Is DVD Audio worth getting into?

[Johnny Canuck]

Hello folks...

i am looking for some opinions on this format. There are not too many stores in my area that carry DVD audio disks. Some older classics, not too many newer releases. My question is ....is it worth buying the cables, spending a hundred bucks approx, for DVD audio? Is it fizzling out in popularity or will it catch fire? Does it sound all that better? I hear bass is weak with DVD audio. I have a Denon 3805 and a Panasonic DVD player...F 85.

Thanks for the help!!

JC

 

[Rob Babcock]

No, there's certainly no problem with the bass of DVD-A. This urban legend could only be due to the lack of understanding of bass management & the poor manner in which many (most) manufacturers implement it.

As to whether it's "worth it"- that's a little tougher. I absolutely love DVD-A (and to a lesser degree, SACD). The best discs sound so much better than any LP or CD that it's almost stupid. But- you're right, there's very little material. $25 for a 30 year old Yes or Foreiger disc? Yeah, that's gonna sell players... I do have Beck's "Sea Change," the two newest Steeley Dan discs, Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia" & The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and I think they're absolutely SOTA.

It's hard to say whether it's worth it or not. There's a lot of material out there if you like classical, but again it's mostly vintage stuff reissued. Some of the MC remixes are tremendous, but many are dreadful. Is the format growing or dying? It's hard to say- there's a trickle of new releases, but every week there's an announcement of another delayed or cancelled release. My local Best Buy has scaled back their SACD section by over 50% and reduced their DVD-A section slightly. That can't be a good sign.

I guess my best advice would be too look over the inventory at Music Direct- they have nearly every disc in print in DVD-A & SACD. If you like what you see then you might want to take the plunge. You'll have to assume based on current evidence that an explosion of titles is unlikely given the maturity of the format, so base you decision on what's already out there.

FYI, I listen to DVD-A almost every day, and to me it's worth it just for the great discs I already have. YMMV.

 

[Shinerman]

Johnny Canuck

Rob makes a good point. Check out the available titles online and see if there are a bunch you would be willing to buy. I love DVD-A but it's getting harder and harder to find new titles that I would be willing to buy. Everyone will have the classic remastered albums that they will want to buy, but then what. That's kindof the point I'm at right now. I got into DVD-A because the DVD player I decided on happened to support it. I am not sure I would specifically go out a buy a DVD-A/SACD player now since there really is no new material out there I am interested in and it does not seem like much more is coming.

Also, DTS music is pretty darn good compared to DVD-A and SACD and can be played on regular DVD players.

I hate to see it, but I think DVD-A and SACD will soon give way to some other format. They ae amazing when done right, but they are not convenient to the masses like a CD. And, the vast majority of album buyers could give a rat's you know what about Hi-Rez sound.

Shinerman

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks guys for your responses...I guess my assumption was correct and might be a waste getting into it if there aren't many titles forthcoming.

Although i like Steely Dan and Foreigner, spending the dough to hear them in High res is not worth it at all. If I could find some Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Def Leppard etc I might think about it.

One more thing...I thought I needed athe analog connectors like DVD audio to take advantage of the DTS music discs? No? There are some good titles in DTS at my local store. I have read they don't sound near as good as DVD audio. However, I have Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD and it's in DTS and is the best thing I have ever heard.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I'm more intrested in SACD. The Hybrid disks work in my CD players (which means I can rip them to my iPod) and theres alot more material available.

 

[mtrycrafts]

One more thing...I thought I needed athe analog connectors like DVD audio to take advantage of the DTS music discs? No? .

You should be able to just use the digital cables for DTS and DD music for multi channel music. Yes, they are great if recorded well. It is in the recording, after all, not in the medium it is recorded on, other than vinyl, of course

 

[JVC]

Another thing to check..........
A lot of Panasonic players will play dvd-audio discs, in stereo ONLY! Make sure yours will play the multi-channel tracks.
But, if it were me, I'd get rid of the Panasonic, and get a universal player. Good dvd-a and sacd music is AWESOME!
Best Buy usually has a decent selection of both formats. You can buy online at Buy.com or Amazon.com, etc........

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks JVC

My Panasonic is a F85. It has a setup menu for multi channel. It gives me the option of selecting size and delay on all the speakers. Does this mean I can have true 5.1 DVD audio? Or when you mean playing in "only stereo" I can't use Direct or Pure Direct?? Thanks.

I will get a universal player down the road. Once we all know more about blue ray etc as I don't want to be stuck with a "betamax" player after i spent a $1000. I may look at that Panasonic player Clint recently reviewed and see how it compares to the Denon 3910...much cheaper too.

 

[JVC]

"Only stereo" meant that it won't play the High Resolution 5.1 surround tracks in multi-channel. The dvd-a High Res tracks must be played through the 6 analog outputs, on the back of the player, and going into the analog 5.1 inputs on the receiver. All you'll get through the digital connection is the DD or DTS tracks. They sound good, but not as good as the true High Res tracks.
You don't have to spend $1000. You can get the Pioneer 578a universal player at Best Buy or Circuit City for under $200, and enjoy dvd-a AND sacd now...........

 

[rgriffin25]

Thanks guys for your responses...I guess my assumption was correct and might be a waste getting into it if there aren't many titles forthcoming.

Although i like Steely Dan and Foreigner, spending the dough to hear them in High res is not worth it at all. If I could find some Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Def Leppard etc I might think about it.

One more thing...I thought I needed athe analog connectors like DVD audio to take advantage of the DTS music discs? No? There are some good titles in DTS at my local store. I have read they don't sound near as good as DVD audio. However, I have Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD and it's in DTS and is the best thing I have ever heard.

