Quote Originally Posted by basite
I don't know about Blu ray for audio...

yes, it'll be the 'ultimate' quality audio carrier, but on the other hand, streaming audio (and media servers and such), are starting rise too, a few years from now, I see streaming taking the lead over other mediums...
Streaming audio is really helpful in housewide system, its a convience tool. Quality is not number one. Bluray audio will have something for everyone, those will anything from a HDMI 1.1 to optical.

then there is the cost, most people won't give the extra money for that extra quality, for which you'll need a good system. (admit it, blu ray audio will be (if it ever comes) a more expensive medium than the cd), whereas streaming will be at a really low cost, available for everyone..
Once again, streaming is great for computer speakers, they hide flaws in the data. That would be a different person from a person who listens via a mid to high resolution system. Any new technology would have to have the benefits to appeal to both to corner a market.

I see the CD living on for a couple years (most people take the cd as the standard music medium...), blu ray audio might be something like SACD, but I don't think it'll ever break through...


Keep them spinning,
Bert.
Bluray audio has many advantages over SACD. It can be played over a single cable. Its music tracks cover everything from basic HDMI 1.1 through optical. So it does not require a special bluray player, any player can pass 24/192khz PCM audio via both 6 channel cables, and HDMI. PCM is the most widely used format in the music business by far. Unlike SACD, it does not require specialized equipment(except higher resolution DAC, which are widely available, and cheap).

I do not think BR audio is a mass market product, unless video comes along with it. However it does not have to be either. CD can stay, streaming can stay, but there will ALWAYS be somebody who actually cares about quality audio and video. That is the bottom line.