Dedicated to Discs
Sound & Vision|June - July 2024
THOUGH THE famous Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) quote, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated," has been twisted over time from the original quote, "The report of my death was an exaggeration," both very much apply to the state of physical media today.
David Vaughn
Dedicated to Discs

Physical media is far from dead even though Best Buy has decided to stop selling DVDs, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs both in stores and online. The only people cheering Best Buy's decision are the stockholders of Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other smaller online marketplaces who will now increase their market share of physical media.

Regardless, physical media isn't going away anytime soon. Just look at the release of the Oscar-nominated Oppenheimer-it sold out within days upon its release in December 2023 and the studio had to issue a press release saying that more physical copies were being produced and would be in stores as quickly as possible. Was this a case of the bean counters underestimating demand or of consumers wanting the best presentation possible for the Best Picture of 2023.

Regardless, NBC/Universal was thrilled with the response to the movie, and their new collaboration with Christopher Nolan is off to a resounding start.

As much as I personally love physical media-and my collection of over 2,000 titles will attest to that-I can't say that I don't stream a good quantity of my entertainment these days. While the picture quality has come a long way due to advanced compression technologies, the audio still leaves a lot to be desired with the low-bitrate Dolby Digital Plus. Until the streaming companies can figure out a way to give us uncompressed Dolby Digital Atmos and DTS:X, those who want the absolute best quality are going to stick with physical discs to consume the best that Hollywood has to offer, so the need for a top-quality Ultra HD Blu-ray player isn't going away anytime soon.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SOUND & VISIONView all
The Big Clean
Sound & Vision

The Big Clean

Chances are you probably do not think about the state of your electronic devices too often. Oh, you might think about all the upgrades you would like to make; where you would put those new tower speakers, or how a second or third subwoofer would really tame those bass modes in your room, or how much more cinematic a larger screen would be. Sure, you think about that part of your system. But how often do you think about the well-being of your system?

time-read
5 mins  |
August - September 2024
Planar-Magnetic Attraction
Sound & Vision

Planar-Magnetic Attraction

THE DIPTYQUE DP 115 speakers are a new model 2-way, ribbon, and planar magnetic driver dipole \"isodynamic\" speaker system designed and built in France.

time-read
10 mins  |
August - September 2024
Full-Featured 4K
Sound & Vision

Full-Featured 4K

THE QN95D is one of two televisions we went hands-on with on a recent trip to Samsung's New Jersey QA Lab, the other being the S95D quantum-dot OLED.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August - September 2024
Party Animal
Sound & Vision

Party Animal

FOR ANY party, the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Outdoor Bass Bluetooth Speaker is an essential invite.

time-read
7 mins  |
August - September 2024
It's the End of the World. How About Popcorn and a Movie?
Sound & Vision

It's the End of the World. How About Popcorn and a Movie?

Attention all preppers! Today's column is right up your alley-or, more precisely-your tunnel to your underground bunker.

time-read
3 mins  |
August - September 2024
Bridging the Analog-Digital Gap on a Recliner
Sound & Vision

Bridging the Analog-Digital Gap on a Recliner

When I shopped for a motorized recliner, I rejected models with their own Internet Protocol address and built-in speakers. No need. I had already placed a smart speaker on an étagère beside the space where I had planned to put the chair. I'd have a smartphone in my hand and the room would be bathed in Wi-Fi.

time-read
4 mins  |
August - September 2024
BACK TO THE GARDEN
Sound & Vision

BACK TO THE GARDEN

AN AQUARIAN EXPOSITION in WHITE LAKE, N.Y.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August - September 2024
Big Sound, Small Price
Sound & Vision

Big Sound, Small Price

DOLBY ATMOS, once a costly premium, is enjoying a surge of popularity across a range of new audio gear.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August - September 2024
Classic Sound with Streaming Smarts
Sound & Vision

Classic Sound with Streaming Smarts

THE TWENTIETH century had its Roaring Twenties; welcome to the twenty-first's Streaming Twenties.

time-read
10+ mins  |
August - September 2024
Stand and Deliver
Sound & Vision

Stand and Deliver

IT DOESN'T seem all that long ago that SVS first entered the audio scene.

time-read
9 mins  |
August - September 2024