I think a lot of attention has been focussed on the video qualities of the BR/HDDVD formats. I'm probably not in the majority, but I'm interested in the audio formats that these higher-capacity disks can support. I've read several articles claiming how much better Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD are than their DD/DTS predecessors. Some even claim that these formats are superior to SACD Surround.

Now this peaked my interest. I have been a fan of SACD for some time and in my experience it has been the best sound format that I have ever heard within my budget, (although I still have a penchant for analog, but that is a separate discussion). When comparing DD/DTS music DVDs to SACD music, I still sense a superiority in the SACD format. So I have a bunch of questions and was hoping more knowledgeable people here could help answer them:

1. Are the 5.1 analog outputs the only way to get True-HD and DTS-HD? It seems silly, but I thought I read in several places that HDMI currently does not support these formats.

2. If so, how does the resolution of True-HD and DTS-HD compare to SACD?

3. What is the reason for the supposed superiority of True-HD and DTS-HD in surround sound over SACD?

4. Are there any plans to make True-HD and DTS-HD music-only disks? Right now, the only way to get HiRes surround is through concert disks.

5. Will HDDVD's capacity limitation be a problem for trying to fit True-HD and DTS-HD on a disk? While it does have higher capacity, will Blu-Ray have capacity problems as well?

6. While it is still young technology, it does seem that most BR & HDDVD players are more of the value-engineered and competitively priced variety. Any plans for HiFi manufacturers to offer something higher-grade?

7. Besides support for True-HD and DTS-HD, are there any other sound improvements in the HDMI 1.3 spec?

8. It seems that True-HD and DTS-HD are pretty much still 5.1 formats, especially for music. So how are the rear channels in a 7.1 system handled through True-HD and DTS-HD?

9. Many of my SACD titles are actually 5.0, not 5.1, forcing me to use my speakers in full range mode or using my pre/pro to force a crossover (which I am certain is detrimental to the sound reproduction). Do True-HD and DTS-HD soundtracks do a better job of integrating the subwoofer since they are primarily movie-focussed sound formats?

10. I noticed some BR/HDDVD players support DVD-A, but why is there no support for SACD, even from Sony?

Obviously, you can read from my questions and my other posts that I have not bought into either format. Of course I'm waiting to see which format will win out, and this is not at all clear to me right now. But perhaps a more important factor for me is that I want a player from a manufacturer that has put some engineering into getting the best sound out of the formats. I just don't feel that Sony/Toshiba/Panasonic are up to the task especially since they are trying so desperately to undercut each other's business and this means cost-cutting.