Let's look at this new Intel platform from a business standpoint... SACD is a product of Sony/Phillips, a MAJOR union of two of the major audio manufacturers from Europe and Japan, they have a direct responsibility for its success or failure. Sony owns a LOT of the music we listen to, under all their little labels and majors, they are in a position to release albums in their desired format, SACD. They have access to many of the most prized master recordings. DVD-A comprises the other half of the market, with a number of major labels pledging their support. However, DVD-A is not "owned" by any one company, it's a "consortium" of many smaller companies. No one has direct P&L responsibility for the success/failure of DVD-A. This is a major stumbling block to its success...
This new Intel format has none of the advantages of SACD and/or DVD-A in terms of ownership and responsibility for its success. It's a random new format proposed by a player who has no standing in this field, and controls no recordings whatsoever. Intel is at a loss when it comes to releasing new recordings in its new format. How will they compel any record label to release albums in its new format?
There is another new format on the horizon called "blue-ray" that will provide for media that moves beyond DVD-Video and allows for full Hi-Definition video/audio for HDTV. It is the natural succesor to DVD-Video. It will allow DVD makers to offer content that will be compatible with HDTV. HDTV, although it seriously lags behind where it should be, is INEVITABLE, it can't be stopped, and hooray, that's a good thing. Having a rental and recordable format that is compatible with HDTV is inevitable and can't be fought.
However, what, if any, accompanying audio format to Blue-Ray is to be offered is a question that hangs in the air. Maybe Blu-ray will provide the ultimate, final audio format, maybe not...
Either way, that's many years in the future...
