What's needed isn't necessarily a lot of titles - just a few killer apps. High-res alone won't sway the masses. It has to be a few popular titles that are so great in surround sound that folks feel they are missing something with just a stereo copy.

Imagine its 35 years ago and Pepper was released in surround. Imagine the buzz when folks start saying that you haven't heard it unless you've heard it in surround.

Bingo, the issue is forced. Everyone runs out and buys a Bose surround system. Best Buy hires thousands of new clerks. Unemployment drops.

Notice that the question of whether SACD or DVD-A is the true audio grail is totally moot? What wins is what excites.

Of course, given the current state of popular music it will be pretty hard to find even a few titles with both universal popularity and high production values.

Still, I would like to be ready if it does happen. It`s just the optimist in me.