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After 5 years, format war? What format war?

After all the hoopla about the DVD-Audio and SACD format wars for the past 5 years, it seems to me that the format war may have existed perhaps only as a figment of a few corporations' imagination. (Kinda' like THX certification by LucasFilm)

I've never listened to a dvd-audio disc, but I do have a handful of SACD discs. Nor have I ever listened to DVD-A or SACD via a multi-channel system nor do I have a hankering to do so.

I thoroughly enjoy a few of the SACD's for their warmth, resolution, and anolog-like presentation, but still cannot see myself rushing out to buy more. Except for perhaps the Red Rose Sampler SACD which contains a few tracks providing a wonderful illustration of what SACD can do.

Don't get me wrong about the benefits of SACD. But I've experienced far greater enjoyment listening to my much older and even newer 'Redbook' cd recordings through component upgrades and through acoustical, electrical, rack designs, and vibration-transferring tweaks than with any SACD formatted enhancements.

Just curious where others stand.

-IMO
stehno

Showing 1 response by nrchy

nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
I am at a loss to understand what people are talking about when they say redbook has improved so much. I know it has improved over the last twenty year, now it's almost listenable for something other than background noise. It still isn't very good. SACD on the other hand approaches the quality of vinyl and is a great format for those too lazy to set up a turntable.

Bad SACD sounds better than redbook, but neither of them are as lifelike and full as vinyl. I will continue to buy SACDs since many of the new releases are not available in SACD, but I will only buy redbook as a last resort. If it is not available in any good format then... okay redbook it is!

My system is better than your (just because it's mine) and redbook sounds like listening to music reflected off of a sheet of glass. SACD sounds like vinyl on a TT that needs to be tweaked. Vinyl sounds like music.
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