Just looking for ideas on the future, if any, of DVD-A. Releases have been meager over the past several years. Talkings Heads on Dualdisc gave me hope. Porcupine Tree remains committed to the format. ITRAX gives us another option.

We also had the Beatles, the Doors, and Genesis (DTS 96/24) recently

Are there any rumours of future releases? Am I going to be limited to waiting for the next Steely Dan album?

It appears the format is nearly on life support. It is sad because I believe with online sales, certain titles would sell very well in this format because there seems to be a huge overlap in taste of people who bought these players in the first place.

I wish someone would begin a series of online only releases at about $18-$25 per release of the right music. I think they would be pleasantly surprised by the sales.

I would pre-order Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here right now if I could. I would do the same for Rush's Moving Pictures or Steely Dan's Aja or anything form Steely Dan for that matter.

Looking for feedback

I don't think there will be a DVD-A resurgence. It's basically very niche. I am so grateful we have the Beatles Love, and I have really been enjoying PT's Lightbulb Sun the last couple of weeks.

Again, this is only my opinion, and I am not "in the business" so I don't have any inside information, but I believe Blu-Ray has more potential for future releases than DVD-Audio does.

People are not buying new DVD-A-equiped home setups in any significant numbers. The best glimmer of hope for DVD-A is in automobile players, but I think if surround music is going to thrive beyond the very niche market it now occupies, it will be because large numbers of households (and possibly cars in the future) have Blu-Ray players.

I just received a Marillion eNewsletter saying they were intrigued by Trent Reznor's new Ghosts I-IV Ultra-Deluxe Limited Edition. It goes on to say that:

"Our initial idea would be to include the entire 'Happiness is the Road' double album on 4 vinyl LPs, a 24-bit/96kHz Hi-definition Audio DVD, a 5.1 surround sound mix of some or all the double album on DVD-A, and a large format (12x12-inch) deluxe artwork book packaged in a special box, numbered and personally autographed by the whole band. This 'Ultimate Edition' would be priced at £150, made in very limited quantities and for a limited time only. Our question to you is: Are you interested?"

http://www.marillion.com/news/2008/20080428.htm

I sent a mail to yes@marillion.com

the Ultimate edition seems too rich tho... BUT I did say I would buy their whole catalogue again if they came out in DVD-A.

Start with Misplaced Childhood ... please?

They really need to scrap CD's, all the DACs i've seen that run in 16bit mode have a SNR of at best 96db. There just isn't enough selection to push me towards DVD-A right now though.

They really need to scrap CD's, all the DACs i've seen that run in 16bit mode have a SNR of at best 96db...

Each bit equals 6dB so 16bitx6dB=96dB. 24 bit is 144dB. Having said this a high end HT with room in room (with no windows or openings and with solid core exterior doors) construction and located underground is likely to have a dynamic range of less than 80dB. Even sound studios rarely exceed this number. I willing to bet your listening room doesn't have a dynamic range anywhere near 80dB. The biggest advantage of 24bit is NOT the S/N ratio but lower quantization errors at low volume levels because more bits are used for the same sound level.

EDIT: Also like to add that with noise shaping 16bit can have quantization distortion almost as low as 24bit. Look at DSD (SA-CD) which only has 1bit (6dB) to work with.

The future is Blu-ray.
Lets hope Blu-ray catches on. It has everything to become an audiophile format; I hope they dont kill this opportunity.

Why I haven't bought Bluray:

1. I am out of HDMI inputs on my receiver that I spent a lot for three years ago.

2. Bluray offerings have an inconsistent choice of formats.

3. Bluray players have inconsistent decoding abilities. For instance the new Denon player does not decode dts-HD or truHD. It just sends out a bitstream. Since my three year old receiver doesn't decode that bitstream I can only get multichannel PCM as a hirez format.

4. Bought DVD-a, SACD, and HDDVD previously and they dried up.

5. Discs cost too much

Why I haven't bought Bluray:

1. I am out of HDMI inputs on my receiver that I spent a lot for three years ago. There are inexpensive HDMI switches to solve that problem.

2. Bluray offerings have an inconsistent choice of formats. Most will output PCM via HDMI and most AVRs will handle that.

3. Bluray players have inconsistent decoding abilities. For instance the new Denon player does not decode dts-HD or truHD. It just sends out a bitstream. Since my three year old receiver doesn't decode that bitstream I can only get multichannel PCM as a hirez format.You are referring to their transport, not their player. The former was designed specifically for modern AVRs with universal decoding ability. Sony and Pioneer have announced suitable decoding players.

4. Bought DVD-a, SACD, and HDDVD previously and they dried up.Irrelevent. We can still play them if we have them.

5. Discs cost too muchSorry. Can't help you there.

Points taken Mr. Rubinson

I guess since I am still enjoying my Hirez music I wasn't really burned by them. I also have about 50 HDDVD titles that will probably take me 2-3 years to see all of them.

I'll look into HDMI switches and given my history I will likely eventually buy a player. Five years ago I never thought I would own a SACD player.

I think a $15-$20 price point is key.

I still think for the major music companies with CD sales falling, especially in the under 20 year old age group, that mail order hirez is a potentially profitable proposition. People call DVD-a and SACD niche products, but the CD is becoming a niche product.

I think a $15-$20 price point is key.No argument but consider the added features and quality over CD.

I emailed my yes vote.

the Ultimate edition seems too rich tho...

My feelings exactly.

BUT I did say I would buy their whole catalogue again if they came out in DVD-A.

Start with Misplaced Childhood ... please?

Ditto again!! :)