New Digital Audio Formats

Hack Jandy writes "Anandtech is running an article about new digital audio formats, including DVD-A and SACD. It also discusses how the newest digital audio processors from Intel will handle these audio formats in the future; a good primer for anyone interested in something a little more capable than CDs."

Comments

Before anyone says it...

[MesiahTaz]

There *is* a difference in sound quality beyond that of your MP3s or even your Audio CD collection. SACD and DVD-A are a whole new world. It is like heroin for your ears. Once you've heard the same album on CD and then SACD you'll wonder how you ever lived without the newfound detail.

Everyone, go out to your local audiophile shop and try it!

I just hope Apple supports them =)

Re:Before anyone says it...

[Eddy Da KillaBee]

My understanding is that these two new formats support 5.1 surround sound, which is something that our "normal" audio CDs can't handle.

These formats have been out for quite some time now, as I can remember seeing them at a local Best Buy and wondering what could play them. This was about a year ago.

The question is more about when will these become more mainstream (I have yet to see newer albums released on these newer formats)? What about supported players? And most important, what about pricing?

So, uh, great... more money for the RIAA

[Anonymous Coward]

We get to "re-license" all the music we've already bought a license for? Without a discount? Great. Wonderful. What a perfect business model they have there.

Placebo galore...

[dotslashconfig]

Most of the people who prefer SACDs to normal CDs are the people who frequent HydrogenAudio.org and Head-Fi.org. They also tend to go out and purchase $10,000 audio sources. The general consensus is that SACDs aren't really going to catch on. They cost a tad more than normal CDs, are sort of transparent in sound quality, and most average consumers wouldn't be able to tell the difference, even on high end systems. The fact that CDs are such an entrenched technology, and that there are so many consumer CD players that don't support SACDs right now will only further limit the format.

DVD Audio is a slightly different story. Most DVD players on the market support DVD-A and CD playback. And since DVD technology isn't nearly as aged/integrated into the consumer frame of mind (5 years vs. 15 with normal CDs), people will be able to justify going out and buying a DVD player that supports the format. In addition, the DVD players that can playback DVD-A aren't that expensive at all, and the relative sound quality generated by playback during movies and audio CDs will make the technology a worthwhile investment to most.

What are the copy protections in DVD-A and SACD?

[SigNick]

I know that DVD-A is encrypted with a new, strong encryption and that no rippers exist and according to hydrogenaudio.org probably will not exist untill home quantum computers..

Does anyone know more details? I know for sure that my player only outputs downsampled content on both optical and coax.
Files can be copied with any DVD-ROM drive but the files are useless.

Also, what is the situation with SACDs?
No rippers seems to exist either, so it's
also encrypted and downsampled for digital outputs? What is the filesystem used and how is legacy CD-support achieved?

All accurate info and links would be appreciated.

Re:Better sound from LPs? Unlikely...

[John Miles]

In general, people who listen to their equipment prefer LPs. People who listen to the music are happier with CDs.

That, in a nutshell, is the reason behind the audiophile community's preference for LPs. Those people think of music the same way Lance Armstrong thinks of chain lubricant.