DVD-Audio

[danielctull]

Has anyone got any DVD-A discs?

I got Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours" and Linkin Park's "Reanimation" albums on DVD-A, and they sound absolutely brilliant. Rumours especially considering the quality of the CD my dad has :)

Also I must add the the cases they come in are fantasic, height wise they are shoter than DVD-V cases and taller than CD cases!

[PJ Matthews]

Doubt they'll take off in any big way. The sound is not a huge leap from CD, yeah its better but not fanastically better. One of the only reasons this has been brought about is yet more silly copy protecion.

Mayb when then bring out soem decent DVD-A discs instead of the crap there is now more people will be ineterested. I fail to see how DVD-A will catch on. I myself favour an MP3 type future.

[garycooper]

I also think DVD-A will flop. The standard has been around ever since DVD was introduced. There was a small number of high end HiFi material released for the American market with the 96kHz 24-bit labels slapped all over it. It sounds as though the material released on DVD-A will be for the American market (ie Rock based). The DVD-A format does offer far superior sound quality when compared to CD but you'll need quite expensive HiFi equipment to hear that extra audio detail. The best and most cost efective way to enjoy music is to buy a good pair of British speakers, with a British Sub-woofer and a nice British Amp with sound coming from a good source be it CD or even a computer with high bit-rate audio files.

[PJ Matthews]

Sure but if your using headphones theres not alotta difference. As you rightly point out you need decent hardware (The Audigy 2s main sellin point in some respects). Listening to DVD-A is recommended in a decent space on decent speakers. Played via 6.1, its very impressive indeedy, on ya cheap ass stereo its not worth bothering.

I also don't think the industry has generally decided completely what to use the extra space of the DVD-A for. Even the longest soundtracks easily fit on in high quality with multiple audio channels. Makes you wonder what happens if they used dual layer discs. It'd be pretty neat to find lyrics or band info on the disc. Which brings me to my conclusion. Why bother when music video DVDs exist. They can be played audio only via a dedicated player or with the videos going.

I assure the masses, its another con to knock yet more money out of our little poorly lined pockets at inflated prices and we can't even make back ups.

GRRR.

PJ

[garycooper]

Where is the extra speaker with 6.1 compared to 5.1? Is it similar to the Lucas Film THX setup's where you have front L&R, Rear L&R, Centre, Sub, and a Mid L&R.
Pioneer tried to go the 96kHz route with some CD players/recorders and DAT (remember that) that flopped big time in the domestic market. Possibly the next big thing will be audio sold on some form of memory card like CF or smart media.

[PJ Matthews]

Right here we go

U have
http://www6.tomshardware.com/video/02q4/021106/images/5.1-7.1.gif

6.1 is far far better than 5.1, the sound is much clearer and the immersion more reaslistic. The rear speaker makes a huge difference

Never tried 7.1 but its sounds expensive. :)

[ 14 November 2002: Message edited by: PJ Matthews ]

[ 14 November 2002: Message edited by: PJ Matthews ]

[PJ Matthews]

http://www6.tomshardware.com/video/02q4/021106/audigy2-04.html