DVD-A & SACD--Is it really worth it? Opinions Please!

[joel2762]

Well I haven't had my DVD player for a year now. That's a rip off... So you mean that DVD-A can be played in regular DVD players except some players don't have the technology for the high rez in them? I thought the whole idea of DVD-A was so that people who don't want to buy a special player could still enjoy multi-channel music with their existing DVD Player. I noticed some DTS discs at FutureShop. I guess I can play these, I have DTS Decoders. They didn't have a large selection though..Oh well! I might look at SACD and DVD-A sometime when I won't waste my money and then only buy 3 or 4 titles that I like. I wouldn't mind hearing the Floyd in SACD though.-> Wow Kex, I'm about 5 mins from mount pearl! Cool!

[kexodusc]

Yeah, most DVD-A titles I've seen have DD or DTS that'll work in your existing DVD player.
Unless your DVD video player is DVD-A compatible, you won't get to take advantage of the high rez formats.
I still rather enjoy the 5.1 tracks on most of DVD's even in DD or DTS.
I love the A/V experience too.
I don't know why Sony doesn't come out with a decent "universal" DVD player that plays both SACD and DVD-A's well and abandon conventional DVD and CD players altogether. They've got a vested interest in the future of SACD, and can profit off DVD-A too, makes sense. Make it affordable and subsidize it with SACD/DVD-A sales.
In the interest of anti-piracy, it'd make more sense for the manufacturers to "collude" and start making the DVD-A flip discs the norm or SACD's, and eventually phase out CD's.

[joel2762]

Okay, so If I see a DVD-A will I know it has DD/DTS by looking at the back? If it says DD or DTS can it definetly play in my player? Thanks.

[kexodusc]

Joel:
Well, unless it's labelled wrong or something unforseen happens, DD and DTS tracks on a DVD-A will work in your existing player. These sound great IMO, and I doubt you'll notice any sound loss compared to CD. I have a few titles that I actually enjoy better in 5.1 rather than the CD counterpart despite the digital compression DD a DTS put the original sound through. And when you're ready for a DVD-A player, you'll have a few titles to start with.
If you're into Jazz, Blues, or Classical (or even some techno/trance music) you'll really appreciate the ambiance 5.1 adds and the higher resolution formats.
Hard rock titles seem to be a bit more hit and miss, but when they're done well, they're a nice improvement too.
I spend lots of time in Canada because of my job (and relatives when I visit), from what I've seen you can probably find better prices for DVD-A's on E-Bay than most music stores, even after shipping costs. Especially with the strength of the Canadian dollar these days. SACD's are a bit more reasonably priced, but check your local stores out anyway, sometimes saving $1-2 isn't worth a 2 week wait for shipping. Cheers!

[joel2762]

I'm going to have a look at the titles..My DVD player says that it can't play DVD-A but if it says DD or DTS on it then it must. And if it doesn't i'll take it back right. BTW: Nice pic Kex, I'd love a pair of those, I'm hoping to get out sometime to listen to a pair of those. Put those with a nice Servo-15 and some rears and a center...drool...