CD Redbook versus DVD Audio


Being an 'insider' in the industry keeps one busy enough not to read some of the(even though basic) information, which one should read.
Recently a friend brought over the Chris Botti album, recorded on both sides--one CD the other DVD Audio.
Well, after extolling the virtues of CD Redbook, in recent years, with the newer players, I would have to admit freely that (even though I own the Exemplar DVD which plays, I think, all platforms available including DVD Audio) I had never 'gone over to the dark side.'
Good Lord, this is better in virtually every way possible.
What struck me (about this limited experience)was the way that the staging improved,with blackness within the soundstage, taking it to an almost holgraphic experience--- with BASS just rolling, very naturally, out of the speakers like never before!!
This bordered, to me, on the same level of experience that I had when I first discovered Tubes,(not the Bass, but Staging part) at the dawn of civilization. Really, it was that kind of 'new found experince' and yes,was that good.
The bass took on an almost surreal quality, with tonality I had not experienced, except with the great tonearms, and Koetsu cartridgess, from waaaay back in the days of those round black things....the one's that have ticks and pops but sound great if done correctly.
This is as close as I have been to that kind of, and level of, both musical experience and what I perceive to be, accuracy of sound.
Anybody else out there with similar kind of experience with DVD Audio? I know, given the breadth of 'terrible recordings' that some must sound horrible, as usual, but when done close to right, wow.
If more are good than bad, and assuming that when done correctly that it excels, which it may not, given this caveat--why is this platform not more popular?. I know the arguments about too many choices, and too few audiophiles, but this is 'remarkably better' in my limited, and more important, IMHO.
Larry
lrsky
Well said, Rex. When I had a Denon 2900 it was NOT as simple as putting a disc in and hitting "play" to get to the 2 channel audio selection. I have rid myself of all my DVD-A's and all my non-hybrid SACD's and have sought to maximize my redbook playback. I did think that both SACD and DVD-A offerred, with some inconsistency, better sound but in end tired of the lack of selection and the need for specialized equipment that compromised the majoirty of my collection, which is redbook. I now do not even have a CDP and have moved to a hard-drive based music server. I am now listening to more music than I ever have before.
Rex...I understand your point of view, but..

1. Although not necessary to just play a DVDA, a video screen is necessary to access other features, and at least temporarily for setup. No big deal though. I went out and bought a 13" TV for less than $80, and it is part of my equipment rack, just used for setup. I have no big screen in my audio system. I listen to music.

2. What's wrong with a downmix from multichannel? How do you think that all stereo (and 5.1) programs are produced from multitrack (24 channel) masters.
1. Although not necessary to just play a DVDA, a video screen is necessary to access other features, and at least temporarily for setup. No big deal though. I went out and bought a 13" TV for less than $80, and it is part of my equipment rack, just used for setup. I have no big screen in my audio system. I listen to music.

I am happy for you that you found a solution you can live with. I hope you can agree that the solution you found may not be appropriate for everyone. The fact that nearly all players on the market require a TV for one or more aspects of DVD-Audio playback is not an advantage or a plus for the format.

2. What's wrong with a downmix from multichannel? How do you think that all stereo (and 5.1) programs are produced from multitrack (24 channel) masters.

They are not even remotely the same thing. Creating stereo and/or multichannel tracks is an endeavor intended to create an original work of art. A downmix is an electronic process performed on those tracks by the player. It is a modification of the original data stream.

Some people think downmixes sound just fine. I have done A-B comparisons and found that downmixes are inferior to dedicated 2ch tracks.
Rex...You exaggerate to say that real time downmix is "not even remotely" similar to a priori mixdown. It might be identical, depending on how the engineer felt that day. But this is a subjective thing, and I respect your opinion.

But the need for a video screen really isn't a strong argument. It's an investment of less than $100, which ought not to be an issue for folk who spend thousands on wires.
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