I am pleased to say that last year proved that the death of immersive audio physical discs has been over exaggerated. In fact, there were over 240 unique physical and download releases that immersionists could add to their collection during 2024. Some of these came as Blu-rays, DVDs, and SACDs, in massive box sets or part of a stand-alone series, or even as direct sales from the artist. Some immersion releases could be found as FLAC, WAV, MKV, or MP4 download files, yet even more amazing was the plethora of Dolby Atmos releases via streaming services, which go far beyond the physical count noted above.
However, with each of these releases comes the needed time to explore and digest them. I have read numerous accounts on forums where collectors comment on their growing stacks of immersive releases that they have not yet listened to. I am part of that crowd, and guilty of discovering sealed releases filed on the shelves that I forgot about but was so excited to purchase at the time.
In some cases, such as the massive Who’s Next box set, I have had buyer’s remorse – especially when a stand-alone Blu-ray has subsequently become available. One must consider the physical storage space needed for such massive boxes compared to standard jewel cases or optical disc cases, which is the form factor used for this stand-alone Blu-ray disc.
I can say that it is a welcome change to see a slight return to stand-alone releases. However, I do wish that labels would separate vinyl from the optical immersive audio discs, and more importantly offer the stand-alone at the same time for those collectors who prefer to save shelf space. Of course, I am not in marketing, and I am certain that the goal of the label is to eek out the highest price first before bottom fishing for the standard immersive editions.
I mention the above to try and make it clear why so few articles have been written here on Hi-Res Edition over the past year. One would have thought that the output would have increased, since the number of releases has dramatically grown. However, time is limited, and enjoyment of immersive audio holds greater value in my life.
This is not to say that my readers are not important. Rather to comment on how the limits of time prevent me from doing everything I would like to do each day. I will write articles from time to time, and I offer any reader who would like their reviews to be published to send a copy for inclusion on Hi-Res Edition.
May the music surround you, may your life be immersed with audio, and filled with a joyful rhythm.
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About the Author
Wesley is a lifelong music enthusiast. He started his career in the recording industry in New York City as an audio engineer, producer, and studio manager. Subsequently he toured across America as a guitarist with the short-lived band Land's Crossing. After many years in the technology sector and amassing a substantial vinyl and CD collection, he delved into immersive audio and created Hi-Res Edition to share with other listeners about the sound quality and discrete mixes available on many formats. He recently upgraded his system to 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos and continues to seek out and share about the best sounding releases.
Feature rich player: UltraHD-Blu-ray, DVD-A, SACD, CD, 4k Video, Dolby Atmos, DTS-X, and most file formats,
