DD vs DTS vs DVD-A vs SACD HELP!!!

[nhpm510]

Clarificaion needed!! So I trade up my Pro-logic receiver for a fancy, smancy Dolby Digital version with optical in, SDIF coax in, etc. Ah, simplicity, one cable, great sound, no?

But, to get the BEST sound, I am supposed to buy a DVD or CD player which has multiple ANALOG channels to support DVD-A, or SACD, etc. I thought the whole idea was to get digital ins for the best sound? So why do I need to revert back to multiple analog ins versus a (TOSLINK) fiber optic cable?

Also, is SACD a dying format? Is it even worth buying a SACD player or should I go with DVD-A, or say to hell with it and go with DTS?
Am I correct in my assumption that as long as my DVD player has DD and DTS stickers that a DTS disc will play to its maximum, as long as I hook it up via a TOSLINK?

I am starting to think this is more marketing crap to buy the same $9 CD for $19.99. Please convince me otherwise!

Signed,
Cynical listener (trying to become a critical one)

 

[MDS]

You need to use the 5.1 analog inputs on a receiver for SACD and DVD-A simply because neither of those formats can be passed over a digital cable (neither coax nor optical). One of the reasons is that the amount of data to send is too great for the digital connection - 5.1 channels of 'high-resolution' audio at 24 bit / 96 kHz or 24 bit / 192 kHz is just way more than the s/pdif interface was designed to handle. The other of course is copyright protection fears - the industry doesn't want the lowly consumer to be able to easily make perfect digital copies of their high resolution audio. HDMI will eventually be enabled for audio and video and will pass both high resolution video and audio, but that isn't currently reality.

Nearly every receiver available today will have multiple digital inputs and the 5.1 analog inputs. SACD and DVD-A are somewhat dead because the average consumer just hasn't adopted the formats but you never know, they may still be around for awhile and you could buy a universal dvd player that can play all formats if you wish to try sacd and dvd-a.

For music and movie DVDs, the format will be DD or DTS or PCM and you will want to use a digital connection to get the best out of those formats.

 

[nhpm510]

Format/Hardware wars..

Thanks, that explaination does help.

As for the DTS vs DVD-A differences:

1) DTS is roughly the same encoding as a movie soundtrack?

So given the option of picking up the DTS version, versus the DVD-A, the DVD-A version is going to be more closely exact to the original recording. (Am I really going to hear the differences??--my speakers are pretty decent older KEF reference stuff.)

2) DTS may have more groovy special effects to it?

3) DTS can be transmitted over my lowly TOSLINK (versus the multiple analog inputs?) Oops, you already answered it !

Anyone have a preference for the purchase of universal player: Oppo vs Denon 1920?

Then, I shall have to upgrade to Blu-ray/ HD-DVD in 3 years?

I appreciate your opinions

 

[caupina]

Don't write the SACD off yet. If you're are into jazz and classical, both inventories are huge. You can still buy some pop, rock, and even rap on SACD, buy they are harder to come by. My suggestion is try to get a universal player, having the ability to play all formats is a great advantage, is like with amplifiers: having too much power is never a bad thing.

 

[tbewick]

So given the option of picking up the DTS version, versus the DVD-A, the DVD-A version is going to be more closely exact to the original recording. (Am I really going to hear the differences??--my speakers are pretty decent older KEF reference stuff.)

DVD-Audio is a superior format to DTS, but I doubt you would notice much difference between them. The few DTS movie soundtracks I've heard have had excellent sound quality. Seeing as how most music studio producers don't make high quality use of normal CD, I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true with the higher tech formats.

 

[dvda-sacd]

I am starting to think this is more marketing crap to buy the same $9 CD for $19.99. Please convince me otherwise!

It depends on where you buy.

http://www.yourmusic.com/search/index.html?search_type=albums&search_text=sacd&do_search=1&x=0&y=0

Cheers!

 

[nhpm510]

Great site---what's the catch?

If none, I am joining!! Just got the universal player!

 

[astrodon]

yes buy SACDs and DVD-Audios

Great to hear you bought a universal player (I have two). One reason why SACD and DVD-Audio are not doing as well as many (including me) had hoped, is when consumers don't buy because they think a format is dying. We need more people jump on the SACD/DVD-Audio bandwagon as it appears you have now done. I have approximately 80 disks in either SACD or DVD-Audio format -- and these disks will last virtually forever. So as far as I'm concerned, these formats will live forever (assuming I can still find universal players once my current players die). One thing I alway do when I have parties is to play an album that I have on LP, CD, and DVD-Audio or SACD format (I usually choose Carly Simon's "No Secrets" album). I play the LP first on my turntable, followed by the CD, followed by the DVD-Audio disk. Every person to which I have made this demonstration has been amazed at the superior sound of the DVD-Audio. I even got a few of them to buy a universal player and start collecting DVD-Audios and SACDs.

