I'm totally confused about Hi Rez formats

Nothing to be confused about, 2 channel SACD is great and no cleaning nor snap, crackles and pops. However, like any format, the better the hardware, the better the end result.

Your dealers info.is incorrect also.
I could be wrong,but it sounds to me he is pulling you towards this area.

I was an early SACD adopter, bought more than 100 discs, haven't bought one in 6 months. 'Nuff said? I listen more to vinyl every day. Dave

I've been doing some reading up on the subject, but still have questions.

I just read the chapter in Robert Harley's "The Complete Guide to High End Audio" which describes the specifications of the two formats. He explains that SACD discs can be played in either two-channel OR six-channel modes. The SACD can (but is not required to) contain a second layer that can be read by standard Red Book CD players (so called, "hybrid" SACDs). Harley then goes on to describe the specifications for DVD-A. The DVD-A spec. calls for a disc that can contain 6-channel music along with a 2-channel mix on the same disc. Sampling rates can be as high as 192kHz with word lengths up to 24 bits. "DVD-A can support sampling rates of 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, and 192kHz, with word lengths between 16 and 24 bits, in one-bit increments." The highest sampling frequencies of 176.4kHz and 192kHz can only come in the two-channel discs. The record producer chooses the sampling rate and whether or not the disc contains multi-channel or two-channel (or both) mixes. Some DVD-A discs contain code ("Smart Content") that tells the player to downmix to two channel on the fly.

So what should I do? Do all players on the market, be they DVD-A, SACD, or universal allow you to hook 'em up with just two channels? Is there a lot of decent DVD-A software available with two-channel mixes? Do all DVD-A players and universal players allow "downmixing" to 2-channel if the DVD-A contains "Smart Content" coding? How does one know if a DVD-A disc contains a 2-channel mix or downmixing capability? Does the disc packaging tell you?

It sounds like all SACDs will work for me on a 2-channel system, whereas the DVD-A format is still up in the air. I would still like to consider a universal player if there is plenty of 2-channel software available.

Admittedly I'm a classical listener and that seems to be the area where the most SACD release activity is taking place, but I have around 400 SACDs and add 4-5 most months. In general I have been thoroughly delighted with the sound, and that's 2 channel only (I have a 4 channel ambiance/delay system from the late '80s which I love, and use in all formats). As a general rule SACD is far superior to CD sound, even with PCM to DSD conversion of redbook (of course there are exceptions) and I have no doubt SACD is here to stay, with or without SONY. DVD-A is another story: sonically it's fine, but it isn't really an audio-only format, different players have trouble with particular discs, Dual Disc is an absolute disaster, and the software release schedule is at best just a trickle. (In my wandering around to non-classical areas of the stores, it doesn't seem much different there.) Sure analogue at its best still delivers the most in many respects, but that still means that you're limited to what was available in 1980, or reissues of it, and there were a whole lot of sonic stinkers in the LP period too, which everybody conveniently forgets. The old "redbook is here to stay, and if you want good sound go listen to used LPs" story is just sticking your head in the sand. Or somewhere else.