I just recently bought the 08 w/Tech and the ELS system sounds incredible!! I just wish that there are more DVD-Audio musics out there. Has anyone bought a DVD-Audio that you like? Will Super Audio Disc play on my RDX?

Thanks

 

You are right, not many DVD-A discs available.

 

Do a search, there is another thread on this subject.

 

Yeah, good DVD-A discs are scarce. Here's a link to a previous thread that has a few links to online stores you might want to try:

DVD Audio

I've been scouring myself and it's hard to find good contemporary music to buy (no U2?!). Most stores (Amazon, Best Buy) have a decent selection of mainstream classic and jazz though.

CNET also wrote a short article listing their favourite DVD-A and SACD discs...'cept it was written in 2005...which kinda tells you how poorly this market segment is really doing. You might find something you like though (or if you just want something mastered well to show off your system):

Top 10 DVD-A & SACD

 

Have any DVD-A disks been released since 2005? I think the format is pretty much dead. However, I am happy that the ELS stereo works very well with standard CDs and even with MP3s.

 

It is pretty much dead. They were stupid: DVD-A players should have been able to play the soundtracks of regular DVD's. That way you could buy and listen to the gajillion concert/live music/video compilation DVD's that are out there. Watch them at home and listen in the car. That they left off such an obvious feature shows the limitation of standards bodies.

 

Good point, brizey. Another great idea died on the vine.

Ditto the "other thread"comment, it is a pretty informative thread. I have found some contemporary [band] DVD-As on Amazon fwiw -- I ordered REM's Automatic for the People. The sound is good, but not that different from the original. Plus they (Eliot Scheiner himself IIRC) kind of added some background stuff they shouldn't have.

 

So how much better is the ELS system that comes with the tech vs. the base model stereo for regular radio(stereo and XM), regular commercial or downloaded CDs and Ipods? Is it worth the extra cost ?

 

FM and XM radio are a big step down from CDs or even MP3s. If you're happy with XM, then you're probably not going to appreciate the ELS system. If you refuse to listen to XM or FM music because of the sound quality, then you will probably enjoy ELS (with CDs or MP3s).

 

Thanks for pointing this out. I think this gets overlooked.
I can't remember the last time I was at a concert and the high hats and backup singers were behind me.....

 

Well, It's like going to the movie.... you get the experience of being right in the middle of the action with surround sound. Same for a concert, I would love the experience of sitting in the middle of the stage/band.

 

When you are in your car, you are not at a concert. Having music coming from all of the speakers is optional - just play the stereo track (usually a different 'group' on the DVD-Audio.

 

I don't know but when I listen to Nine Inch Nails Closer album it seems like I'm at a concert. They did a good job re-engineering the tracks for 5.1 audio. I have NIN With_Teeth on DVD-A but it doesn't seem like too much was done for 5.1 audio; it seems to be the same as the CD side.

 

The problem might be because the format had such a short life cycle that the studios never got a chance (or took the chance) to master a lot of them properly. Kinda like my pre-2000 DVDs....the image quality is terrible and many of them weren't anamorphic.