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Have you gone hi-rez? Which format and why?

I've had a taste of SACD and really liked it. I have an inexpensive Sony SACD changer and a few SACDs. I have not heard DVD-A. At some point I'd like to get a higher-end hi-rez player and I'm leaning towards SACD. My search at Tower informed me that there are more SACDs available than DVD-As, but some research suggests the availability of either runs along record label lines. I also get the impression that DVD-A leans toward multi-channel listeners where SACD still addresses both equally (is this a valid assumption?).

There are some universal players coming to market, but you know the old addage... jack of all trades... Regardless of my hi-rez choice, I will keep my redbook CD player for some time. I read today that Arcam is releasing two new DVD players in March that support DVD-A. Their news page stated that it would be too difficult to incorporate SACD and I wonder if this is a sign or if it's just Arcam's choice to support only one format for whatever reason. In my searching I also noticed that the number of CD players is decreasing (at least in the mass market) and most are producing DVD players with CD playback. According to the Arcam news page, it's easier to incorporate DVD-A into a DVD player because SACD requires a separate reading mechanism.

I'd like to hear whether or not you decided to add hi-rez to your system and if so which format and why? FWIW, I don't have and won't have multi-channel. Thanks!
budrew
thedautch
329 posts
 
I have gone with SACD. For one thing, enough titles were eventually released (or are scheduled for release) that I knew I would buy SACDs in legitimate volume (I have about 25 and counting so far, vs. maybe 200 CDs).

Also, you can listen to good quality SACD for a much smaller investment than good quality DVD-A. For SACD, two full range speakers will do it (Polk Lsi 25, in my case...very happy, by the way). But for *true* DVD-A, I would have needed FIVE full-range speakers, and I wasn't willing to make that investment. If I want DVD-A, I can always build through the Polk series by adding two Lsi 15's (still pretty close to full range) and the Lsi center channel.

I'm also happier with the broad range of SACD recordings that have been released. I don't find DVD-A to be as comprehensive, according to my personal musical tastes.
caterham1700
271 posts
 
My player is a
Roksan Xerxes X/DS1.5/XPS5
w/Artemiz/Dynavector Karat Nova Ebony
thru a 47Labs Phonocube.
jeffloistarca
1,004 posts
 
I'm guessing you're comparing DVD-A to SACD, trying to settle on the best new format. From what I can tell there are more SACD's out than DVD-A's, I would let the software choice dictate which I bought. Lesson learned from owning a Betamax which was technically superior to VHS but lost the noble war all the same. Personally I'm not interested in the digital format wars since I've had a high-rez format for many years, my turntable. Almost unlimited software selection at VERY reasonable prices and a LP's are a hands-on media I love. You can easily pick up a very good used analog rig for less than a SCD-1 @ $3k and buy 12 used records for every new SACD.
jjwinterberg
45 posts
 
It appears that the equipment designers are going to solve this issue for us. The comming trend is multi-format. I was asking my local dealer about Theta's DVD-A format release and was told that Theta is waiting for the multi-format chips to mature one more generation and then would come out with DVD-A and SACD multi-format compatible equipment. This really seams like the best way to go, and I'll wait so that I can avoid this format war.
cbucki
69 posts
 
I was able to find a unit that does both hi-rez formats quite well. (Integra 8.3)
I prefer SACD, but only because of the convenience factor. (Easier to access songs w/remote) The sound is pretty much equal, if the mastering is well done. I would probably be tempted to go the SCD-1 route, but the R.E.M. and Neil young "Harvest" dvd-a titles alone keep my interest in this format. I do not do anything but two channel playback.
The Police SACD's are excellent. "Outlandos" and "Regatta" are jaw-dropping for their age. Higher sound quality than the Stones SACD's.
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