DVD-A thoughts...

it's another way to represent 3d sound, but to me it's a no go due to limitations to mainly mainstream that I can hear on radio every day.

I have exactly 1 DVD-A disc.

I listen in 2 channel mode. I believe most players (by default) will play just in stereo if the "surround" outputs are not plugged in.

There may also be something in the settings where you can choose 2 channel vs surround.

Honestly, the DVD-A's I've seen are all exorbitantly expensive. Like twice the price of the identical SACD, so I never really bothered. $15 for the CD, $40 for the SACD and $75 for DVD-A.

I'll stick with SACD, thanks.

@coralkong Actually, I have a number of DVD-A’s, they were all bought on the used market, and in many cases for less than I would have to pay for the equivalent CD! Not many folks have the gear to play DVD-A’s, so this has impacted the price of these discs.
While the disc I mentioned in my OP plays fine on my system, it is playing the surround sound version, even though I do not have a surround set up, or connections. I am wondering if anyone knows how to play the stereo version, which as I mentioned, is mastered differently?

Sorry I can't be of more help, @daveyf .

Out of curiosity, what happens if you stick the disc in a regular CD player?

I just looked at the manual for my unit, and it will ONLY play (output) DVD-A to the analog out jacks, so surround isn't even an option for me. (I never even realized this until now...)

Sounds like you have the exact opposite problem.

I don’t own a regular CD only player, but I seriously doubt this DVD-A disc would play in one if I did. My player is a Universal unit, meaning it can also play back DVD video to a home theater system. I don’t utilize it this way, as the SACD capability and the standard Redbbook SQ is excellent.