba. Not even on the radio. Not cutting your tastes-I just find it interesting. Plus I notice Jazz and progressive music is more widly accepted also by folks in Europe. Jimi Hendix had to leave the US to get appreciated, just goes to show you.
And what happend? everyone in the US followed. The 1st time I saw the Beatles it was as a joke on the Tonite show-big joke ha? The clip was the middle of "I wanna hold YH" and them shaking their heads, and singing. I even thought it was funny-but they had the last laugh.

I never thought of it like that, though I guess there's a perception of broad (and sometimes differing/baffling!) tastes in the UK/Europe compared to the States.. but on balance there's things like Country which are huge over there but not so much here, so its swings & roundabouts I reckon.

at this point I'd take Abba in Hi-Rez even if "only" stereo (with the opportunity/possibility of some of it being from the analogue masters etc) but I don't think I'd bite on MJ unless it was 5.1 as I don't think there's a lot Hi-Rez can do for the bulk of his solo output (but that's another discussion to be fair!) @:

 

[Q8]

Me-I would never listen to MJ or Abba. Not even on the radio.

See that girl, watch that scene, digging the Dancing Queen

 

[fredblue]

five point one of us is lonely,
five point one of us is only
waiting for a call..!! @:

 

[jasong]

five point one of us is lonely,
five point one of us is only
waiting for a call..!! @:

I think its great they announced another title and in 5.1 too. I have the Queen nite at the opera in surround. but its a good sign they are releasing more. remember the big timing for their releases will be mid to end of Sept in time for the xmas shopping season. i just hope they dont do a rhino quado on us, two releases and adios amigos.

 

[0tto]

i guess UMG isn't direct this release for me or anyone at this community but with purpose to expand target market.
so the choise is quite right. famous album in stunningly aggressive surround should make impact on those, who haven't
heard DVD-A due to absence of appropriate gears in past. i do remember shock i got, when received this DVD-A and first
time heard it. it was amazing experience.
as someone mentioned above, UMG only should avoid to use version, used for Audio DVD with DTS stream, sound mastering
on which is terrible and will be main point for first time buyers to run away from not only 5.1 format, but and other planned
Pure Audio BD-A.

p.s. one more guess. since UMG took over EMI, perhaps we can expect another releases from past DVD-A list,
issued by EMI.

 

[JonUrban]

We should welcome ALL "real" 5.1 releases, not just those in a particular format. Blu-Ray is the current format going forward, so that makes the most sense. Those with DVD-A in their cars can convert the titles if the feel so inclined. At least they're not watermarked!

 

[TVB]

[And the new HFPA release is... "A Night at the Opera" by Queen...
It WILL have 5.1 though, which is a start. Now if we can only convince them to release unreleased 5.1 mixes. Guess we'll have to convince them with our wallets...]
This is frustrating...With so much music out there that has not been released in 5.1 why are they giving us another piece that already has a 5.1 release? How about some of the other Queen albums!!!