How much of a difference is it between normal CDs and DVD-A or SACD's?

[Arkitech]

I've always been curious about this, are the new audio formats really that much of a difference over a typical CD?

 

[FeuerFrei]

Huge difference. I have a few DVD-As. I would never listen to the cd version again if I had both of an album.

 

[nonnormman]

Those formats never took off.

 

[imported_Rat]

MP3s sound better.

 

[nonnormman]

Originally posted by: Rat
MP3s sound better.

I pray that you're joking.:Q

 

[EvilYoda]

Depends on if that's going to be a bottleneck in your system...I've never listened to a DVD-A/SACD on say, Klipsch Quintets, but on my system there is a dramatic difference. Granted, I listen to a lot of classical and jazz, two of the only genres that use SACD (as recently written about in a Stereophile editorial...so sad).

 

[Kirby]

my speakers are sh!t so i'm sure 8-track would sound just as good

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
I've always been curious about this, are the new audio formats really that much of a difference over a typical CD?

It's a huge difference.

CDs have always sounded "bright" and not really tonally accurate. That's why vinyl sounds better.

SACD and DVD-A are much higer resolution, coupled with they can also be 5.1 surround sound. There really isn't a comparison to a normal CD, it sounds that much better.

 

[MX2]

meh...as long as I can hear it and it doesnt sound like AM radio, I am fine

 

[Viper GTS]

I was much more impressed by the SACD titles I purchased than the DVD-A.

There really is a huge difference vs CD though, and it doesn't take much in terms of equipment to hear it.

Viper GTS

 

[FlashG]

DVD-A came with my car. To bad it?s a dead format because nothing else really compares. I haven?t listened to a lot of SACD so maybe it?s just as good.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: FlashG
DVD-A came with my car. To bad it?s a dead format because nothing else really compares. I haven?t listened to a lot of SACD so maybe it?s just as good.

It never really took off, but I wouldn't call it dead.

When folks listen to mp3s, it's understandable why an awesome quality format is released that rivals vinyl would not be adopted. But if you like music you already own a DVD-A/SACD player and media. I'd love to see some good box sets released.

 

[DurocShark]

I'd be willing to buy/rip huge digital files if the quality is DVD-A.

But as things stand, I'll stick with some fat LAMEs until something drastically better comes around.

 

[Kaido]

SACD, I couldn't tell much of a difference. Clearer, yes, but not enough to warrant buying more. DVD-A, it sounded more like you were in the middle of it. Neat but meh. 128kbps MP3 ftw

 

[nonnormman]

128kps ftw?
Anything under 160kps in the mp3 format is crap.

 

[Rangoric]

Originally posted by: nonnormman
128kps ftw?
Anything under 160kps in the mp3 format is crap.

I agree, but then I also roll with 320

 

[Rubycon]

They still suck.

 

[Howard]

http://sound.westhost.com/cd-sacd-dvda.htm

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Howard
http://sound.westhost.com/cd-sacd-dvda.htm

Down with sony proprietary crap!

*rabble*

But in all seriousness, both formats rule. I do like the requirement of a 2 channel requirement for SACD and the backward compatibility. I "assumed" there was one for DVD-A.

Although I haven't kept up with the format wars in a long time as I'm just enjoying hi-rez music.

 

[nonnormman]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Howard
http://sound.westhost.com/cd-sacd-dvda.htm

Down with sony proprietary crap!

Atrac3>wma>mp3

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nonnormman
Atrac3>wma>mp3

I can't keep up with all the darned acronyms. What are you trying to say?

 

[nonnormman]

In order of least to greatest:

mp3
wma
Atrac3

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nonnormman
In order of least to greatest:

mp3
wma
Atrac3

grrr....

mp3 is what? Last I heard it was a funky means of music from this thing called winamp.
wma is what?
Atrac3 is what?

You're talking to a guy that still holds his vinyl and other store bought digital formats dear.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nonnormman
In order of least to greatest:

mp3
wma
Atrac3

grrr....

mp3 is what? Last I heard it was a funky means of music from this thing called winamp.
wma is what?
Atrac3 is what?

You're talking to a guy that still holds his vinyl and other store bought digital formats dear.

USE GOOGLE

 

[Triumph]

My CD's sound just fine to me. I've never heard SACD or DVD-A, but I'm thinking that I wouldn't really prefer one or the other. They would just sound "different." I'll hold judgement until I listen to some music in a blind A/B comparison using the same speakers and amplifier, but I'm not expecting much considering I don't believe vinyl to sound superior to a well mixed DDD CD recording.