DVDA question

[dloweman]

Can I play a dvda / or SACD disc in a regular dvd player with just regular cd resolution, or does it not work at all? thanks

 

[My Rantz]

Can I play a dvda / or SACD disc in a regular dvd player with just regular cd resolution, or does it not work at all? thanks

On a regular DVD player you can run a DVD-A disc but only if it has a DD or DTS content - there is no cd layer, but a few titles come with a bonus cd. Most DualDiscs have a DVD-A layer incorporated on one side and a cd layer on the other, though there are some players which are not compatable with one or both sides of the disc because of the different thickness.

You can play a SACD but only if it is a hybrid ie: it has a 'cd' layer. For example: if the label says "plays on sacd and cd players" you are good to go, as essentially a DVD player will play cd's - though some not all that well.

 

[dloweman]

Thanks for clearing that up, that is kinda what i thought, but just wanted to make sure. i plan on buying a few dvda soon, but can't afford a new dvda player for a few months. Thanks again

 

[My Rantz]

No problem. But I do recommend a 'Universal' player - both Dvd-A and SACD for a much broader choice in hi-res titles.

 

[j_garcia]

Most DualDiscs have a DVD-A layer incorporated on one side and a cd layer on the other, though there are some players which are not compatable with one or both sides of the disc because of the different thickness.

DVD-A on one side and CD on the other is the definition of a Dual Disc.

I've experienced the incompatibility alread, in a very bad way - one side of the disc was badly scratched by my SACD player.

 

[supervij]

I refuse to buy any DualDiscs. As soon as I read that they're incompatible with some players and that they can either damage or be damaged by a player without possibility of refund or free repair, I wrote these things off. I mean, why take the chance?

cheers,
supervij

 

[j_garcia]

Well the thing that sucks is, I like DVD-A and many titles that are being released on DD are not being released as a DVD-A only version. I'd like to have the surround version of some of the releases, and the DD is the only option. Some labels release both SACD and DVD-A versions, but so far with DD releases, I have not seen many that also have a SACD counterpart.

 

[MDS]

The recording industry is backing DualDisc under the premise of giving the consumer more 'value' for their money. I think it is fundamentally flawed. It is billed as the best of both worlds yet it is neither a DVD nor a CD because it doesn't technically conform to either standard. I won't buy them.

 

[My Rantz]

J Garcia,

Without wanting to split hairs, the definition of DualDisc is actually DVD one side and CD the other. There may be only DD or DTS tracks on the DVD side and no DVD-A, though I should think the latter would be the most common.

http://www.dualdisc.com/faq.html

I believe they have got it wrong with this format as well. The best packaging method (imo) is the two disc pack - one DVD-A and one RBCD - like Knopfler's Shangrila. Wonderful album and sound btw.

 

[j_garcia]

I haven't seen a single dual disc that has only DVD-V vs DVD-a content, but then I intend to buy few or none if possible so I haven't really been keeping an eye on them.

Well, the first thing they got wrong was the added thickness. I'm sure they knew it would not be compatible with 100% of all players out there, but they did it anyway. I'd MUCH rather have a 2 disc pack or separate SACD and DVD-As released like they did with Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral.

 

[racquetman]

I haven't seen a single dual disc that has only DVD-V vs DVD-a content, but then I intend to buy few or none if possible so I haven't really been keeping an eye on them.

Remember that Sony's label releases dualdiscs. I doubt any of their releases have DVD-A content. It wouldn't make much sense for them to release a disc that contained a format none of their hardware can play .

 

[j_garcia]

I didn't know Sony was releasing Dual Discs. DOH. They were one of the first big names to announce that the discs may not be compatible with every player too...

 

[My Rantz]

SonyBMG are releasing DualDiscs. Currently I have three titles in this new format - Diana Krall's Girl In The Other Room, Robert Cray's Time Will Tell and Eric Clapton's Back Home. They all have both two and multichannel DVD-A tracks. Each of them is consistant in that the cd side plays on my cc-4300 and not the DVD-2900. When will the industry get it right???

 

[Methost]

Can a DVD-A, or SACD be copied on a PC? If I make a mirror image of whats on the disk, will it work as if it was the original? Anyone know?

 

[Hawkeye]

Copy protection was put in place so that DVD-A's could not be copied. Given time, all copy protection is usually be defeated. Witness:
http://www.highfidelityreview.com/news/news.asp?newsnumber=17157755
Thanks to My Rantz for the link.

 

[My Rantz]

Semokabe, you beat me to that same reply by seconds. The only thing I might add is that the cd layer on hybrid sacd's may be able to be copied - according to original specs. Whether that is still valid I do not know. Cheers Hawkeye.

 

[supervij]

Actually, I do remember reading recently (but from where, I know not) that it is possible to copy a DVD-A. I remember that it requires several pieces of software, and would probably take up a boatload of space on your hard drive, but it is doable. I haven't read that one can copy an SACD. Not yet, anyway.

cheers,
supervij

 

[Methost]

That's too bad. One ought to be allowed to make a direct copy from DVD to DVD. After all, I OWN the disk. It should be covered by the same law that made Disney stop copy protecting their VHS tapes back in the 80's.

 

[j_garcia]

That's too bad. One ought to be allowed to make a direct copy from DVD to DVD. After all, I OWN the disk. It should be covered by the same law that made Disney stop copy protecting their VHS tapes back in the 80's.

That's EXACTLY why they don't want you to be able to do it... You would be able to make nearly perfect copies of recordings that are basically close to the master and we know NOBODY would ever take advantage of THAT... On a side note, the fact that they can't be easily copied also means fewer people are interested in it and it limits their market. CDs and MP3s are big because they are easily copied so many people have access to them, even if it is illegally; they still need to have something to play them on. Having that gear also means they are more likely to actually spend some money on CDs or MP3s of their own.