DVD-Audio Playback Question

[PSB_Paradigm_HSU]

I have a PS3, 2 SACDS and 2 DVD-Audios.

No problems or questions with the SACDS, they are great.

Now with the DVD-Audios, I am able to play them and get 5.1 sound but is this not truly what Im supposed to be hearing since the PS3 is not a dvd Audio player? If its not true DVD-Audio playback then what am I hearing?

I was under the impression that it would not even read or play the DVD-Audio at all since the PS3 is not a DVD-Audio player.

Any Clarification would help, thanks in advance!

[phantompwr]

Most DVD-Audio discs also have a regular Dolby Digital track, which plays when you insert it into a non-DVD-A player. The disc itself is the same as a DVD, its only the audio codec (MLP) that most DVD players can't deal with

[PSB_Paradigm_HSU]

Originally Posted by phantompwr

Most DVD-Audio discs also have a regular Dolby Digital track, which plays when you insert it into a non-DVD-A player. The disc itself is the same as a DVD, its only the audio codec (MLP) that most DVD players can't deal with

Okay thats what I thought...so when I get a DVD-Audio player what will I be hearing if not the dolby digital track? Is there a name like dolby true hd like for blu rays? Anyone heard the dolby digital track compared to the true dvd-audio format? Big improvement?

[PSB_Paradigm_HSU]

Sorry, first time going to this section of the forums....just saw the sticky about dvd audios. Thanks!

[phantompwr]

My player had analog outs in order to play the DVD-A content, I guess now you can get HDMI players in which case they probably decode it to LPCM. That is just a guess, does anybody have an HDMI DVD-Audio player and would care to elaborate?

[jomari]

Originally Posted by PSB_Paradigm_HSU

Okay thats what I thought...so when I get a DVD-Audio player what will I be hearing if not the dolby digital track? Is there a name like dolby true hd like for blu rays? Anyone heard the dolby digital track compared to the true dvd-audio format? Big improvement?

there is a significant improvement over the dd/dts track and the dvd-audio track. first off most dvd-audios would include a stereo track, written on the case itself. second, the same experience you had with sacds would be almost the same with dvd-audio. just like the last war, they both have their corresponding strong points.

there isnt a name per se for these 'tracks' they're just dvd-audio and sacd and use the bit rate as a foot print to show its significance. as well as if they were mastered or remastered. a perfect example is Pink floyds DSOTM - which has been mastered, remastered for the format, and surprisingly had a bitter taste with enthusiast, thus had to re-release another one.

good thing i still have the original quadraphonic master tapes (not the Q4/Q8 nor vinyl either - straight from the recording studio)

[jomari]

Originally Posted by phantompwr

My player had analog outs in order to play the DVD-A content, I guess now you can get HDMI players in which case they probably decode it to LPCM. That is just a guess, does anybody have an HDMI DVD-Audio player and would care to elaborate?

oppo has these on their players, and gives you the opportunity to play them originally using the multichannels out or the hdmi option. im old school and prefer the multichannels. sorry, i didnt try the hdmi option.

[phantompwr]

oh yeah, anyone else who happens upon this thread, you need only to look here:https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=42473

[jomari]

on a quick note, vanns has the denon 1940, selling for a great price less than a hundred. great option for those who are 'discovering' this older format on a budget. better yet, consider oppos too, they still are one of the best ID companies out there.

heres the denon link...

denon

and oppos

oppodigital

willing to wait? try their BDP-83 blu-ray player for about 500 clams.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PSB_Paradigm_HSU

Okay thats what I thought...so when I get a DVD-Audio player what will I be hearing if not the dolby digital track? Is there a name like dolby true hd like for blu rays? Anyone heard the dolby digital track compared to the true dvd-audio format? Big improvement?

It's called Meridian Lossless Packing:
http://www.meridian-audio.com/w_paper/mlp_jap_new.PDF

On a DVD you have the VIDEO_TS folder and the AUDIO_TS folder.
All your DVD stuff, Dolby Digital, dts, MPEG-2 etc., goes in the VIDEO_TS folder.

The MLP tracks (2.0~5.1) along with any pictures and DVD-A menus go in the AUDIO_TS folder. DVD-Audio players can read the AUDIO_TS folders, DVD-Video players cannot.

MLP on DVD is capable of 2.0 up to 24/192 and 5.1 up to 24/96.

MLP is what Dolby TrueHD is based on.

The difference may differ from person to person, but when I picked up my first DVD-Audio player (Pioneer Elite DV-45a) in 2005 and listened to the 5.1 MLP (24/48) track for the first time over the Dolby Digital 5.1 track I was absolutely blown away at how much better it sounded. Separation, clarity, everything sounded better.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

It's called Meridian Lossless Packing:
http://www.meridian-audio.com/w_paper/mlp_jap_new.PDF

On a DVD you have the VIDEO_TS folder and the AUDIO_TS folder.
All your DVD stuff, Dolby Digital, dts, MPEG-2 etc., goes in the VIDEO_TS folder.

The MLP tracks (2.0~5.1) along with any pictures and DVD-A menus go in the AUDIO_TS folder. DVD-Audio players can read the AUDIO_TS folders, DVD-Video players cannot.

MLP on DVD is capable of 2.0 up to 24/192 and 5.1 up to 24/96.

MLP is what Dolby TrueHD is based on.

The difference may differ from person to person, but when I picked up my first DVD-Audio player (Pioneer Elite DV-45a) in 2005 and listened to the 5.1 MLP (24/48) track for the first time over the Dolby Digital 5.1 track I was absolutely blown away at how much better it sounded. Separation, clarity, everything sounded better.

i see doby's gone technical on you. my bad if i 'dissuaded' from such. i also knew a couple of other members would wank out their tech spec books. i just appreciate the music and wanted you to experience it further, then learn more about it.

also a point to note, its not always about it having 5.1 bud, its the sound quality, comparing it to a cd would be like comparing a compressed 128bps mp3 file to a vinyl first press edition of the same song.

my first love was made of rubber,
my second was a tiny mini-disc,
my love affair with my dvd-audio and mistress sacd still lives in the dark corners of the night.