Can you include in your letter to support cassette tapes? I have lots of them. Acura has to appease the major majority, or just go to your Auto Stereo store and get a unit that will play those discs. My 09 TL had the feature, but never used it (except for the demo disc). It sounded good, but when I looked up the catalog of DVDa discs, wasn't worth my time. CD players will be a thing of the past soon.

 

I knew someone would create a reply like this.

The difference between a cassette tape (or 8-track or LP or Edison Cylinder) is that DVD-A was virtually an exclusive to the ELS system, designed in it from the start, and as long as there is a disc based player in the car, the unit should have continued supporting that special format. Especially considering the Tech Package is $2K.

If they removed the CD player (which is surely on the horizon), then I would have no problem with it.

The car has a lumbar support, paddle shifters, Homelink, Hard Drive audio and other specialized features that many people never use. That is no reason to remove them.

 

It is definitely ridiculous that Acura would replace a DVD drive with a CD drive when they were the ones who really pushed DVD-A in 2000s.

In my search for a new car brand to play my discs, I have come across similar decisions. Land Rover's system is done by Meridian (as in Meridian Lossless Packing MLP). But their system doesn't play the DVD-A portion of the disc (only the DVD-V). All new generation Lexus vehicles no longer support DVD-A (but do have DVD-V capability). The first gen Hyundai Genesis had a Lexicon that did DVD-A but not the new generation.

So we can blame Acura all we want, but they are not alone in the downfall of mobile DVD-A.

In my search, only Kia K900 and Porsches still play DVD-A. Anyone else find other new models that support DVD-A?

 

As an Acura driver since 2004, between my wife and I we have had 8 or 9 different Acura models. MDX, RL, TL RDX have all had DVD-A. I have amassed several hundred DVD-A disc both retail and homemade. Now they will be useless in the car - my main place of listening. The DVD-A player was a main selling point for me. Since Acura has decided to discontinue this feature, it may be tme for me to discontinue my support of Acura. There are tons of cars out there. Maybe without DVD-A as well but now that my main selling point is gone I can look elsewhere. Sorry Acura. You may have just lost another 40,000 in sales.

 

I can understand how some feel betrayed when a feature is no longer offered. The only thing I see is you buy some other brand that offers it for now, but the next year its gone, etc etc. Any brand will recognize that others will try something else. That includes buyers that leave ie Lexus to Acura. This is no different when VHS, Betamax, and laserdisc disappeared. Owners had tons of the media, with no choice but to throw them away. The minor few who own DVD-A should just get a home player if they are still available and play them at home. Market demand is what keeps the tech going in anything. Soon Bluray, DVD, CD's will be extinct and everything will be just a download.

 

If getting rid of DVD-A capability means that Acura could spend more $$ elsewhere in the MDX/RLX, then i am all for it.

 

I think this was already mentioned earlier but I will re-emphasize...

My problem is not that Acura is moving on to a newer media/technology such as USB, internet streaming or Bluetooth. My problem is that they went from DVD to CD. That's backwards. I don't think they saved a whole lot of money doing it either considering the price of home DVD players.

If they went disc-less (like Tesla has), I would be a little upset but at least feel that they are actually moving forward in tech evolution. In that case, they should add support for multichannel files through usb. We can all rip our DVD-A into 5.1 channel FLAC and still enjoy our music. BTW, Tesla can play FLAC but not 5.1 channel ones...

In the end, I'm sure the head unit manufacturer deserves as much blame as Acura for losing DVD-A capability. After market companies like Alpine and Kenwood previously had DVD-A capability in their high end models but no longer do. The format never took off. But at least give us an alternative (ie. 5.1 FLAC) to keep listening to Hi-Res surround material.

I have small hope that Blu ray audio will make it into cars given audio-only BD are starting to get released. But I have a feeling streaming and Bluetooth will dominate and kill any real chances for BD.

 

You want DVD-A because...surround sound or sound quality or both?

Well, the previous Acura MDX (or any Acura prior to 2014) was noisy as hell...how did you even enjoy DVD-A in that environment on the highway? No matter how good resolution is with DVD-A, road and wind noise makes it like cassette quality!

If you like to listen to your DVD-A in MDX while PARKED, then wouldn't your living room be a lot better?

NOW, the new 3G MDX is super quiet...i would bet that a regular CD or even iTunes download would sound better than DVD-A on prior Acuras.

So, one small step backward...but 2 steps forward.

Just like the (stupid) argument about Acura using bulb for brake lights instead of FULL LED in the rear...OMG, they went backwards!!!! Except, that i much prefer the awesome Jewel Headlights benefits! I find Jewel headlights to be of far more beneficial than LED brake lights (the rest of rear taillights is LEDs on 3G).

 

Honda/Acura has got nothing to do with the demise of DVD-A.

DVD-A has become an obsolete technology, simply as a result of the "survival of the fittest" industry dynamics.

It costs money to include DVD-A capability in vehicles, and will reflect in a much higher vehicle price tag.

Honda/Acura is absolutely appropriate in removing DVD-A capability from its vehicle lineups, because there is no point embracing an obsolete audio technology which has never enjoyed a wide acceptance, and also making us as buyers to pay for it.

The majority of buyers would rather pay their hard-earn money on some technologies that are mainstream, than for an audio technology that has become obsolete.

 

I saw this old thread and had to say something, I am an audiophile too, even had a Teac reel to reel tape deck years ago, and I am still amazed at the sound quality and listening experience in my 2010 MDX with DVD-A discs of Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Randy Newman and others. I may hang onto this car longer just to get another year or two with this amazing sound studio on wheels. I get why DVD-A is not economically feasible to continue adding in the new vehicles, but it sure is great while it lasts.

 

Just trade-in my 2011 MDX for 2020 MDX and found out that it does not support DVD-A.
I have collection of properly mastered DVD-A music, not like the compressed sound of XM or mp3 audio from cellphone.
Please bring back DVD-A function.

 

It's dead.

 

I'm trying to find the door to insert my gramophone cylinder.

 

If and when the MDX gets the latest ELS 3D Audio System that's currently in the 2019/2020 RDX, you will be able to convert your DVD-Audio's to 5.1 .flac files and play them via the USB interface. They really sound great and you will no longer have to risk damage to your rare and valuable DVD-Audio discs by dragging them into the car. Better yet, you can create 5.1 .flac files from other surround sources such as SACDs, DTS CDs, and BluRay Audio and Video discs.

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-rdx-...p-step-971819/

 

Thanks that is very helpful for some of us who uses high resolution audio music.