I have been trying to find info on this for a while, and all I can seem to find is info on DVD-A vs. SACD. The CD is simply ignored. However, it seems to me that the main advantage of going to either SACD or DVD-A is going to 5.1 Surround Sound. What I want to know is if you simply want to listen in stereo, is either format going to improve on the CD so much that it is worth buying a new player, and the same music over again. I have not really had a chance to experience either on a SACD or DVD player. If anyone has any info on this, I would appreciate it. I would say I'm fairly picky about how music sounds, but I also prefer listening to vinyl (new or good condition) to anything else I've heard.

I myself have been thinking about this issue as well. The only place I see the SACD's and player are the Circuit City's in my area and honestly, I don't think I'm going to go out and buy a new high dollar player for another format. Plus the cd's run about 30 bucks a pop! That is not something that will be marketable, in my eyes...So what if the quality is better, do you think people, the consumer, will actually pay those prices?

SACD's? Are these SVCD's, or some new fangled shiny round thing?

the coding system used for SACD uses less data than required for conventional CD. this, i would have thought, would cut down costs. however, ive not heard SACD so i cant say whether it actually sounds better, although i suppose it should do. it's just stupid that companies bring out new formats on which you need a specific player. i cant see the SACD becoming popular, people are happy with CD quality and dont want more expense.

Sounds like another new product which is probably better than the existing one but will never make it.

Actually, SACD holds considerably more data than CD, as does DVD-A: almost 5 times more. Cost of production for SACD is fairly high as there are very few mastering machines capable of encoding DSD (the SACD format).

Both SACD & DVD-A sound considerably better than CD or LP, IMO. It's enough to spoil you completely.

I like simple, cheap stereo sound. Maybe its because I was raised in the age of vinyl, I don't know...

These SACD's are really nice. I got a free one in a rolling stone mag and the difference is amazing, even in my stock car stereo. The surround sound is amazing. If they start mass producing them, I'll buy.

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's a single car deck in existance that can play the 'DSD Layer' or an SACD. The disc you have may be a "Hybrid"- these discs contain the SACD program on one layer and a CD version on another. Both occupy the same physical side of the disc.

If I recall, almost all Sony SACDs are hybrids (all of mine are). In many cases, the CD layer is remastered using DSD technology- this CD layer is often the best sounding CD there is. Pink Floyds' SACD/CD hybrid version of DSotM is one such disc; the CD layer significantly bests the Mobile Fidelity Gold Disc that sold for $50 years ago.

But I agree that SACD (and DVD-A, too) definately better any CD I've ever heard.

I was thinking the same thing. I dont know why i haven't heard of them, i'm over here in Japan where technology is supposed to be above and beyond what most countries have yet.