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As long as a new format is backwards compatible and a quantum leap forward, I'll be interested. If not, I'll stick with CDs
DVD audio standards are still up in the air, but promise (hopefully) to come down soon. For our inaugural question, we want to know what you prefer: fewer channels and longer playing times, or multichannel high-quality sound with shorter playing times.
It is expensive enough to buy high quality speakers and amplification for two channels. I would have to spend at least two thousand dollars more to increase the number of channels to 5.1. Not to mention the difficulty of reorganizing my living space (read living ROOM) for 5 channels!
Although I personally have a love affair with 2channel stereo, and do not yet have a multichannel system, I can read the writing on the wall, and acknowledge the appeal of surround sound. However, as an audio enthusiast and amateur recordist, I want the highest possible fidelity, and will gladly trade away extended playing time for better sound.
VINYL WILL ALWAYS RATE NO. 1 IN MY BOOK. GIVE MF MORE ROOM. MORE TURNTABLE REVIEWS. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING A SONY MINIDISC ADD...THIS IS NOW THE MOST SENSIBLE DUBBING FORMAT: DAT: UNRELIABLE LONGEVITY METAL CASSETTE: CAN STILL BE "EATEN" -STILL WEARS OUT CD-R: PLEASE...FOR THE AUDIOPHILE DUBBING LP'S WRITE-ONCE IS RIDICULOUS & IT'S STILL 16BIT **READ THE MD WHITE PAPERS**
First of all, I think an LFE channel is a bad idea. I know consumes relatively little bandwidth, but it just provides another avenue to muck up the mix. Second, I think we need eight channels (3 on every side) to create an accurate soundfield.
The best, obviously, would be 2 channels, 24bit/96kHz and/or 5.1 channels 24bit/96kHz. I appreciate the need for higher sampling rates (for digital quality reasons). But I doubt if I can even hear anything above 20kHz (I listened to Stereophile's test CD#2..and I suppose my B&W DM603s can go that far up). So what's really the deal with higher sampling rates as far as higher frequency sound goes?
A combo of highest quality/most channels is the only step which will strongly differentiate the product from current CD's. For long playing times, get a multi-disc unit (they currently make 300 disc changers. Isn't that long enough?)
I just plain want an improved format over the existing one. At this time, I have settle for DTS. The DTS experience through my ADA SSD-66 (5.1) and its DTS decoder is awesome. I just wish that DTS would get their act together and have more releases and with a wider variety of music. I also pray for the day when the movie industry will market what I feel would be a true full surround, 7.2. Great site by the way. Just a suggestion, once a month, you guys should offer a back issue special and have it online for your Web visiters or at least list the components and when they were reivewed. Offering both would be even better