John Smyth wrote:

>Does niche = death though?  (Not that you're suggesting that.)
>
>One could argue the Chandos and Hyperion are niche products, or that
>Classical music is a niche product, and yet they and their genres hang
>on.  If SACD has taken off anywhere, it seems to be in the Classical
>market, going by the acceleration of offerings by companies; and the
>high/mid-fi market, going by the availablity of players.  If it remains
>a niche market, that's OK with me.

Except that it means that we'll be paying more, I don't have a problem
either.  I am concerned that these formats, or at least one them, doesn't
succeed to the point of viability for a Hyperion or Chandos.  A niche
is fine.  A niche in a niche is OK.  A niche in a niche in a niche starts
to become pretty precarious.  Hyperion has a dozen SACDs and Chandos a
Little less than twice that.  Both need to get their SACD prices down,
but that's not a new discussion.  Let's hope these labels and others
continue offer more and more.

It seems to me that the dual format track is a loser in the long run.
What I would like to see to feel more comfortable is new releases on
hybrid SACDs only for about the same price as CDs.  This added value -
an important concept in this time of shrinking CD revenue - could well
stimulate sales, and would ensure that SACD gains a foothold.  Independent
classical labels can help with this, but I think the major labels need
to get committed too.

Also, pertinent to a thread we had not too long ago, I'd like to recommend
the new Chandos release of "The Conductors' Transcriptions" with Bach's
works orchestrated by Skrowaczewski, Ormandy, Leinsdorf, Wood, Sargent,
Barbirolli, Mitropoulos, Klemperer, and Damrosch.  Played by the BBC
Symphony Orchestra led by Slatkin, it is pretty wonderful sounding.
Though it is unfortunately over priced, especially in the US.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002AAPC6/classicalnetA/
   http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002AAPC6/classicalnet-21/

Dave