UMG Pushes new audio format in BluRay Discs - "High Fidelity Pure Audio"

[hydra]

Editorial: High Fidelity Pure Audio starting a noble but losing battle

The announcement is wrapped in an aura of dj vu: Universal Music Group is marketing an uncompressed, high-end digital audio format for Blu-ray called High Fidelity Pure Audio (HFPA). Where standard CD audio is 44.1KHz at 16 bits, HFPA's A2D sampling rate clocks in at a sky-high 96KHz at 24 bits.

More in the source link.

With a BluRay capacity disk, why stop at 24/96? Why not higher?

I wish they'd planned on 24/96 (and higher) downloadable FLAC/WAV instead. It might have been more helpful, and been more, uh, hardware/platform independent.

It will be interesting to see how long this will live. DVD-A, anybody?

 

[technobhatt]

So, does that mean CDs or CD quality audio is gonna be upgraded by HFPA Bluray disc?

 

[hydra]

I doubt it! I don't think a lot of people would like to buy a BR Player just for music. When we can have 24/96 downloads, why bother to get a BR Player? I also doubt if the HFPA discs will be priced similarly to CDs.

 

[sdurani]

With a BluRay capacity disk, why stop at 24/96? Why not higher?

They are going higher, IF the source material is 192/24.

There's no need for a new format, since the Blu-ray spec already allows for up to 8 channels (7.1) at 96/24 and up 6 channels (5.1) at 192/24.

I recently picked up the Led Zeppelin concert 'Celebration Day' on a format called Blu-Ray Audio. Guess what: it was a regular Blu-ray with no video content (just the title of each song).

Here is the video for the Universal Music Group announcement:
High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray - English - YouTube