DVD Audio CD's.

What's the deal with these? They presumably sound a lot better than regular audio cd releases, but they can only be played through your dvd player, not through a typical cd player/stereo or discman.

Is that pretty much the extent of it?

I was under the impression that they were designed to play in your DVD player because of a surround speaker set-up either 5x1 or 7x1 with center channel, subwoofer, and surround speakers all with music on seperate channels. Could definitely be wrong tho, but that was my assumption. I'm curious about the DVD audio and SACD audio myself.

Not to mention what the bastards will eventually roll out (something totally digital like a memory card album?) to make cds obsolete. You know it's coming because as much as they blame file sharing, a big hit in revenue is because all the old rereleased "classics" aren't the same cash cows they used to be because people have already bought the cd format.

They can sound a lot better, if higher resolution is used, but the requirement can be that they only use 16/48 or such, in which case the sound is not better.

Also, DVD-A requires a special player, although most -- if not all -- DVD-A's include a layer that is compatible with regular DVD-V players.

Other than that, you got the rest right.

DVD audio sounds great. so does SACD. I don't know if they will really catch on though. people don't seem concerned about hi-fi audio anymore. people seem to be content with 128 mp3's most of the time. the thing about DVD audio and SACD is that you have to have such a good system although to hear the quality. nice receiver, good cables, and great speakers.

I agree with Dusty. They can sound better. But that doesn't mean they always do. Some of them are fantastic (at least to these ears) such as the Big Star SACD and the Pet Sounds DVD-A, but some of them just aren't a big improvement over the redbook CD version.

Oh, and I only listen to these on a two-channel system, so I have no idea about the 5.1 or 6.1 quality of these, because it's not something I care about.

A version of Amon Tobin's forthcoming Splinter Cell Soundtrack was given the DVD 5.1 Surround Sound treatmeant, and a slick mastering job!

i was the same way about surround sound with music, but once you hear it you will be a believer. even subtle use of surround sounds great. the 5.1 version of RUMORS is so goood. everything sounds amazing. the ambiance that sorround provides really makes a mix sound full, it makes sense, our ears pick up sounds in 360 degrees. in twenty years every album will be mixed in surround.

i am also getting pissed with people who review dvd-a or SACD discs without the proper equipment. if you don't have sorround sound, don't review the damn disc (PITCHFORK!!!).