 

[Geno]

Astrodon: I do the same with Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms". The SACD version (in 5.1) just blows the doors of the redbook CD. Makes me glad I made the investment in the Hi-Rez stuff.

 

[sholling]

I second caupina. If you shop well you can pick up a pretty good uinversal player for around $130 online. Of the two formats I'm guessing that SACD will be around longer because most titles are hybred and play as SACD or CD.

 

[skizzerflake]

I think SACD and DVD Audio are on the endangered list but probably will survive for a while due to audiophile interest. There are several catalagues and web sites (Accoustic Sounds comes to mind) that stock lots of the multichannel hi-res disks so they will be around for a while. As long as you're getting a 5.1 or better receiver for movies, you might as well get one of the all-format players so you can enjoy surround and excellent quality music. Even with 2 channel old recordings those formats are way better than CD.

The bigger issue to worry about is an American public that has become so possessed by portable digital devices and is beginning to think that mp3 is good sound. It may be OK on a noisy street with earbuds but with any competant sound system, mp3 pretty much sucks. I cringe when promoters advertise "near-CD quality" mp3 sound, since near isn't the same are really there and CD's often stink anyway. I love my media player but I never confuse it with good sound. Once you get SACD and DVd Audio and listen to a few of those disks, you will realize that this is a great technology for people who value good sound.

 

[dvda-sacd]

I think SACD and DVD Audio are on the endangered list but probably will survive for a while due to audiophile interest.

I don't think SACD is an endangered format. It won't ever be a product for the masses, but it has got a well consolidated niche market now.

 

[Johnd]

Hear hear! I was at Tower Records Sunday (in Chicago) and they had a whopping ten titles in sacd. A product's lack of mass production or mass appeal does not render it a failure (other than marketing). DSOTM alone does it for me, let alone the hundreds (thousands) of other quality-production sacd's. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Hawkeye]

Hear hear! I was at Tower Records Sunday (in Chicago) and they had a whopping ten titles in sacd. A product's lack of mass production or mass appeal does not render it a failure (other than marketing).

I suppose. But I do wish they were more readily available and more agressively marketed if for no other reason than to raise awareness. I'd feel a little more comfortable in believing they'll be around for a while if they occupied a little more than a niche market.

 

[j_garcia]

DVD-Audio is a superior format to DTS, but I doubt you would notice much difference between them. The few DTS movie soundtracks I've heard have had excellent sound quality. Seeing as how most music studio producers don't make high quality use of normal CD, I wouldn't be surprised if the same is true with the higher tech formats.

If you want to hear the difference between well done DTS and DVD-A, just go pick up Porcupine Tree's In Absentia or Deadwing. Then tell me if you can't hear the difference. It is very noticable.

The BEST sounding discs I have heard so far tend to be SACD, but DVD-As like those from PT make an excellent case for the quality of DVD-A as well. The quality of ANY format still starts back with the recording/mixing/mastering - no amount of resolution can make up for that if it isn't good to start with.

 

[sivadselim]

Don't forget that there are some (very few) DTS96/24 discs that sound as good as DVD-A.

Fagan's recent "Morph the Cat" CD/DVD-A package is an example that also has DTS96/24 tracks that sound great, too.

 

[skizzerflake]

I suppose. But I do wish they were more readily available and more agressively marketed if for no other reason than to raise awareness. I'd feel a little more comfortable in believing they'll be around for a while if they occupied a little more than a niche market.

My two local suppliers of hi-res disks have withered to the point where there is basically nothing. At the same time, the number of vinyl disks has increased by leaps and bounds with most of the vinyl customers being young. Basically I think SACD/DVD A have never caught on with anybody except audiophiles, who can find large selections on the web and catalogs. Losing the 12 titles in my local music store didn't really make much difference in the landscape but the big increase in vinyl encourages me that everything won't go down the sonic tubes. I'd turn in my ears if it ever got to the point that the only choice was downloading DRM protected lossy-compressed copies of poor quality CDs.

 

[skizzerflake]

Don't forget that there are some (very few) DTS96/24 discs that sound as good as DVD-A.

Fagan's recent "Morph the Cat" CD/DVD-A package is an example that also has DTS96/24 tracks that sound great, too.

Morph seems to be an instant sonic classic. The bottom is so gutsy on that one that it really stresses my speakers. I was tempted to buy it on vinyl except that I thought the bass might be so strong as to toss the stylus off the disk. Fagan seems to have carefully calculated every note on that release. With his patented strange lyrics that remind you that he wrote most of Steely Dan's stuff, I love this one.