PS3 SACD audio vs. DVD DTS audio

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but I am not sure exactly what you guys are talking about... Is this a disc that has DVD-Audio on one side and SACD (and CD) on the other? If so, that's pretty awesome, I've been pretty dissapointed that DVD-Audio hasn't been taking off because the sound quality is just amazing.

No, this is a set with a hybrid SACD + a standard DVD - two separate discs, to be clear. There is no high-res DVD-A content on the DVD, just dts 5.1 and bonus video materials.

[Ashplisken]

Oh... That's weak. I'm so dissapointed that DVD-A isn't taking /didn't take off. When you compare DVD-A to SACD, DVD-A just blows SACD out of the water. Oh well... I can keep dreaming.

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

When you compare DVD-A to SACD, DVD-A just blows SACD out of the water.

In your opinion, but certainly not in mine and many other people's. IMO, DSD is vastly superior to PCM, not to mention the fact that I don't have to navigate those stupid menus just to play an SACD.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by sltmag

Just so you know, SACD is not on the DVD. The box set has two different discs for each album. An SACD with CD layer, that you can play in a standard CD player, but you will only hear the CD quality audio. If you get an SACD player with multichannel audio outs, you can hear the surround tracks in high quality DSD audio from the same CD.

If you have the PS3 you can listen to the Stereo SACD tracks in high res audio thought the >stereo< analog outs too.

Hybrid SACDs have: 2 channel high resolution audio, 6 channel high resolution audio, 2 channel CD audio

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

In your opinion, but certainly not in mine and many other people's. IMO, DSD is vastly superior to PCM, not to mention the fact that I don't have to navigate those stupid menus just to play an SACD.

I hear you there. Even though multichannel PCM is pretty awesome I like that I can handle SACDs just like 'normal' CDs. And some of them DO sound fantastic.

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

No, this is a set with a hybrid SACD + a standard DVD - two separate discs, to be clear. There is no high-res DVD-A content on the DVD, just dts 5.1 and bonus video materials.

Isn't the US set going to be DVD-A/CD hybrid? Still going import.

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by sltmag

Isn't the US set going to be DVD-A/CD hybrid? Still going import.

Nope. The US set has no High-res at all, it's just CD+DVD-V combo.

[Spankey]

Ewwwww...Thanks Warner! Have to wait another week or so to get mine from Elusive.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

Nope. The US set has no High-res at all, it's just CD+DVD-V combo.

This was the same for the Depeche Mode re-release as well. Like I said months and months earlier, SCEA should work with Sony/BMG to release and re-release their titles on SACD even more now. With the growing number of people upgrading their receivers to HDMI just to get great sound with the PS3, the chances of having these people accidentally discover DSD sound is incrementally higher.


fuad

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

This was the same for the Depehce Mode re-release as well.

Yep. BTW, only two more titles left to be released in the DM reissue series, which has been excellent, IMO.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

Oh... That's weak. I'm so dissapointed that DVD-A isn't taking /didn't take off. When you compare DVD-A to SACD, DVD-A just blows SACD out of the water. Oh well... I can keep dreaming.

Strongly disagree. If DVD-A had never been offered and the major labels had been united behind SACD, we'd all be much better off.

[dannyjl]

OK, now I've got the Genesis disks here and have another question. Since HDMI amps are still a while off, what's the best possible way to hook up the PS3 to an amp - using optical or coaxial cables? I know this is probably a lame question but all this is new to me. Thanks

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by dannyjl

OK, now I've got the Genesis disks here and have another question. Since HDMI amps are still a while off, what's the best possible way to hook up the PS3 to an amp - using optical or coaxial cables? I know this is probably a lame question but all this is new to me. Thanks

Both will generate the same quality as you'd only able to get 48/44.1kHz audio. HOWEVER, I think just to listen to the stereo layer of the SACD, you are better off with the analog out as the PCM conversion may be higher than the sampling rate above.


fuad

[Ashplisken]

I agree that DVD-A was a flop and caused a split in the market that ultimately just delayed the mainstream release and acceptance of any high-res audio format, but when they both debuted DVD-A sounded worlds better than SACD.

Oh, and I guess it's just me, but when I put my DVD-As (All 5 of them, lol) in my dvd player that fully supports DVD-A, it plays automatically. I never have to navigate any menus or anything, it works just like a regular cd for my purposes.

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

but when they both debuted DVD-A sounded worlds better than SACD.

Again, I strongly disagree, but to each his own.

Oh, and I guess it's just me, but when I put my DVD-As (All 5 of them, lol) in my dvd player that fully supports DVD-A, it plays automatically. I never have to navigate any menus or anything, it works just like a regular cd for my purposes.

I have about 60 DVD-As and it all depends on how the disc was authored. Some of them play automatically. Some default to the 5.1 mix, some default to the stereo mix, some absolutely require navigating through menus to get to the program that you want. Some have the different programs under 'Groups' some have them under 'Audio' program. Sometimes it's not easy to figure out exactly how it's authored without using the menus either, and my player (Denon DVD-2200) was designed to be used as an audio-only player. I can completely turn off the video section and the front display as well as the digital output, so....

[Ashplisken]

I understand what you are saying about the menus, I just never had that problem so I suppose I never enountered one of the discs you speak of. like I said, though, I only have a handful of discs because they never ended up making enough that caught my fancy. I'm not sure how anyone could say that SACD sounded better, when it came out everyone pretty much viewed it as a joke, but like you said, to each his own.

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

I'm not sure how anyone could say that SACD sounded better, when it came out everyone pretty much viewed it as a joke, but like you said, to each his own.

This is very odd, I'm not sure what circles you're referring to, but amongst my friends and colleagues (audiophiles and recording engineers), DSD and SACD was pretty much considered superior from the beginning, and still is today.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Ashplisken

I'm not sure how anyone could say that SACD sounded better, when it came out everyone pretty much viewed it as a joke, but like you said, to each his own.

Well I'm sure, and I agree with GoldenRedux. I've listened to tons of content on in PCM (CD and DVD) and in DSD (SACD), including remasters of the same source material in many cases. I preferred the SACD to CD versions and even higher-res PCM in each case.

If SACD is viewed as a "joke" then the joke is on us consumers. The industry gave us an opportunity to get closer to the music we love and we blew it. I know I tried my hardest to support the format.

Hopefully if blu-ray goes away at some point, we won't have people saying "everyone pretty much viewed it as a joke".

[Ashplisken]

Well, in that case, this may sum up why it didn't do as well as you all wanted it to. The people I generally know are audiophiles and mostly people who work in consumer electronics (and have been for years). Obviously, if the general consensus with them is that the format is a joke, it isn't going to sell... right? I'm going to go ahead and believe that you guys are correct over them (I've only heard like 2 SACDs under good listening conditions) since my experience with the two formats is minimal, but I think we may have pinpointed why it didn't take off. I think most of them dismissed it without giving it a chance because it was still in cd format and the media had the same storage space. I guess without listening to it, it just sounds like a gimmick.

[Spankey]

There is no reason SACD could not have taken hold. Dual layers offer full compatibility with CD. If each album were released as dual layer CD/SACD consumers would have a choice of better audio on one disc. The best SACD mixes are amazing.