TOP Format

1 DVD - A
2 SACD
3 Vinyl (*If* in perfect condition, rarely true)
4 CD (HDCD and XRCD would make this #3)
5 Music Server (Serving lossless files)
6 Reel to Reel tape (very dependent upon speed, width, tape formulation)
7 Satellite +/- external DA converter
8 MP 3 (320 Kbps sound pretty darn good)

-RW-

1. master tape (15 ips) under close to ideal conditions.
2. 45 rpm or DTD vinyl
3. other vinyl
4. other high quality analog tape
5. ideal FM radio live broadcasts under optimum conditions
6. SACD
7. hard drive PCM digital masters
8. DVD-A/redbook
9. uncompressed HD movie soundtracks
10. MP3--ipod nano
11. normal FM Stereo radio with perfect reception
12.XM Satelite radio

pretty much the less the original information is 'mucked with' the better the level of musical satisfaction. it's no accident the top is analog and the bottom is digital.

3 Satellite +/- external DA converter
4 CD / SACD

How can you possibly put a satellite source above CD/SACD? Correct me if wrong, but the source they are using is CD at best; the satellite receivers available are not going to match the transport of a good CDP; and last but certainly not least, satellite programming is compressed!