DCC Archive SACD/DVD Audio

This is my first time here and looking around I didn't see any SACDs or DVD Audio discs? Do you have them and if not, when are you palanning on supporting them?

Thanks,
Greg

 

Greg,

I have a Sony C333ES which I bought from The Good Guys for $300 (demo unit). I have 25 or so SACDs, mainly Sony pop/jazz from Best Buy at $16.99. I don't plan to support DVD-Audio.

Regards,
Metralla

 

DVD-A titles currently in my collection:

Bjork “Vespertine”
Deep Purple “Machine Head"
Doors, The “L. A. Woman”
Emerson, Lake & Palmer “Brain Salad Surgery”
Fleetwood Mac “Rumours”
Grateful Dead “American Beauty”
Steely Dan “Two Against Nature”

the other day, i picked up classic records 24/96 reissue of john coltrane's "blue trane".

later, chris

 

Gary,

Not wanting to start a format war, the following are simply my opinions. YMMV.

I'm a two-channel guy with no home theatre set-up, so DVD-Audio does not appeal. I don't like the idea of needing a TV set to listen to music. I also think that the high storage capacity of DVD-Audio is being used to store a lot of stuff I don't need (multiple channels, pictures) rather than two tracks of very high resolution (sampling rate + word length) audio which is what I want. I am more impressed by DSD technology.

Hybrid SACDs can be played on a CD player, while DVD-Audio has no such capability. The DVD-Audio discs are much more expensive. Don't get me started on DVD-Audio and watermarking. If, in a couple of years time, all CDs released were actually hybrid SACDs at the normal price, there would be satisfied buyers at multiple levels, from "Joe six-pack" to dedicated audionuts. This is possible with SACD.

Although the SACD approach has been an unusual one (targeting the audiophiles first, and then trickling down), I do believe it is finally gaining some traction and we will start to see some rock and pop releases that will interest fence-sitters.

That being said, I do suffer when I'm in Tower Records looking through the SACDs for something interesting to buy, without much success, and right next to the SACDs are the DVD-Audios with some great titles in that format that I would definitely buy. I view this as an interim situation and hold that thought to help me get over it.

I don't believe that two hi-rez formats can survive. Now that multi-channel SACDs are being released as well as players that exploit the surround-sound effects, the original advantage of DVD-Audio is being eroded. I predict DVD-Audio will die.

Regards,
Metralla

 

Interesting responses. It was nice to see a discussion of the topic which didn't degenerate into, "SACD rules" or "DVD Audio is the best" postings. I'm sort of waiting to see either who wins or for a quality, relatively inexpensive universal player. Right now I am hedging my bets and buying the DVD video format, since the quality is higher than CD, and they will be supported no matter who wins. I really don't want to put in the work required for a vinyl setup but I really love the higher quality sound.

 

BTW, I see Chesky just brought out a hybrid DVD Audio disc which also has DVD Video on it. If other vendors adopt this approach, I'll probably be buying these, since DVD video is a safe bet to get high quality digital sound.

 

SACD rules!

I second Metralla's reasoning, and took the heat for it on the old board. If the format succeeds our ears will be in good shape.

 

My only question is when will Sony start making dual-layered SACD's? Personally I don't feel that I want or should have to fork out another $500.00- $1,000.00 just to hear a good disc.

 

well, SACD players are down to about $200 mail order. As for hybrid SACDs, Sony is rumored to start making those sometime soon, but it becomes a moot point when you get an SACD player because you simply don't listen to the CD layer of any SACDs you own.

 

Well, guys, I have to respectfully disagree with some of the comments here.

Remember this..........if you have a regular DVD Video player and happen to have a 5.1 speaker setup for movies, well then, you can buy a DVD audio disk and hear a 5.1 mix of the material. YES, I know, its a downconverted version, but its THERE, and all the ones I've heard on my system sound pretty great.

SACD has no such convienence. If you dont have a SACD player, youre out of luck.

Because so many people already HAVE home theatres, they are already set up to play DVD Audio disks. The "Downconverted" version will suffice until they upgrade their player. Theres nothing for them to buy, just the disks.

I know many people here will not agree, but MY prefereance is to her my favorite oldies in 5.1 There is a MAJOR difference between 5.1 and garden stereo. Its a very enjoyable and obvious change. Not so for SACD. Sure theres more "detail" and you can "really hear that triangle", but I'd rather hear The Ventures in 5.1!!!

This is just my opinion, I respect everyones elses as well.

Mikey

 

Dual layer can initially be a good idea in case the format eventually fails.

 

Classic Record's version of I-ROBOT is not multi channel, much to my dismay; however, it does sound good with its 24/96 sound. Yet I would really like to hear a 5.1 mix in the future.

 

Originally posted by pigmode:
>> Dual layer can initially be a good idea in case the format eventually fails. <<

If you think the format will fail, don't buy an SACD player. Then you'll have no reason to buy single-layer SACDs. My thinking is, even if the format fails, no one is taking away my SACD player or all my SACDs, and they'd sound just as good after the format is pulled as they do now.

But realistically, Sony will try to make a go of this and when they really get serious about pushing it, watch out. They have an enormous catalog they can release on SACD if production and manufacturing ever ramps up. And the DSD system at Abbey Road and other major studios, as well as the toe-dipping by EMI and UMG are very enouraging signs.

 

I hear that SACD in multichannel is very impressive, and see that a new player is out here in Australia for about $700 (that's US $350). Very enticing.

But I would still like to know if anything is happening with regard to the "universal player"... (even if only to hear Brain Salad Surgery in DVD-A). Of course if DVD-A does die, then it doesn't matter. But there was a fair bit of hype around about the prospects of universal players, and surely it wouldn't be hard to do...

 

As has been mentioned, the Classic Records release of I ROBOT is not multi-channel, nor is it really DVD-A. It's a format they call DAD. It's stereo, 24/96 and can be played on any DVD player. Classic has several titles available on this format. So far, I have I ROBOT and a classical piece. Both sound very good.

 

The universal players are what I'm waiting for too. Right now Pioneer has one out but it is 5 or 6 K and doesn't do multichannel SACD.

The DADs are the ones which really stir my interest. The sound quality is high and no matter who wins the format war I will still have at least 24/96 sound, which is a huge improvement on my equipment. The dual layer of SACD is OK, but I'm not that thrilled with CD quality sound and would rather get guaranteed high quality sound instead of backward compatibility with CDs.

 

Wait a minute there buddy, calm down. I guess I didn't explain myself clearly. My point was that there is a place for dual layer in the event that the format did go away, the CDs would still be playable on redbook players. A minor and maybe insignificant point for you, but a valid one for some who may be interested in making the leap.

As far as my part is concerned, I have no opinions whether the format will fail or not. I know Steve made a comment to the effect that it was worth investing in SACD based on it's sonic qualities and that's good enough for me. I am attempting to sell my present player, in order to get an SACD player.