Interested in Improving the Sound of Your Stereo? Consider Records
Introduced in 1982, the compact disc was intended to provide better sound than the 40-year-old long-play record album, popularly known as the LP. Using a laser rather than a diamond needle for playback the compact disc was smaller, more convenient to use, and less susceptible to damage than the LP. A bonus was that the format was said to offer "perfect sound forever." "Forever" isn't that long these days; improvements in digital sound have come along in the last twenty years and the music industry introduced two new formats this decade that are designed to improve upon the "perfect" sound of the compact disc. Those formats are the Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD) and DVD Audio (DVD-A.) Over the years, various audio publications have criticized the sound of compact discs, describing the sound as "harsh", "brittle" or "sterile" compared to the sound of the LP. After years of research, SACD and DVD-A were introduced several years ago and introduced sound that was said to be cleaner and more natural than that of the compact disc.
In addition, these formats offered multi-channel sound, and artists such as Pink Floyd offered special multi-channel versions of their albums to entice sales. It hasn't worked, and sales of both formats peaked in 2003. What is interesting, however, is that both formats still trail the LP in sales!According to the Recording Industry Association of America, the combined sales of SACD and DVD-A were less than those of the LP in 2004. The music industry is in a slump at the moment, and sales of all formats were down last year. But sales of LPs were down 13% from 2003, while combined SACD and DVD-A sales were down 33%.
It would appear that the new formats are failing, even though they are said to be superior to the compact disc. The LP, on the other hand, continues to have steady sales. While the major labels are still somewhat hesitant to release new product in LP form, labels that specialize in reissuing older material, such as Classic Records, are releasing as much product as their manufacturing capacity will permit. It is worth noting that much of this reissued product comes in the form of high-quality, limited edition LP pressings that often carry premium prices of up to $50 per title. Why are records continuing to sell while the new formats fail? There are several reasons why records are outselling the new, "superior" digital disc formats:
Like VHS vs. Beta in the 1970's, the SACD and DVD-A formats are largely incompatible. While players have been introduced that will play either one, most players play either one format or the other. Worse, neither one will play on a traditional CD player. You must replace your player to play either one.
SACD and DVD-A both have multichannel capabilities, but neither format's players have digital outputs. Both must be connected to amplifiers or receivers with special SACD or DVD-A analog inputs.
Arguments can always be made about the sound of compact disc vs records vs SACD vs DVD-A, but millions of consumers are content to listen to music in MP3 format on portable players. MP3 format is inherently inferior in sound quality to all of the other formats, but MP3 players are selling as fast as companies can make them.
Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
San Mateo, CA (ContentDesk) November 11, 2005 -- CE Buys, LLC has launched their new Digital Camera Buying Guide and Flat-Panel TVs Buying Guide on their web site. These guides come in the heels of their previously launched Buying Guides which included The Teeth Whitening Buying Guide, The DVD Movies By Mail Buying Guide, and ...
Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
Dvd > Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions you're going to have to make when building your home theater. The receiver has a number of functions including; connecting and switching audio sources; connecting and switching video sources; decoding surround sound formats; amplifying an audio signal and sending it to your speakers; tuning in to radio stations; and acting as the interface between you and your home theater.The first thing to think about is whether you want a receiver at all or would you be better off buying a separate decoder, amplifier, and tuner?Despite being a more expensive route - not to mention the extra space needed - separates do have some advantages. You can pick and choose your own combination of components, can upgrade each component individually and won't lose all the functions if one piece develops a fault. On top of that, having each electronic component in a separate box does improve sound quality when compared with having them all on one circuit...
Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Dvd > Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions you're going to have to make when building your home theater. The receiver has a number of functions including; connecting and switching audio sources; connecting and switching video sources; decoding surround sound formats; amplifying an audio signal and sending it to your speakers; tuning in to radio stations; and acting as the interface between you and your home theater.The first thing to think about is whether you want a receiver at all or would you be better off buying a separate decoder, amplifier, and tuner?Despite being a more expensive route - not to mention the extra space needed - separates do have some advantages. You can pick and choose your own combination of components, can upgrade each component individually and won't lose all the functions if one piece develops a fault. On top of that, having each electronic component in a separate box does improve sound quality when compared with having them all on one circuit...
Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Dvd > Buying a Home Theater Receiver
Hemi Heaven Video Now Available
Langley, B.C. (ContentDesk) March 31, 2006 -- Horsepower Heaven Videos has just released the newest Drag Racing DVD. Hemi Heaven features Hemi-powered Super Stock cars in action during three 2005 west coast Hemi Super Stock Shootouts at Las Vegas, Seattle and Mission Canada.Producer Larry Pfister has been producing this genre of drag race videos since 2001 when the highly acclaimed Four Days in May became the quintessential video on these race cars. Since that video everybody asked me to do something just for the Hemi cars says Pfister. In 2005 we shot the three biggest Hemi Shootouts on the west coast and put them all together on one video .In addition to the Super Stock Hemis is exclusive coverage from the 2005 MOPARS at the STRIP.
Dubbed the Wildest Mopar Party in the West, this gathering of Chrysler enthusiasts and their vehicles shows everything from 300 m.p.h. Top Fuel Dragsters to million dollar restored muscle cars of the seventies.A two DVD package Hemi Heaven...
Hemi Heaven Video Now Available
Dvd > Hemi Heaven Video Now Available
Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
San Mateo, CA (ContentDesk) November 11, 2005 -- CE Buys, LLC has launched their new Digital Camera Buying Guide and Flat-Panel TVs Buying Guide on their web site. These guides come in the heels of their previously launched Buying Guides which included The Teeth Whitening Buying Guide, The DVD Movies By Mail Buying Guide, and ...
Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
Dvd > Digital Camera & Flat-Panel TV Buying Guides Launches For Holiday Season
Card Shark Uses Skills to Inform, Not Exploit Casino Consultant Demonstrates Cheating Techniques to Casinos, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Now the General Public
Florence, KY (ContentDesk) January 7, 2006 -- Beginning Sunday, January 8, its Vegas Week on the Travel Channel. Cheats & Scams 2 features Sal Piacente, an expert on casino scams. This airs in the advent of the (January 24) release of Poker Cheats Exposed, produced by Pocket Aces, LLC. The 2-1/2 hour DVD program features Piacente revealing the methods/devices used by professional card sharks to fleece unwitting poker players and offers advice to guard against them.According to Card Shark Media, an estimated 60 million people in the U.S. play poker in casinos or at home or watch poker on television.
Poker is so hot right now, especially with the young crowd. Theyre real vulnerable (to card sharks), Piacente comments. Casinos and card clubs dont have a vested interest in poker like they do other games. No matter who wins, they collect the rake. Its up to the players to protect themselves and thats where I come in. For over two decades, Piacente has been a consultant to...
Card Shark Uses Skills to Inform, Not Exploit Casino Consultant Demonstrates Cheating Techniques to Casinos, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Now the General Public
Dvd > Card Shark Uses Skills to Inform, Not Exploit Casino Consultant Demonstrates Cheating Techniques to Casinos, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Now the General Public