Hello All,

I would like to ask everyones opinions on the difference between DVD-A and SACD. If an album is available on both formats, is there any difference between them sonically or are they virtually the same? What are the pros and cons between the two formats? Is there an advantage to purchasing one format over the other? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Cheers!

Brent

Hello All,

I would like to ask everyones opinions on the difference between DVD-A and SACD. If an album is available on both formats, is there any difference between them sonically or are they virtually the same? What are the pros and cons between the two formats? Is there an advantage to purchasing one format over the other? Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Cheers!

BrentNot likely you will find much that is in both formats. DVD-A has been quiet for a couple of years now with very few new releases. I've amassed about 2 in the last year or so. SACD is hanging on primarily in the classical field and there are about 6k of them now. See www.sa-cd.net.

Technical superiority of these formats is debatable (and hotly debated) but the choice, ultimately, will be on the basis of repertoire.

Thanks for the reply Kal.

Cheers!

The only difference between the two to me is the menu system on DVD-A makes getting into the music itself a little less speedy than an SACD.

Usually, if a title is available on both SACD and DVD-A (not a DD or DTS Dual disc!), the audio is essentially identical - it becomes a religious argument whether DSD is better than PCM, IMHO.

However, often the DVD-As have bonus video material, which obviously cannot be found on the SACDs, and, due to the DVD-V layer of DVD-As, you can play them pretty well anywhere you can play a DVD. On the other hand, many SACDs come with a CD layer, which might be handy in the car (I never take my SACDs into the car - don't trust the loader mechanisms -I'll buy a proper redbook CD for the car if I like the SACD that much).

Usually I just go for whatever is cheaper. Sometimes it is one, sometimes the other.

IMHO,

shinksma

The only difference between the two to me is the menu system on DVD-A makes getting into the music itself a little less speedy than an SACD.

Usually, if a title is available on both SACD and DVD-A (not a DD or DTS Dual disc!), the audio is essentially identical - it becomes a religious argument whether DSD is better than PCM, IMHO.

However, often the DVD-As have bonus video material, which obviously cannot be found on the SACDs, and, due to the DVD-V layer of DVD-As, you can play them pretty well anywhere you can play a DVD. On the other hand, many SACDs come with a CD layer, which might be handy in the car (I never take my SACDs into the car - don't trust the loader mechanisms -I'll buy a proper redbook CD for the car if I like the SACD that much).

Usually I just go for whatever is cheaper. Sometimes it is one, sometimes the other.

IMHO,

shinksma

Thanks Guys!

Informative comments.

Cheers!

Also dvd-audio discs can be copied and the individual songs ripped. Great for making mixed dvd-audio discs or back-ups.

Also dvd-audio discs can be copied and the individual songs ripped. Great for making mixed dvd-audio discs or back-ups.

Hi David,

I take it from your comment that this cannot be done with SACD discs...correct?

Thanks!

Hi David,

I take it from your comment that this cannot be done with SACD discs...correct?

Thanks!

Not with software that I know of.
At least, you can't do a direct rip like with a Redbook CD.

Since I make DVD-A discs, I know that side better, though.

Hi David,

I take it from your comment that this cannot be done with SACD discs...correct?

Thanks!

The only way to get at SACDs that I know of is using a modified set-top player to dump the raw DSD stream from a digital output, to a PC armed with an appropriate input and software. Way expensive and time consuming.

Not with software that I know of.
At least, you can't do a direct rip like with a Redbook CD.

Since I make DVD-A discs, I know that side better, though.

Thanks boondocks,

What are you using to make your DVD-A discs? I was thinking about using HD-Audio Solo Ultra 2.0.

Cheers!

The only way to get at SACDs that I know of is using a modified set-top player to dump the raw DSD stream from a digital output, to a PC armed with an appropriate input and software. Way expensive and time consuming.

Hi rdgrimes,

Thanks for the info...sounds as though I won't be ripping anything from SACD discs!

Cheers!

Thanks boondocks,

What are you using to make your DVD-A discs? I was thinking about using HD-Audio Solo Ultra 2.0.

Cheers!

Discwelder Chrome.
I started out with the early version of Solo.
Works good enough, especially for the price. The only caveat is it will not
accept mlp encoded files, which will limit what you can put on disc unless
you use DL.

Discwelder Chrome.
I started out with the early version of Solo.
Works good enough, especially for the price. The only caveat is it will not
accept mlp encoded files, which will limit what you can put on disc unless
you use DL.

Thanks for that boondocks, I'll check out Discwelder Chrome. BTW, what's DL?

Cheers!

Thanks for that boondocks, I'll check out Discwelder Chrome. BTW, what's DL?

Cheers!

DL = double layer disc.

Discwelder Chrome is somewhat expensive; so be aware of that. Also, to
take full advantage you will need the Surcode MLP encoder, also not cheap.
If making a disc that is playable on "regular" DVD players as well as including
DVDA content is important, Chrome will let you add a Video TS authored with other
programs that (can) include AC3 and DTS streams.

Surcode does make a cheaper DVDA authoring software, Bronze, but I don't
believe it accepts MLP encoded files either, not sure.

For the price, actually it's hard to beat the Cirlinca Solo products, as long as
you understand you can't use MLP encoding.

DL = double layer disc.

Discwelder Chrome is somewhat expensive; so be aware of that. Also, to
take full advantage you will need the Surcode MLP encoder, also not cheap.
If making a disc that is playable on "regular" DVD players as well as including
DVDA content is important, Chrome will let you add a Video TS authored with other
programs that (can) include AC3 and DTS streams.

Surcode does make a cheaper DVDA authoring software, Bronze, but I don't
believe it accepts MLP encoded files either, not sure.

For the price, actually it's hard to beat the Cirlinca Solo products, as long as
you understand you can't use MLP encoding.

Thanks for the info boondocks, it's much appreciated. I've a lot to learn!

Cheers!