Is BR as a audio format already dead?

[Feanor]

I don't see why to include Tru-HD and DTS-MA both on an audio only disc. It would seem to make more sense to just do uncompressed and the DD+ and whatever DTS's equivalent is which both would include the core. There shouldn't be a storage problem.

Compressed lossless is no problem for sound. It is already used for SACD. But I wonder about proprietary formats, e.g. Dolby Digital or DTS. Does their use make DRM enforceable? Do they drive up cost due to royalties or whatever? Do they restrict choices?

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Compressed lossless is no problem for sound. It is already used for SACD. But I wonder about proprietary formats, e.g. Dolby Digital or DTS. Does their use make DRM enforceable? Do they drive up cost due to royalties or whatever? Do they restrict choices?

DD and Dts is a part of the bluray spec, so yes DRM is enforceable. It sits behind behind HDCP, BD+ and BD watermark. Royalties are built in to the pricing structure already. The use of all of the new audio codecs(and the old ones too) actually allow for more choices in how to listen to bluray music.

DSD is not a lossless compression format. It is just plain lossless.

[Feanor]

DD and Dts is a part of the bluray spec, so yes DRM is enforceable. It sits behind behind HTCP, BD+ and BD watermark. Royalties are built in to the pricing structure already. The use of all of the new audio codecs(and the old ones too) actually allow for more choices in how to listen to bluray music.

DSD is not a lossless compression format. It is just plain lossless.

I'll be watching with interest but it will be while before it will have any practical relevance to me. (I wonder if there will ever be 2-channel only BluRay players at some point, just like the 2-ch SACD players that predominate in the high-end market?)

As for SACD using lossless compression, I know that DSD has nothing to do with compression but I understand that SACD discs typically use compression -- see SACD Wikipedia item.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I'll be watching with interest but it will be while before it will have any practical relevance to me. (I wonder if there will ever be 2-channel only BluRay players at some point, just like the 2-ch SACD players that predominate in the high-end market?)

Since you can have a two channel track on disc, stereo players are unnecessary, and we will probably never see them.

As for SACD using lossless compression, I know that DSD has nothing to do with compression but I understand that SACD discs typically use compression -- see SACD Wikipedia item.

DST(or lossless compression) is only necessary when there is a CD layer on the disc. However if the disc just has DSD in multichannel and a two channel DSD track, then DST is not necessary. The laser will just read the layers.

[drseid]

I am getting in on this one way late, I know...

In my case, I find myself agreeing that BR will probably wind up as a niche audio format. That said, I think there *is* a demand for a sustainable high resolution music format, and BR fits the bill perfectly. I am definitely looking forward to future BR high res. music releases and hope they continue.

BR may wind up relegated to similar buyer profiles as SACD (a format I like, BTW), but the difference here is there is a much larger player base to draw from. As such, BR music discs should at least have a better penetration rate than SACD due to people not having to buy a new player to handle the BR music discs.

---Dave

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

I am getting in on this one way late, I know...

Better late than never bruh

In my case, I find myself agreeing that BR will probably wind up as a niche audio format. That said, I think there *is* a demand for a sustainable high resolution music format, and BR fits the bill perfectly. I am definitely looking forward to future BR high res. music releases and hope they continue.

Considering the folks that would be interested in high resolution audio are a niche group, BR audio just has to appeal to them to be successful.

BR may wind up relegated to similar buyer profiles as SACD (a format I like, BTW), but the difference here is there is a much larger player base to draw from. As such, BR music discs should at least have a better penetration rate than SACD due to people not having to buy a new player to handle the BR music discs.

---Dave

I absolutely agree with this.