All this may have profound implications for the future of high-resolution audio. Despite Sony's virtual abandonment of SACD, multichannel SACDs continue to be issued by Telarc, Channel Classics, Pentatone, Chandos, BIS, LSO, CSO Resound, SFS Media, Hyperion, Harmonia Mundi and other companies that specialize in classical and jazz. (Some but not all of these releases are DSD-native. Others, like the Linn SACDs, are transcoded from high-resolution LPCM.) The big question is whether these companies will remain loyal to SACD, or explore Blu-ray as an alternative high-resolution audio format.
Naxos, which bills itself as world's largest classical music distributor, has already made its decision. In the December 2007 issue of Stereophile, Klaus Heymann of Naxos revealed that the company, which has ceased releasing multichannel recordings in both SACD and DVD-A formats, has been awaiting the triumph of either Blu-ray or HD DVD before again releasing multichannel recordings. On February 18, Heymann announced that it will begin releasing multi-channel recordings on Blu-ray later this year. If other record companies follow Naxos' lead, expect a host of new high-end Blu-ray players designed to deliver audiophile quality sound from Blu-ray.
Le Blu-ray comme nouvelle source hi-fi ? Comme si on n'avait déjà pas du mal entre les CD intégrés, les transports + DACs, les PC + DACs, les galettes au réglisse...

