DVD-A recording titles to die for

Jeffreybehr..."transported to the concert hall" is what a really good stereo system will do. Multichannel can do it somewhat better. However, multichannel can also do something that stereo can't...transport a small group of musicians, classical chamber group, jazz, or bluegrass, into your listening room. This makes perfect sense. It's the best "you are there" sound there is. It can also put you into the midst of a larger orchestra, but many folk, probably those who have not performed in an orchestra, find this annoying.

I think that center channel is very important, as it is the logical place to put a soloist. However, I agree that the center level varies a lot. I have violin concertos where, if I crank the volume up enough to really feel the orchestra, the violin is lounder than any real violin can play, and therefore is sonicly poor. It's like looking at your girlfriend's complexion under a magnifying glass!

Finally, I disclaim any status as a guru.

Eldartford,
Between listening to concert DVDs in DTS via a coaxial digital interconnet and listening to live stage performance on DVD-A recording title via multichannel interconnect, which you find yourself listen more? Eventually, I'll develop my own preference, but I am new, and I am not always correct. Thus, I like to inquire the opinions of others. I know that not all DVD-A recordings have the same high quality and good sound engineering mix, but what have you bought lately, SACD or DVD-A titles? Thanks for the input.

Another surprisingly excellent DVD-A is Basie Swings on Denon, if you're into this kind of music. I just played it last night on my new Denon DVD-3910 and couldn't stop tapping.

Lej1447...Lately I have not bought any discs as I do not have time to listen to the ones I have. I have both SACD and DVD-A, and a well-engineered disc of either kind outperforms CD. Almost all my discs are classical. A couple of exceptions are AIX80008 John McEuen and Jimmy Ibbotson, Nitty Gritty Surround (Bluegrass) and Rounder 11661-0516-6 Alison Krauss + Union Station. The AIX disc is recorded on both sides and has an astonishing number of audio and video programs that you can choose from. Sonic quality is excellent. I found the Alison Kraus disc a disappointment not up to the hype.

In summary, the TACET DVD D107 is the best I have found, overall. It does not, however have deep bass or great volume. For the you need TELARC SACD-60579 The Sound of Glory, Morman Tabernacle Choir.

I agree it all depends on the mixing of the Disk. I prefer 2 channel mixes and all the Diana Krall DVD-A recordings are the best I've heard (full bodied and silky smooth) There are more duds than good recordings especially the Rock and Roll titles. SACD's seem to be more consistent and much easier to use. I hate the menus I need to navigate on my DVD-A player.

I have a pretty decent system

Von Schweikert VR-4 GenII
EAD TheaterMaster 8000
Theta Dreadnought Amp
Samsung HD1000 DVD-A
Sony SCD2000ES (could be better but adequate)

Michael