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I will noy be buying either of these formats until there is a lot more software available specifically designed to take advantage of the improved sound quality they supposedly offer. Hopefully by that time it will be clear which format will win out.

Am waiting until the medium offers recording capability—need a new and permanent method to archive old LPs, reel-to-reel tapes, and video!!

Why purchase an overpriced SACD when the technology will change? Do you folks trust Sony? Remember the VCR Beta format scam?

I won't touch DVD until the American hi-end manu- facturers roll out their own players.

By this time I was already supposed to have my SACD/DVD-A combo transport/player, not to mention SOFTWARE to play on it. If anything, I'll delay an SACD/DVD-A purchase because I'm afraid of what they would do if somebody figured out their codec, or tapped the uncoded datastream again . . . soft/firmware upgrades every month because of a good engineer/hacker with too much time . . . no thank you.

If the manufacturers would just do the obvious and make a machine that is SACD/DVD-A/CD-compitable, and give the users the digital outputs most everybody wants, they could eliminate the whole issue.

I would have bought an SACD machine already except they're so damned expensive.

I bought a less expensive unit six months ago in anticipation of the new formats. I plan on going all out when some of the high-end brands have adopted the new formats.

I rely on the manufacturers undertaking to make upgrading available at a reasonable cost. In any case I have already invested a lot in my CDs (I have over 15,000), and with upsamplers readily available these days to get better sound from 16/44.1 CDs, there seems no reason to stop buying CDs or the latest DACs. There is also some doubt about the sophistication/technology of the first few generations of DVD-A playback equipment. For example, I was not at all impressed by the SACD-1 even when playing SACDs, notwithstanding the hoopla from Stereophile's reviewers. Not a patch on the No.31.5/30.6 Mark Levinson or the Elgar + 972 combos. Sorry to disappoint you guys!

I am also waiting for the software

It's deja vu: Beta vs. VHSs and video 2000 . . . the worst system with the best market aproach will win; I'm already nervous.

SACD, DVD-Audio, MP3, etc. . . . Are we really happy with the sterile digital sound we are being offered by these formats today? Advances in digital technology, albeit impressive, are unlikely to ever reproduce the true aural landscape of live music. Despite the best intentions of all these digitial formats to try to reproduce the live event, I am afraid that our ears are not so easily deceived.

I recently acquired the dCS Delius-Purcell combination, which I am told will once and for all settle this headache. Nevertheless, it had hitherto been a big concern.

I just pulled my old, dusty Denon turntable out of the closet, and purchased a phono preamp for my line-level preamp and a Nitty Gritty cleaner (thank you, Mr. Fremer!). I nearly cried for an hour as I played my record collection for the first time in 10 years! What wonderful sound! Next is a Rega turntable. The new formats will have to really impress me before I spend the $$$$ as I did on CD.

A couple of months ago I finally broke down and bought a DVD player. I like DVD-Video and think it's a huge improvement over VHS. But what finally sent me over the edge was the fact that Metallica released a concert of theirs on a 2-disc DVD. They threw in all the toys that come with DVDs: multiple camera angles and behind-the-scenes footage, fan commentary, etc. But the best part was hearing Metallica live and in concert in the comfort of my home!

I currently own two cd players, recently I have heard more refinement with current equipment but not enough for me. I have not heard the new formats but I will give it time. I am about to begin the search for a new phono catridge; any suggestions on how to heard the crop of equipment, I would like to keep it under $2500.

When is it coming and at what price range?

Those corn heads at Sony always have to mess things up - DTS and now SACD - I can't stand Sony

For those with limited means (i.e., most of us), this would particularly affect a decision to buy a really top-notch player. When my old player gave out recently, I replaced it with a Cambridge Audio CD4 SE. I just couldn't justify spending several kilobucks on a player that couldn't play whatever format (if any) eventually wins out.

A needle in the groove beats a laser in the pit all the time!

I am a lot more interested in what I am hearing about the ability to upsample existing CDs for better sound quality, than I am in buying all new hardware/software for DVD/SACD.

No point diving in yet. Perhaps neither will take off, and that's the solution I'd like to see. Why? Because they don't care anything about the consumer—they want their new format just because the old one is dying. I don't personally see what is wrong with going with the DVD-Video format and putting high-quality audio on that. Why do we need yet another format?

I wish the companies gave us some realisitic roll out dates instead of keeping us hanging

SACD will never take off. The average consumer could care less. Joe Average is only interested in DVD, home theater, and loud, unrealistic soundtracks. There is no interest anymore in quality playback of music CDs.

SACD and DVD-A will succeed immensely if they stick to quality two-channel recordings and aim them directly at the audiophile market. I'm sorry, people, but surround for music is not going to fly.

I bought an SCD1 from sony-best source I've ever had. I love it.

Ordering ARC CD3 in next couple of months

With cheaper sacd player on the way (its on the uk website) and dvd audio players almost here it doesn't seem to make sense t invest in a traditional cd player anymore

I recently chose to upgrade my CD player after 8 years. I wanted/needed a good player NOW, not 2+ years from now when the format wars are settled. It would have had more impact if the format question had been settled and prices on the top-end models were likely to drop.

Why get stuck when multiple technologies are vying for superiority? Each one will make changes and ultimately one will rule, leaving you with expensive left-behind hardware.