SACD/DVD-A..What's the point?

gshisme

Surround for H/T..definitely. Surround for music?

It was a novelty that didn't last long for me. I found the HD yammy player just sitting there for longer periods of time not being used while the redbook or vinyl played on. When I attend a concert, usually in a small theater, the music is in front of me. In the most recent case by the way, Bela Fleck. And that's just the way I prefer to listen at home also. That wonderful two channel sound stage. So my question is what's the point? I just don't understand all the hoopla over multi-channel music.

Greg

danger boy

Originally posted by gshisme
I just don't understand all the hoopla over multi-channel music. Greg

apparently.. no one else did either. both formats could soon be gone..

it was a format war that killed them. Neither camp did a good job of promoting surround sound early on to the general public. They largely left it on it's own to flutter and die.

Any time something new comes out. it's given promotion to launch it. Then slowly the public cathes on.. but without promotion. who's going to know it's even out there?

I said this a few years ago.. when CC had both SACD and DVD-a displays set up in one of their stores here where i live. Both displays were turned off or no discs were in the players. The DVD-a player even had Polk speakers hooked up to it. The SACD display.. used Bose.

I own about a dozen DVD-a discs.. i won't be buying any more of them.

Danny Tse

Originally posted by danger boy
apparently.. no one else did either. both formats could soon be gone..

it was a format war that killed them. Neither camp did a good job of promoting surround sound early on to the general public. They largely left it on it's own to flutter and die.

Any time something new comes out. it's given promotion to launch it. Then slowly the public cathes on.. but without promotion. who's going to know it's even out there?

I think you're totally right about the promotion aspect of DVD-A/SACD, danger boy. However, I don't think either DVD-A or SACD is dead quite yet....DVD-A is morphing into DualDisc and SACD titles are being added everyday.

Also, I think the general public is more interested in downloading than high quality music reproduction. Besides multi-channel music reproduction, both DVD-A and SACD can also deliver high resolution stereo, but nowadays, who will stay put to appreciate the music? There are also so many other entertainment alternatives out there....video games, internet, movies, etc....

BTW, Bela Fleck is on SACD....

F1nut

Greg,

I don't know how to tell you this, but every SACD disc has a hi-rez 2 channel layer that usually sounds out of this world. Eff surround sound, 2 channel is were it's at. SACD is here to stay, but as an audiophile format, much as vinyl.

gshisme

Originally posted by F1nut
Greg,

I don't know how to tell you this, but every SACD disc has a hi-rez 2 channel layer that usually sounds out of this world.

Yup, I'm familiar with the hybrids. I should have been more specific to the 5.1 format. And I agree, screw surround. I have kept all my SACD hybrids, just for two channel listening. DVD-A's are gone...won't play in my CD player.

Marketing of the SACD format, or lack of I should say, seemed to be weighted much more towards the surround aspect instead of the hi-rez two channel format...which is a shame.



By the way Danny..."Future Man" is quite the musician and entertainer!

F1nut

Originally posted by gshisme
Marketing of the SACD format, or lack of I should say, seemed to be weighted much more towards the surround aspect instead of the hi-rez two channel format...which is a shame.

Agreed and it is a shame.


Edit: it's not just the hybrids that have a 2 channel hi-rez layer, they all do.

gshisme

And Danger, last time I was in CC I asked them where the SACD/DVD-A selections were, just to have a little fun with 'em, and they looked at me all stupid like. They absolutely didn't have a clue as to what I was talking about let alone direct me. Of course I already had suspicions of this.

reeltrouble1

If I may add just a bit to F1's right on statement. Hi resolution is about higher sampling and quantization rates, millions of more measurements for the dynamics of each tones amplitude and thousands more samples per second.

I got a kick out of the surround in the beginning that was short lived. Yea, the marketing was geared to 5.1, no way the younger set was going for this, you really think Ashley Simpson is going to sound better with five speakers, yeesh, I cant take her with two!!!!!!!!!!!

disneyjoe7

Originally posted by F1nut

I don't know how to tell you this, but every SACD disc has a hi-rez 2 channel layer that usually sounds out of this world. Eff surround sound, 2 channel is were it's at. SACD is here to stay, but as an audiophile format, much as vinyl.

They all have a 2 channel layer :cool: But can say this lack of info on this subject as prevented me and others I'm sure not to jump on the band wagon. This is something I never knew, many thanks to the new Guru of Club Polk.

begbie

They should revive the 5.1 surround sound music format with...........

The Thong Song !!


Thong!...thh...thh....thhh....Thong !



Seriously though, I gave up on it a long time ago. Of the many format issues, the last one that did it for me was when some popular albums came out and their audio mix/sound quality was rated way less than favourable.

Airplay355

theres ludacris SACD.....

Frank Z

Hmmm,
Seems that I'm the only one left that still likes the multichannel format. I feel so lonely....

cfrizz

Don't feel too lonely Frank. I also like multichannel music. What's the point of having all of those speakers if they can't be utilized for music as well as movies?

If they had focused on upgrading popular bands music rather than mostly classical, I think the formats would have done a lot better.

aaharvel

i love my SACD- in both multi- channel (quasi 7.1 with y adapters in the left/right rear surround rca outputs of the actual player) or in 2channel.

i can defintely hear a difference- as my friends.
The support for the format may not be mainstream- but it could be worse.

Toxis

I prefer 2ch but for a few albums out there, they do a wonderful job of doing Multi channel. For instance, NIN SACD. Sounds wicked in Multi using the rears for all those different sounds. Linkin Park's Reanimation on DVDa, also great use of the surrounds for a 3D feel. But when I'm in the mood to critically listen to music, 2ch all night.