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SACD and DVD-A: Apples and Oranges?

It seems to me that SACD and DVD-A are going for different markets. Comparing them, especially the question on "Which will survive?" seems fruitless. Both could survive, or neither.

SACD is aimed at correcting the problems we've had all along with CD sound. SACD provides a quality 2-channel digital source at a reasonable price. I wager that the typical $250 SACD player playing SACD's sounds as good or better than a typical $1000 CD player playing CD's. Hybrid disks provide backward compatibility. Multi-channel capability is there if desired. By reducing the entry price of a decent sounding player, SACD can bring hi-fi to the masses.

DVD-A is aimed at the thousands (or millions) of average Joe's who already have a 5.1 DVD setup. These guys are wondering why movies come in Surround Sound but music CD's are still 2-channel. The DVD music section in th local music store is growing every day. DVD-A provides a way to hear Metallica or whatever in 5.1 sound. DVD-A is off to a slow start for several reasons. The biggest problem, in my mind, is that the single-wire digital interface doesn't exist. It still takes 6 I.C.'s to hook up DVD-A to a receiver.

Seen this way, both SACD and DVD-A are good things but SACD is aimed more at the 2 channel audiophile market.

Agree?
pmi_guy
ben_campbell
1,169 posts
 
Izsakmixer care to tell us what SACD's you consider a LOT better than LP's?
madhf
170 posts
 
Now if they would just include sacd formats on a dvd as well as dvd-a and dts (the dvd is capable of storing the data, much more so than cd) we would all win!
pmi_guy OP
72 posts
 
Tonyp-
The potential market for SACD is huge. In Sony's vision, every CD would also have a SACD layer. The manufacturing cost can't really be much higher. It's a matter of setting up all of the mastering facilities with SACD mastering gear (from Sony, of course). I hope this vision comes true. As an audiophile, it would be great to see every CD also have SACD on it. Then I can play it on my car CD or my home SACD system.

Izsakmixer-
Of course you need a screen for DVD-A. It's intended for the guy who already has a DVD system.
tonyp54
130 posts
 
Pmi_guy, I agree with you so long as Sony's vision comes true. Unfortunately, their competitors have a different vision.
btrvalik
61 posts
 
It seem interesting to me that I've seen no hybrid SACDs from Sony yet. My understanding is they are just starting to convert their plans from SACD only to hybrid. I'm wondering if they will reissue the SACD only music as hybrids. I think lables like Telarc were smart in doing hybrids from the start.
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