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.

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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).

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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