The thing about redbook is, from first principles: it is an entirely appropriate/adequate format to capture the recorded event. 16 bit, 44.1kHz provides sufficient resoution to contain upwards of 95 dB dynamic range. We would be so lucky if cd's, sacd's, or dvd-a's had half that dynamic range on an average basis. It is not the process of encoding (digitizing and burning a cd layer) that is the issue. The music industry is listening to and responding with what the average human being wants: loud compressed formats. Unfortunately we are the extreme minority who want higher quality recordings.
I think only if we get the measured best (analyze the dynamic range) of redbook recordings compared to the best of pure DSD recordings would that test be more meaningful. If DSD/SACD happens to be better then perhaps it's in the post processing that manifests the performance benefit (ie the weak link of redbook is not the bits/sample rate)
I personally have several SACD's and lots more cd's. There are some SACD's that, well basically suck; otoh, there are cd's that sound about as good as my best sacd's (sheer presence/coherence and ease of sound) but are not avail on SACD. This seems to point the finger to recording technique as the limiting factor, not the "high res" format.
Unless God comes down from the heavens and charges the music industry leaders with the direction to fully realize the available dynamic range on redbook, we will remain where we are. It will probably get a whole lot worse (eg louder cd's) before there might ever be a return to high fidelity/wide dynamic range recordings.
I think only if we get the measured best (analyze the dynamic range) of redbook recordings compared to the best of pure DSD recordings would that test be more meaningful. If DSD/SACD happens to be better then perhaps it's in the post processing that manifests the performance benefit (ie the weak link of redbook is not the bits/sample rate)
I personally have several SACD's and lots more cd's. There are some SACD's that, well basically suck; otoh, there are cd's that sound about as good as my best sacd's (sheer presence/coherence and ease of sound) but are not avail on SACD. This seems to point the finger to recording technique as the limiting factor, not the "high res" format.
Unless God comes down from the heavens and charges the music industry leaders with the direction to fully realize the available dynamic range on redbook, we will remain where we are. It will probably get a whole lot worse (eg louder cd's) before there might ever be a return to high fidelity/wide dynamic range recordings.