DVD-A & SACD...just a bridge to High Def DVD???

DesertPilot

My new DVD player allows for DVD-A and SACD playback. I've purchased a few discs now and really like the sound. One of the main reasons for superior sound using this new format is the ability to encode more data on DVD-A or SACD.

So, my thought is that once High Def DVDs are released (especially Blu-Ray from Sony) in late 2005...won'e the DVD-A & SACD format be obsolete? With High Def DVDs you get so much storage space, I would think we could get both great sound and a great video display! Right now, DVD-A & SACD uses almost all it's storage space for music (very little if any video).

It just seems to me that wide commercial acceptance won't happen until High Def (blu-ray) DVDs are marketed. Just a thought.
Marcus

Shizelbs

Are CDs dead?

DesertPilot

I don't see DVD-A or SACD replacing CDs anytime soon. That's why SONY is marketing "dual" discs (SACD on one side and CD on the other). Why? because all the portable players & car players are CD only.

Will auto makers go with DVD-A or SACD? Why bother? Just skip right over to High Def DVD players in a couple of years. Already, DVD video is coming to market in autos. I see car makers combining high def DVD players with a small plasma screen (already in production with current DVD technology) and adding GPS displays.

Bottom line...I suspect we'll soon jump right over SACD/DVD-A to High Def DVDs on a large scale. For right now...many DVD players already play DVD-A and SACD...so if yours does...pick up a DVD-A or SACD disc and enjoy.

marcus

F1nut

Originally posted by DesertPilot
Why? because all the portable players & car players are CD only.

It seems the DualDisc's have a major problem, they won't play in a lot of players including those in cars. That ship sunk before it hit the water.

begbie

If there's anything the audio industry has learned from Sacd and Dvd-a -- it's that people are fine with their cd's!

reeltrouble1

Marcus,

As you now know for yourself the SACD/DVD-A high resolution formats simply sound better than regular cd. For me their was just no going back, sure I have some cd discs of music I really like, I still listen to. Many sacd and even dvd-a discs are "hybrid" and will play in your car player as well as your home universal player, I try to buy as many of these as I can and have found many for sale for no more dollars than regular cd.

As to whether some high def dvd audio format will come to the fore front just cant say, as F1 has stated dual disc has some problems. Right now I see DVD on one side and cd on the other being marketed, there are millions of folks out there who basically dont care if a sacd sounds better than a cd and they likely never will, its just a fact, so by giving them some dvd concert footage or what have you I figure folks will buy it.

RT1

Shizelbs

Here's why I think it won't really matter. CDs work for most everyone. I doubt anyone claims to have such an elitest ear that they now NEED DVD-A or SACD. Anyways... the trend in audio is going to lower fidelity. MP3s are king right now, and people are buying up music that is progressively getting worse and worse. Both the artists themselves and the recording quality. So, I don't see enough people caring about premium quality music to give up more money to buy a whole new system that may or may not work with their already extensive CD library. Its gonna take a bigger leap (like tape to CD).

Just my stupid caffeine-overdosed opinion.

F1nut

Not claiming to be elitest, far from it, but I need SACD.

Toxis

Originally posted by Shizelbs
the trend in audio is going to lower fidelity.

EXACTLY! Look at the audio industry as a whole. People used to spend $2000+ on home theaters all the time while the "Entry Level" systems were $1000-1500 and still sold a lot of them. Now people are wanting to buy a home theater for $200 and they think it's the best thing since sliced bread. To bad they're getting junk but they sure do brag to their friends about it. I wish everything was like this. "John, I just bought this loaf of moldy bread, you've gotta come over and try it."

DesertPilot

While I originally posted the comment that I think DVD-A and SACD are simply a "temporary" bridge for producing very high fidelity music until High Def DVDs come out next year...I certainly can't go back to CDs.

Try listening to Sting's "A Brand New Day" (DVD-A) which is kind of a jazz club piece. Or the soundtrack to "A Beautiful Mind" (SACD) which gives you an incredible orchestra of music that will saturate your ears with wonderful instruments and melodys. The DVD-A and SACD formats with these two pieces of music will quite simply amaze you. They each offer a two channel stereo version.

I'm using 4 RTi6's, a CSi5, and two PSW505 subs. Simply awesome sound.

Here's what I'm doing. I bought the least expensive DVD player I could find with DVI video out and also plays DVD-A and SACD (6 channel audio out). No sense spending big bucks until 2006 when all the High Def players come out. If I want to buy a CD, I check for a DVD-A or SACD version and prefer to buy that version.

I think the bottom line is that in a couple of years DVD-A and SACD will fall by the wayside as High Def DVDs will give you equally good sound AND video. Why is video important? Because the mass marketplace demands it. That's where the $$$ are for the industry.

Happy Holidays...Marcus

F1nut

I understand what you are saying, however I disagree that audiophiles want to watch a video as they listen to the music. To truely experience the music one must close their eyes when listening. Watching a video at the same time is a major distraction. This of course, only applies to listening at home. For some reason it doesn't seem to matter at a live performance. I think it's because a live performance is more balanced to the senses where as staring at a TV screen requires more concentration. Have you ever noticed how a TV will kill any conversation in a room when it's turned on? That's how it got the name boob tube. Music doesn't get the same reaction.

Another point is that music/video DVD's are already here and the people that watch them generally don't care how good the sound quality is just as the masses think CD quality is good enough. The record companies aren't stupid and can see that hi-rez formats have a limited appeal therefore will be reluctant to come out with another new hi-rez format such as Blu-ray or High Def DVD's.

The masses are not demanding Hi-rez formats, in fact most of the masses don't have a effing clue what Hi-rez is.

Danny Tse

Looks like November will be a big month for SACDs.....

New titles added should top 120 by the end of the month.