Is DVD-A still-born?

DVD-A will survive. Like DTS, DVD-A will eventually be offered on most DVD players.

CD is threatened--on the lowend by MP3 and Windows Media, from midland by DVD-V, and by vinyl, DVD-A and SACD from the highend. I can't imagine continuing to expand my CD or record collection at this time.

DVD-A has several shortcomings--but in my opinion, it's main strength is it's main weakness. It is offered only on DVD players. This has the advantage of volume, but the disadvantage of mid-fi performance and restrictions. DVD-A discs can't be played in cars, CD-based systems, etc.

IMHO, I'm unaware of any sub-$1,000 CD/DVD-V/DVD-A player that offers high fidelity performance. Some say there's none under $2,000. What do you expect from a $500 CD/DVD-V/DVD-A player?

SACD will also survive. It is CD's replacement. Hybrid discs can be played in CD players, it offers stereo and multichannel options, and sounds better than CD.

Like DVD-A, SACD will also become a feature on DVD players, but unlike DVD-A, will also be sold as standalone CD/SACD players.

I agree that SACD and DVD-A need software.

But I remember when CD came out. Most CDs cost about $17-$20 at a time that records cost about half that price. CD's cost at least $30-$40 in today's dollars.

Using the logic that consumers only buy software that costs the same oa the old technology leads to the conclusion that CD should have failed.

High Definiton sound will grow in popularity. I can't see a third format overtaking SACD or DVD-A. Like DD and DTS, I see both DVD-A and SACD surviving.

Yes, "all digital" systems are on the way. And I agree have the potential to significantly lower costs and improve sound.

About 20 audio manufacturers (mainly from Japan) have developed a consortium to research DSD/SACD all digital systems. If it's going to be all digital, might as well use the best currently available (DSD/SACD).

But there will always be a highend, as long as someone is willing to pay the price.

BTW times have really changed. In the 1960's, highend was a Marantz receiver or power amp feeding into $300 AR-3a speakers with a $100 AR turntable.

Now, even a $3,000 receiver with $2,000 speakers and a $1,000 CD player is not considered highend by some.

Elizabeth,
I agree that a digital format (e.g. MP3, Windows Media, or new/improved updates of these) will grow in popularity, but I don't see it as a threat to the highend. It's a threat to CD and probably will not ever sound as good as CD.

I believe that it's time to have a format better than CD and more user friendly than vinyl.

I also don't see the industry coming up with another "high resolution" format, so for this decade and beyond, the high resolution opinions will mainly be SACD and DVD-A.

Both will survive, but audiophiles will continue to support SACD because it sounds better.