Why DVD-Video/Audio Format, Instead of DVD-Audio or SACD?
DVD-A, and to a lesser degree, SACD, are being used to further the push for multichannel audio, a standard that was designed with movie playback in mind but has yet to show any real value for high-fidelity audio where music, not special effects, is the purpose. While 2-channel stereo enthusiasts have been deemed a ‘dying breed’ by home theater publications, the fact remains that five or six channels of audio costs substantially more than two channels. Most people who are interested in the ultimate musical experience, as opposed to the ultimate hifi experience, tend to gravitate toward 2-channel systems for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is economical. After all, a true, high-fidelity, 2-channel system can be assembled for about the price of a mid-fi multichannel system. Until recently, SACD and DVD-Audio playback machines were very expensive, commanding the typical high prices reserved for new technology. However, mass market players capable of DVD-A and SACD playback are
