I remember when CD's first hit the market, and I just HAD to have a CD player, so I plunked down $800 for a Yamaha unit. "Perfect sound forever" my ass. My humble Thorens was far more musical. At the time records were plentiful and at $6 a copy quite reasonably priced, while the CD versions were $15. Over the years I've sure bought a ton of CD's and had to tolerate the music industry's bait and switch technique if I wanted any new releases. I finally dumped the Yamaha CDP after a few years and bought a Quad CDP, help on to that one for 10 years while I listened to my vinyl and the occasional CD. Bought a YBA CDP two years ago, much more musical and almost analog-like. So yes, even restricted by the Red Book, CDP's have come a long long way. So here we have an accepted format and a nice enough library of music built up, again. I can't help but wonder if we'll be prodded into buying a SACD or DVD-A in order to listen to the newest releases? Will history repeat itself?
3 free DVD-A s arrived: what I think;
Got my (4 month wait) 'free with purchase' DVD-A's from Panasonic and here's my opinion of the sound. First was a '70s release remastered for the zillionth time: Emerson Lake & Palmer's thing with the wierd babe on the cover. That was ok and had decent sound, as good as any CD... Then also got Marchant's "Tigerlilly" and that too was as good as a good CD... The last and best was a Beethoven recorded spcifically for a DVD release and that was FAB!!! I have NEVER heard such a wide dynamic range on ANY CD. It really sounded like an orchestra was playing. The sound was better than any CD I've heard and it was 5.1 though I only have a normal 2 channel. I would get more if they were available AND didn't cost $25!!!! If they were the same price as CDs I would get some.. but at the $25 rate??? screw that... (and who wants some more of the same old "remastered" stuff??) I think I'll invest in a better CD player instead