<font color='#8D38C9'>Even with the awesome capacity of a DVD disc, you still can't fit 5.1 X 96khz X 24 bits on the disc. DVD-A utilized "MLP" or "Meridian Lossless Packing" to squeeze all that data in (think Winzip for music- the data is compressed and reopened losslessly. This was designed my guys obviously a lot smarter than me!).
As for SACD, the main "need" being served by this product is the need for Sony to develope a new revenue stream. Sony & Philips hold the patent for the CD (which every manufacturer had to pay for for many years)- now this patent has expired. So they need a new proprietary technology to whore out...er, I mean, "liscence out."
I think SACD sounds great, but at the end of the day I wish it'd never been created. Mostly it just dilutes what little mainstream interest there is in hi rez MC, IMOHO. DVD video has a lot of momentum, and without the Format War talk I think DVD-A coulda been launched more successfully. Of course, with the way it's lauch was (mis)handled, Ebola got a warmer greeting...
I'b be happier if SACD would just go away, in one sense. DVD-A makes more sense on many levels (a proven & mature technology in PCM, good compatibility with DVD-Video, strong coattails to ride on, lots of flexibility on how the channels are coded, extra video content, etc etc).
NOTE: before you think I don't like SACD, think again. I have exactly 25 DVD-A discs and 25 SACD. It's a dead heat in my collection.</font>