TOP Format

As per Mike (Lavigne) but with slight alterations:

1. master tape (15 ips) under close to ideal conditions.
2. 45 rpm or DTD vinyl
3. 33,3rpm vinyl
4. high quality analog tape (1st gen reel-to-reel)
5. FM radio live broadcasts under optimum conditions (for the experience -- not the freq range). VERY rare
6. DVD-A/
7. SACD
8. Hard drive PCM digital masters
8. redbook
9. uncompressed HD movie soundtracks / top quality casette
10. MP3--ipod nano
11. normal FM Stereo radio
12.XM Satelite radio

Many of these are sort of theoretical since, for example, few real dvd-a recordings exist.

Tvad, your comments....

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"Interesting to me how some have DVD-A so low on their lists. No confrontation intended here...I just find it interesting. Tom has DVD-A below CD. Mike has it equal to CD. Fascinating. I find DVD-A so superior to CD in my system that it's not even close. However, when I was playing DVD-A, it was on an APL Denon 3910. Perhaps the quality of the player contributed to my opinion of the format."

*****

my response....

my perspective about DVD-A is mostly a matter of my experience; and not anything definitive. i have limited experience with DVD-A.....and have found that many of the DVD-A's i have heard have a bit of a 'digital' signature. the DVD-A hardware is much less mature than the very best redbook.....particularly with the latest EMM Labs SE gear.

for me it comes down to the fact that i get the same level of musical experience with redbook that i have from DVD-A. i do think that 'in theory' DVD-A could be better than redbook though.

Gregm, 'great minds think alike'.

;>)

the magic of the live broadcast of FM radio is in the fact that the source is a live mic feed and not recorded music. even though it is bandwidth limited a live mic feed is obviously the ultimate electronic music source.

these live broadcasts are not only rare but for me impossible. living in the mountains is great; but i have a 4000 foot ridge between me and the FM towers here in the Seattle area.