Who has actually listened to DVD audio?


I hear alot of gib jab about SACD and the future of digital sound as DVD-A. Has anyone actually listened to this format, and what is your opinion of the 2-channel sound of SACD and DVD-A vs. vinyl on a good system?
ghogman

Showing 1 response by rcprince

Having SACD in my system, my feeling is that it is getting closer to analog than I thought digital ever could get. It will probably not replace my vinyl, which still is warmer sounding, but it does have the ease and openness you get from vinyl. Someone said that SACD doesn't sound like analog, it sounds like the master tape, and that's probably right. Be careful, though, because you may not like what is on the master tape. As far as DVD-A, I haven't heard it yet, and I doubt that there will be players for a while which can take full advantage of that format, since the manufacturers are not letting a 24/96 signal out of the digital out on those players so you're going to be stuck with what will likely for the immediate future be mid-fi analog stages and power supplies. I imagine if it matures it will sound very good, as the 24/96 discs I have heard from Classic and Chesky in my system are stunningly good with a good 24/96 DAC, on the same playing field with SACD. I'd prefer more of the Classic and Chesky DADs, which can be played through a good DAC now, but I fear that DVD-A may have put an end to those discs.