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I'm totally confused about Hi Rez formats

I was hoping that somebody out there could help this two-channel audiophile make some sense out of the DVD-A and SACD formats. I was interested in exploring these hi resolutiuon formats, but was told by a salesman that the benefits of these formats are only achieved when used in multichannel setups. I went to the dealer under the impression that if one wished to, he or she could simply use such players as two channel digital front ends, and still obtain the benefit of the higher sampling rate and bit rate. I know of one high end player like the Marantz SA-11 that only has two channel analog outputs.

I was interested in testing the waters with a universal player, but I don't want to go nuts and spend thousands of dollars until I have a chance to experiment with the possibilities. Certainly, I have no use for the so-called high resolution formats unless I can truly obtain higher resolution in a two channel system. I am not interested in multichannel audio at the moment. Can somebody please explain things to me.

Thanks!!
mstram

Showing 3 responses by sbank

sbank's avatar
sbank
3,391 posts
 
Rumor has it that Sony is about to stop or at least cut back on issuing new SACD software. There are other threads here discussing that aspect in detail.
The biggest problem vs. CD is that there isn't enough good 2 channel sacd software. As already mentioned, there may never be much good DVD-A 2 channel software.
The highest resolution format available today is vinyl, plain and simple. My suggestion for you is to sit on the sidelines of the digital battle, and upgrade your tt if you want the best 2 channel sound available today.
Even most of the SACD reviews alude to the fact that the vinyl versions are superior, and we know that the reviewers are under pressure to help encourage support of the new formats. At CES I saw little "hi-rez" being demoed. Either vinyl on top notch setups, or plain 'ole redbook CD. That should tell you something, too. Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,391 posts
 
Mgottlieb,
From what I've read, more LPs are being sold than SACDs. If you think that vinyl is limited to "what was available in 1980, or reissues of it" then perhaps you the one "is just sticking your head in the sand. Or somewhere else." Plenty of new titles are available on vinyl. Granted, they aren't stocked at the local Target, but they are available. There are more high quality reissues(including some amazing 45rpm versions, such as the Fantasy 45s) then ever before, and LP hardware continues to develop to a level of quality and price/performance few who gave up on it years ago, would believe.
While I don't dispute that a good SACD on a good SACD player will sound better than redbook on most redbook players, there's still a large gap from a hi-rez format that will survive, let alone flourish. Most SACD reviews imply that the better vinyl versions are superior. That about says it all. Cheers,
Spencer
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,391 posts
 
Hands up for buying new vinyl. I recently bought new stuff from Elvis Costello, Jayhawks, Elliot Smith, Tift Merritt, and hope to soon get the New Allison Krauss and Patricia Barber. If funds weren't limited, I'd get the new Joss Stone, U2, all the White Stripes LPs, Diana Krall and Mark Knopfler. Are all those even available in a digital hi-rez format? Cheers,
Spencer
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