Two of my favorite discs are Pink Floyd DSOTM and Fleetwood Mac Rumours. Pink Floyd is SACD and Fleetwood Mac is DVD-A. They both sound outstanding! There is no reason you can't use some reasonably priced cables to get the job done. Depending on where you look, there are quite a few good recordings availble. I only look at Best Buy if I am there to buy something else. Online is the best way to go when buying Hi-Rez music. I say go for it, I seriously doubt you will be disappointed.

 

[Johnny Canuck]

After doing some reading I am confused which is better: The 563a or 567a. What is this "downconversion" of SACD people are talking about? And a firmware update needed for the 563a? I may consider this a cheap alternative.

And the "bass management" issues have me concerned.

And how would these Pioneer models compare to my panasonic f85 in the video department?

 

[JVC]

Unless you happen to find one that hasn't been sold yet, I doubt you'll find a new 563a.
The 578a is the replacement for the 563a. It has the firmware upgrade. It downconverts the sacd to pcm and the 563a didn't.
Bass management isn't as much of an issue as some would have you think. Everybody I know that has one, or have read they have one, doesn't have a bass management problem. Usually the bass problem is they choose music discs that don't have bass that stands out.
The video of either of these players will blow away the Panasonic...........in my opinion. My 563a blew away my Panasonic player. A friend has a Panasonic dvd recorder w/80 gig HD, and the video from it isn't even close to my 563a.
Best Buy and Circuit City have good return policies. Get one and try it. If you're not happy, take it back. Judge for yourself..............

 

[Johnny Canuck]

well after searching around town for DVD audio and SACD discs, i see none that really warrant my upgrade. Thanks anyways for the input. i may decide to get the Pioneer if it has better video than my Panny as it is only $139 Canadian. I have my doubts though if I will see or hear a significant difference as this player is still entry level. i may just sit tight until i do an upgrade to a HDMI compatible player when i get my LCD TV in a few months.

Anyone else with tis Pioneer model who can tell me if it is better han my Panasonic?

I may just get it, check it out, and return it if I don't like it. it is a single player and I hate my 5 disc carousel.

I could get a enon 2810 for $800 CAD or a yamaha 1500 for $500 CAD but again, maybe I will sit on it until all DVD players are HDMI in the near furure.

 

[Shinerman]

I've got the Panasonic F85 and the Pioneer in no way blows it away in terms of video. If you really want some improvement go with a true upgrade and look at better DVD players. Get out of the mass market stuff and look at some upper line players from makers like Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, even Pioneer's upper end. I doubt you will see much improvement between players less than say $300 or so.

BTW, looks like you've talked/researched your way out of a DVD-A/SACD player and you seemed to have made the right choice. Keep checking thought, you never know? Maybe SACD and DVD-A will pick up and start releasing more titles. Who knows.

Shinerman

 

[Johnny Canuck]

Thanks Shinerman for all the advice!

I saw maybe 5 DVD audio discs today i would have bought.: Metallica (Black Album) Fleetwood Mac Rumours, the new 3 Doors Down album on SACD and Pink Floyd DSOTM on SACD. Maybe a greatest hits by Police or REM Greatest Hits on SACD. NOT WORTH IT YET!!!!!! Sorry. Until there are more titles why waste your money now on a universal player that cost $1000+ ...that's what you need to spend to get significant upgrade from a $300 Panasonic DVD player and by the time good titles are readily available on the format that is YET DECIDED AS THE ONE FOR THE FUTURE they will cost $300 themselves AND all have HDMI connectivity.

Unless of course, you have extra money to burn. If price is no object and want the top of of the line all the time at premium dollar, then go ahead...sorry, I have a mortgage and a very expensive girlfriend

The girlfriend is right..reading Audioholics makes me spend spend spend!!!!

The hockey strike has forced me to find a new hobby!! An expensive one. might be time to retire from these boards and accept my gear the way it is!!!

 

[shokhead]

No, there's certainly no problem with the bass of DVD-A. This urban legend could only be due to the lack of understanding of bass management & the poor manner in which many (most) manufacturers implement it.

As to whether it's "worth it"- that's a little tougher. I absolutely love DVD-A (and to a lesser degree, SACD). The best discs sound so much better than any LP or CD that it's almost stupid. But- you're right, there's very little material. $25 for a 30 year old Yes or Foreiger disc? Yeah, that's gonna sell players... I do have Beck's "Sea Change," the two newest Steeley Dan discs, Porcupine Tree's "In Absentia" & The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" and I think they're absolutely SOTA.

It's hard to say whether it's worth it or not. There's a lot of material out there if you like classical, but again it's mostly vintage stuff reissued. Some of the MC remixes are tremendous, but many are dreadful. Is the format growing or dying? It's hard to say- there's a trickle of new releases, but every week there's an announcement of another delayed or cancelled release. My local Best Buy has scaled back their SACD section by over 50% and reduced their DVD-A section slightly. That can't be a good sign.

I guess my best advice would be too look over the inventory at Music Direct- they have nearly every disc in print in DVD-A & SACD. If you like what you see then you might want to take the plunge. You'll have to assume based on current evidence that an explosion of titles is unlikely given the maturity of the format, so base you decision on what's already out there.

FYI, I listen to DVD-A almost every day, and to me it's worth it just for the great discs I already have. YMMV.

The bass management in DVD players are still lacking compared to recievers and i've had to multi-channel players and both lacked bass in the setup for whatever reason and yes,i know how to set them up.