Future of DVD-A

IMO both sacd and dvd-a are dead. And I think dvd-a is deader, in terms of new releases.

The consumer market has already voted on this issue, and I think it's clear that both SACD and DVD-A are dead as a commercial proposition. The equipment manufacturers and entertainment industry are now focusing on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, but that "format issue" is far from settled.

In short, we will see less product, not more, coming out on both the SACD and DVD-A formats, so enjoy what's here now, or wait for "the next big thing"...

I concur with Tvad, and will add that the unbypassable video-based navigation menus to select tracks on some discs are a major agravation.

On the other hand, the number of superior DVD-A's I have outnumber the superior SACD's. Many of the SACD's I've picked up or listened to have been crummy remasters that I would be ashamed to release, if I owned the record label.

I strongly disagree with Tarsando. The selection of new plastic in both formats at hip, independant music stores in my area is quite good. Best Buy and similar places demand that stock turns every 45 days or less, so keeping an extensive back catalogue inventory just isn't part of their game plan.

DVD-A and SACD are niche products for a niche market. If the manufactures of both hardware and software have not modeled their marketing as such, both are doomed.

DVD-A and SACD will never make the crossover to a mass market consumer staple, such as DVD did.

sdcampbell is right.