DVD-Audio....

[TigaSefi]

Hmmm there a new dvd format called DVD-Audio for music albums, does this mean I need a new DVD player that will play this format ? and how much does one cost ?

[kronas]

DVD-Audio offers at least 74 minutes of very high quality, surround sound, plus additional features (such as video and limited interactivity) that are not available on CDs. Capacity of a single layer DVD-Audio is of high quality full surround sound audio. In addition the disc can accommodate the same audio encoded as Dolby Digital for playing on existing DVD-Video players. In early 2004 the major music companies carried out a limited trial launch of a double-sided version with a CD compatible layer to play on DVD and CD players. These discs are called Dual Discs, but another name is DVDPlus.

http://www.disctronics.co.uk/technol...daud_intro.htm

[TheBlueRaja]

DVD-Audio is also recorded at 192Khz as opposed to 44Khz which means that its a hell of a lot clearer than a CD.

However as a music lover, the cost implications of getting a decent setup to play these disks scare the living crap out of me.

[Halcyon]

Some DVD players come with DVD audio playback special facilities to take full advantage of it but they shouldplay on a normal DVD player.
The quality of the audio is even higher than a normal CD with a higher sampling rate and of course the facility for multi channel audio.
I'd reccomend you have a very good Hifi hooked up if you really want to notice some differnce between a DVD and a CD.
You are more likely to notice the extra features like on screen lyrics or whatever else got bundled with the disc.

[Richard M]

You can play these on your DVD player but there's no point unless you have the sound system to go with it.
I play mine on my computer because I have a DVD drive, Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro (which comes with a dedicated DVD Audio player) and Creative Gigaworks 7.1 speakers.
It all sounds rather nice.

[TigaSefi]

Well i have a sony Amp and a very good 5.1 setup for DVD's.

So I'll get a DVD-A disc from play.com as they selling them for £10 and test it. If it don't work too well then I won't bother in the future.

[TigaSefi]

Originally Posted by theblueraja

DVD-Audio is also recorded at 192Khz as opposed to 44Khz which means that its a hell of a lot clearer than a CD.

However as a music lover, the cost implications of getting a decent setup to play these disks scare the living crap out of me.

Hehe the cheapest best dvd-a player is pioneer at £135 at www.hifibitz.co.uk but some of the dvd players are going for £1400 and I can't see how they justify that price ?

[TheBlueRaja]

Yeah, but then concider the speakers and cabling.

Originally Posted by theblueraja

Yeah, but then concider the speakers and cabling.

I couldn't believe the price for some cables when I was in Comet, the other day - iirc, one set was over £90.

[TheBlueRaja]

Well, they can be a LOT more expensive than that, someone i know spent 250 quid on an interconnect between his CD player and AMP and thats only about 1/2m.

Even then there are more expensive ones.

[TigaSefi]

lol, it depends on just HOW good u want to setup ur own system, someone with money to burn will always go for the top quality. If it plays fine then it'll do me....

[Shaun]

The question is are they really worth it, would you notice the difference?

[Halcyon]

First thing, never buy your interconnects from Comet.
That's like saying you'l buy a computer from PC World.
You will pay more.

Secondly, is it worth it ?
Well it is worth it if you have the money to go all the way.
If you spend a tonne of money on the DVD Audio player and then buy a reasonably priced Amp and speakers, then there is absolutely no point.
If you put money in one part, you have to put it in the other.
Cabling can make a lot of difference as you can sometimes loose treble and bass through cheaper cables.
So make sure you go for good quality speaker cable but also good quality interconnects from amp to CD / DVD player.

Then there is also the positioning of speakers and the size of room to consider but thats another thing to delve into some other time.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

First thing, never buy your interconnects from Comet.
That's like saying you'l buy a computer from PC World.
You will pay more.

Secondly, is it worth it ?
Well it is worth it if you have the money to go all the way.
If you spend a tonne of money on the DVD Audio player and then buy a reasonably priced Amp and speakers, then there is absolutely no point.
If you put money in one part, you have to put it in the other.
Cabling can make a lot of difference as you can sometimes loose treble and bass through cheaper cables.
So make sure you go for good quality speaker cable but also good quality interconnects from amp to CD / DVD player.

Then there is also the positioning of speakers and the size of room to consider but thats another thing to delve into some other time.

lol - no worries there, Halcyon, I'm not in the market for that kind of kit

- I watch telly/video/dvd & listen to cd's using both a dvd/vhs external player feeding a tv card in my pc & a tv tuner/dvd recorder/ cd recorder internal to the pc. Sound is via coax to a dolby 5.1 decoder amp and 5.1 speakers as well as L/R coax to tv tuner card, from the external player, then via sound card to the stereo input on the 5.1 decoder (which simulates 'surround sound' or outputs analogue pro-logic).

- the thing is, it is a really small room, I don't need a big amp to get adequate sound, so the wiring can be a little less 'meaty' to match.

I do take your point about matching high end kit to equally high end connectors, though.