[Patrick McCart]

After hearing the news of Dark Side of the Moon coming to Super Audio CD, is it possible to play the 5.1 sound from a normal DVD player?

(Sorry if this is a dumb question...it probably is..)

[Thomas Newton]

A non-hybrid Super Audio CD will play only on a Super Audio CD player.

A hybrid Super Audio CD will theoretically play on both Super Audio CD players and CD players. Discrete 5.1 channel sound would be only on the SACD layer.

A non-SACD-capable DVD player or DVD-ROM drive might be able to play the regular stereo CD layer of a hybrid SACD. I say "might" because it's also possible that the SACD layer would fool the DVD player into thinking that it saw a defective DVD-Video or DVD-Audio layer, in which case the disc would not work at all.

[Michael St. Clair]

Patrick,

It looks like there may be a possibility that a DVD-A of DSotM will come out in the next year of so. If so, then you would be able to listen in surround on your system. You may be part of a certain demographic that certain format-bashers believe should be ignored.

[Patrick McCart]

Thanks...

I'm thinking of upgrading in the future to a prog. scan/DVD-A capable model, so I'll probably wait for that.

IMO, the digitally remastered CD sounds wonderful for the time being.

[KeithH]

Patrick, just note that most DVD-Audio discs have a DVD-Video-compatible layer with Dolby Digital and/or DTS 5.1 tracks. So, if you have a DVD-Video player, you can access the Dolby Digital and DTS tracks, but not the DVD-Audio tracks.

Before getting a DVD-Audio player, you might want to consider a universal model (DVD player with SACD and DVD-Audio). You didn't state what you budget might be, but Pioneer will be releasing the DV-563A universal player for $270 later this year. Zenith will also be releasing the DV-318 universal model for $200 this year.

[Philip Hamm]

It's worth the wait to have both. Many of us have had two players for quite some time and it's kind of frustrating, but both formats are worth a whirl.

[KeithH]

Philip, I have no issues with owning separate components for DVD-Audio and SACD. Given that some of the universal components seem to be compromised, especially on SACD, I am very happy with the separates route. I also put less wear and tear on a component by having separates than if I had a universal machine.

[RobBenton]

The hassle is that very few recievers have 2 5.1 inputs for DVD-A and SACD so that you have to buy a switch and have a mess of cables and most of the switches are either manual (meaning you have to get up and switch them yourself) or they are expensive. I think a unversal player is a great idea and I may even get one myself so i can get rid of my two seperate players.

[KeithH]

Rob, that's a fair point, though I am using the inexpensive Radio Shack switch boxes ($30 for two) and modestly priced cables (Radio Shack gold for one and Monster Interlink 400mkII for the other) and don't mind the set-up. I think people make too much of a deal about the "rat's nest" or "mess" of cables. Yes, there is a cost involved, which is a bummer, but my cables are out of sight. No big deal for me.

[Philip Hamm]

What Keith said.

[Doug_B]

Quote:

I think people make too much of a deal about the "rat's nest" or "mess" of cables.

Agreed, until you need to unhook stuff when moving equipment around or adding a shelf. Maybe this happens more often than one would like .

But I did it anyway, thanks to Dark Side .

Doug