question about DVD-A/SACD

[Hayabusa Rider]

I have been trying to do some research on this, and it looks like the outputs are analog, not digital. What I have found is a year or more old on this, so I dont know if it is true or not. Anyone know?

 

[ATLien247]

Coud be either one...

Older players usually have analog outputs, but there are some newer ones that use IEEE 1394.

 

[N8Magic]

Both players that I looked up at Amazon both had digital-out. They were all combo players, so whether they use the digital-out when playing SACD or DVD-A, I dunno.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
Both players that I looked up at Amazon both had digital-out. They were all combo players, so whether they use the digital-out when playing SACD or DVD-A, I dunno.

Last time I checked there was no format defined for sending the SACD / DVD-A multichannel info over a standard optical or coax connection, that connection could only send stereo and DVD-video (with it's own compressed and PCM audio).

Which is why:

some newer ones that use IEEE 1394

but for that you might need to stay with a particular brand [ matched player & recvr ] for 100% compatibility.

Also, almost no players or receivers do bass management (routing to subwoofer) for the analog out / in, so if you have small speakers the sound quality may be lacking.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: N8Magic Both players that I looked up at Amazon both had digital-out. They were all combo players, so whether they use the digital-out when playing SACD or DVD-A, I dunno.

Last time I checked there was no format defined for sending the SACD / DVD-A multichannel info over a standard optical or coax connection, that connection could only send stereo and DVD-video (with it's own compressed and PCM audio). Which is why:

some newer ones that use IEEE 1394

but for that you might need to stay with a particular brand [ matched player & recvr ] for 100% compatibility. Also, almost no players or receivers do bass management (routing to subwoofer) for the analog out / in, so if you have small speakers the sound quality may be lacking.

It seems that the fear of pirating has kept multichannel digital outs off the market. I have no sub, but I do have Definitive Technology powered speakers, so that is a non issue. I now wonder if dvd-a and sacd is worth much.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I now wonder if dvd-a and sacd is worth much.

The reviews of actual discs in Sound & Vision have been unimpressive -- lots of gimmicky remixes that use multichannel just because it's there.

But I have no complaints with the quality of well-recorded CDs, so the extra potential fidelity of SACD isn't a major benefit for me, especially given the copy-protection that keeps me from encoding as MP3s for my flash player (unless I do it at 1x through the analog outs ).

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: Hayabusarider
I now wonder if dvd-a and sacd is worth much.

The answer depends on what kind of music you listen to and how much you value sound quality. Is there a hi-fi shop in your city where you can listen to SACD or DVD-A being auditioned? I don't put much faith in reviews, you need to be able to hear something with your own ears. In regards to the selection, I know there is a site somewhere where you can check what has been rerelased under the respective formats, but I can't seem to find it at the moment. From what I remember the selection of jazz and classical is much more diverse than for other genres of music.

Unless you have a really nice receiver I don't see why you would want to use digital outputs anyway, the D/A converters in the SACD player are probably a lot better than the ones in your receiever and bad D/A converters could easily nullify the sonic improvements that SACD or DVD-A bring

 

[Eug]

I have a DVD-A player. I still just buy CDs 99% of the time. No real selection of either SACD or DVD-A.

 

[BigToque]

What kind of car are they driving there?

It looks like a ferrari.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

I now wonder if dvd-a and sacd is worth much.

The reviews of actual discs in Sound & Vision have been unimpressive -- lots of gimmicky remixes that use multichannel just because it's there.

But I have no complaints with the quality of well-recorded CDs, so the extra potential fidelity of SACD isn't a major benefit for me, especially given the copy-protection that keeps me from encoding as MP3s for my flash player (unless I do it at 1x through the analog outs ).

The Dave Matthews Band's last album had a 5.1 version of one of their songs and it sounded pretty fvcking cool.

 

[BigToque]

Is is the 575 Maranello?

Pic