Home Theater Forum - View Single Post - A New Theory about DVDA and SACD Sonic Qualities

Phil A · 11-20-2003, 07:47 PM

Lee, I would concur with the differences noted in your original post, but as a generalization. The underlying mastering process is so important to the sound and I have music of each format that played back on my system I would bet could not be identified as to which format was playing regardless of how familiar one was with the source material. While the nature of what music is released on each format is changing, SACD has catered more to the audiophile vs. putting out newer stuff, which has both good and bad points. One major advantage to DVD-A at this point, which is almost never mentioned, although I also expect the landscape to change over time, is that manufacturers of consumer hardware have a lot more experience building hardware based on PCM vs. DSD. At this point in time this translates into one being able to get a DVD-A machine that can play at a level much closer to more state-of-the-art equipment than cheaper SACD machines can do. I think people criticize the fact that high end manuf. as not making as many DVD-A only products vs. SACD, and while that is true, it is not a valid criticism in my view from what I have heard on a fairly good system.

I definitely in general prefer SACD in my main system, in terms of what I hear in the way of timbre nuances of real instruments vs. what I hear in many DVD-As as a refinement of listening to a better version of some studio experience that is a little colder in terms of presentation. I did however note that there are DVD-As that cannot really be distinguished from teh sonic qualitiies of SACDs. Sonically I can live with either. I can't stand the lack of std. size cases for DVD-As, don't like the middle sized jewel box they use with most of the stuff or the DVD-V size, but I guess if they want to differentiate it from a CD they could at least come to a std. I also can't stand the interface of DVD-A vs. SACD and don't need or want all the stuff other than the music which I am buying for in the 1st place. I certainly don't like paying a premium for it as is charged by some cos. vs. a CD. If I want a DVD-V, I can buy one of those.

I suspect as the end of the day with so many universal players the issue for masses is a non-issue. As consumers we don't control what will be released on a particular format and can only buy the music we like.

11-20-2003, 07:47 PM	#6 of 44
Phil A Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Local Time: 12:18 AM Local Date: 12-05-2008 Posts: 3,293	Lee, I would concur with the differences noted in your original post, but as a generalization. The underlying mastering process is so important to the sound and I have music of each format that played back on my system I would bet could not be identified as to which format was playing regardless of how familiar one was with the source material. While the nature of what music is released on each format is changing, SACD has catered more to the audiophile vs. putting out newer stuff, which has both good and bad points. One major advantage to DVD-A at this point, which is almost never mentioned, although I also expect the landscape to change over time, is that manufacturers of consumer hardware have a lot more experience building hardware based on PCM vs. DSD. At this point in time this translates into one being able to get a DVD-A machine that can play at a level much closer to more state-of-the-art equipment than cheaper SACD machines can do. I think people criticize the fact that high end manuf. as not making as many DVD-A only products vs. SACD, and while that is true, it is not a valid criticism in my view from what I have heard on a fairly good system. I definitely in general prefer SACD in my main system, in terms of what I hear in the way of timbre nuances of real instruments vs. what I hear in many DVD-As as a refinement of listening to a better version of some studio experience that is a little colder in terms of presentation. I did however note that there are DVD-As that cannot really be distinguished from teh sonic qualitiies of SACDs. Sonically I can live with either. I can't stand the lack of std. size cases for DVD-As, don't like the middle sized jewel box they use with most of the stuff or the DVD-V size, but I guess if they want to differentiate it from a CD they could at least come to a std. I also can't stand the interface of DVD-A vs. SACD and don't need or want all the stuff other than the music which I am buying for in the 1st place. I certainly don't like paying a premium for it as is charged by some cos. vs. a CD. If I want a DVD-V, I can buy one of those. I suspect as the end of the day with so many universal players the issue for masses is a non-issue. As consumers we don't control what will be released on a particular format and can only buy the music we like.