I know this was posted a LONG time ago but it got buried in my e-mail box until now...... On Wed, 11 Dec 2002 17:28:47 -0000 "Jason Sheldon" <jason@digital-solutions.co.uk> writes:
DVD-Audios discs usually also provide a Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1 mix allowing playback on a conventional DVD Video player - in digital format.
SACD (And DVD-A high resolution) only allow Analogue output, because of copyright paranoia, so at least there is a digital output on the DVD Video portion of the DVD-Audio disc.
Remember tho that the true DVD-Audio stream on the disc has to be played via analog hookup much like SACD is. Plus the Dolby/DTS track is not much higher up in resolution than standard CD. Keep in mind also that digital does not mean that its going to be better.
plus the fact that SACD is strictly dedicated to audio only.
But is that 'better' than DVD-Audio? Some, if not all DVD Audio players have an 'Audio Only' mode, which bypasses all video circuitry anyway, but at least you have the option of navigation menus and video content - something that isn't available on SACD... To say that something has 'less features, so it's better' isn't quite accurate.
Its one thing to have extras and such for a DVD Video title. But honestly for audio stuff, I want the audio quality to be the priority first and foremost on the disc. Now yeah DVD-Audio does a good job but SACD in my opinion has the upper hand as far as quality is concerned. I don't mind extras as long as they are worthwhile, but when I'm buying a DVD-A/SACD - the thing I'm most interested in asides from the album being worth owning is the sound quality. I've even bought a few albums that I've never heard of before on a whim and have grown to be favorites of mine (ie: Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters" on SACD, REM's "Automatic For The People" on DVD-A).
Plus the fact that SACD is capable of allowing both the standard CD plus SACD versions on one disc (the new Rolling Stones remasters for instance are hybrid CD/SACD discs).
And as I've said, current DVD-A discs also include Dolby Digital / DTS versions allowing playback on DVD Video players - available for as little as £59 (Around $100) What's the cheapest SACD player again?
I'll agree to disagree.
Cheaper doesn't always equal better (ie: Apex). I only payed $129 for my current Sony DVD/SACD player tho so the little extra in my opinion was well worth every cent. :) Oh... and wake me up when Peter Gabriel's "Up" is on DVD-A... or Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon." Both are coming out on SACD at the end of March - hybrid CD/SACD discs that is. Angel C. Little ________________________________________________________________ Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today Only $9.95 per month! Visit www.juno.com