Any comment on the DVD Audio system? This is a new feature that I think only the TL has so far. So there's really nothing to compare to, except to regular audio system. In my test drive I wasn't too impressed with it. The sound was nice but not great, as a DVD disc should produce. The Acura demo disc didn't do much for me - no distinction of the seperate channels or instruments. Anyone concure or disagree with me on this?

 

I agree w/ u on the dvd disc demo during test drive. But I haven't really looked/heared on how a DVD audio should sound since I don't have it at home nor on my present car. All I know is I was concerned about the audio package on the TL since my current car has after market system (pioneer head unit, tweeters, 12" sub(x2), 2 amps, etc.) but after playing with the audio during my visit at the dealer, my concerns decreased. It probably won't be as loud as my current system but it sounds alot cleaner and evenly distributed - unexpected for a stock unit IMO.

 

It would be great if there were more titles for it or the DVDA mastering software was cheaper. The cheapest I've seen in like $300-$500 for Discwelder Steel.

 

Gotta disagree with ya. I have a decent sized DVD-Audio collection (for home system), and they do vary greatly, depending on how they remastered them for 6 channels. I picked up my new TL last week, and just this week I flipped through the tracks on the demo disc. I was actually impressed with about half the tracks on it....very good use of the 6 channels. Sadly, the song I like the best (3 Doors Down) is the most unimpressive in the new format. That is an example of how NOT to remaster them. I don't listen to rap, but the one rap track towards the end sounds really good to my ears.

My advice...give them a good listen while you're sitting in the car not driving and the windows up. That way you have no other sounds to distract your ears. I know I know...it's a car and they are meant to be driven while listening to tunes. But, it will give you an idea of the capabilities of the format.

So far, the best sounding discs out of my own collection:

Queen - Night at the Opera
Stone Temple Pilots - Core
Queensryche - Tribe
Metallica - Metallica

Many more still to try out though. DVD-Audio seems to be meant for cars not home...perfect placement of speakers in relation to the listener/driver!!!

-X-

 

I am a big fan of the Beck DVD-A: Sea Change

Try tweaking the faders. I have discovered some discs sound better with a little bit more emphasis up front and some better with more in the back.

 

Does anybody agree that Three Doors Down (track 15) on the demo sounds bad? I like the group, but I am unimpressed with the sound quality of that particular mix.

 

i didnt think it sounded bad it just didnt sound like dvd-audio. i have been really impressed with dvd-audio in the tl. everytime i take out a new friend in the tl they cant believe there ears. and still to this day cant believe mine.

 

I'm repeating myself, but I agree 100% RhodeRunner. The funny thing is, which track does the sales guy choose to crank to show off the system....you guessed it, that very song. My reaction was "Wow, that sounds....just like the CD version I have." I also own the DVD-Audio version of that album, and sad to say the whole thing sounds like that. Poor use of 6-channels, imo. Too bad, because it's a great album.

I popped in Metallica's black album when my buddy got his TL - that's what convinced me this ELS system is sweet after all.

 

Hi all,

If you want a DVD-A album to show off the ELS system, pick up Diana Krall's 'When I Look in Your Eyes' DVD-A.

It's impressive not only because of the multi-channel sound but because of two other things:

1) it's Jazz and relatively quiet and it shows off how pristine the recording is as well the relatively good sound dampening of the TL.

2) the main focus is her voice and it really shows the difference between a CD (or even poor DVD-A) at 44kHz or 48kHz and a good quality DVD-A at 96kHz. Makes regular CD's sound tinny and electronic.

Anyway, just my $0.02.

 

i knida disagree with you on this...just play tracks 3 & 5 i think...and get a couple of DVD-a discs and you will see the difference...in addition to that, try adjusting the treble, bass, center & sub gains to enhance the sound

 

One of the best DVD-A's I have heard was Linkin Parks ReAnimation. great seperation and a good demo disk for people to hear. 3 Doors Down is okay but the volume is lower than others I have heard. Metallica is pretty good but not as much seperation as I had hoped for. Stained is good also.
If you are into Jazz check out Dave Koz's DVD-A. very nice as well.

 

Maecrispy - COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE! Been a long time Diana Krall fan, but heard subtle things in the DVD-A that I never heard on the CD. I think there are only 2 DVD-A titles of hers available - wish there were more.

For everyone else reading this, get a Diana Krall DVD-A and you will become a lover of jazz (and she's not bad looking either!!)

And now you also have my $.02

 

:bowdown:

 

There needs to be more of a selection especially COMPILATION DISKS.. if I am spending top dollar for a DVD A I would like it to be a greatest hits or best of...

hardly anya vailable and I dont see the selection growing which sucks.

Even www.dvd.com went under!

 

Don't forget the Eagles Hotel California - it's very crisp and the surround mix isn't cheesy like some of the additions done for the Queen Night at the Opera DVD-A.

I agree about the DVD-A selection, it's relatively small and it seems that a lot of the selections are low quality catalog recordings which the DVD-A format just shows how crappy they are (at least what the local mega-stores are carrying). ANyone found a decent on-line store for DVD-A?

 

Ditto on Linkin Park.. That dvd-a ROCKS

 

Hi all,

This might help some of you. It's a decent list of sources to find DVD-A's.

Sources:
----------
http://www.dvdempire.com/
http://www.buydvdnow.com/
http://www.dtsentertainment.com/dvdaudio.php
http://www.digitaleyes.net/dvdaudio.cfm
http://www.dvdplanet.com/main_dvdaudio.asp
http://www.buy.com
http://www.amazon.com
http://www.sendmemovies.com/
http://www.cduniverse.com/
http://www.luckytruck.com/
http://www.mediaplay.com
http://www.towerrecords.com/

Reviews:
-----------
www.highfidelityreview.com

Enjoy.

 

Oddly enough, even though Acura touts the ELS audio system as the first DVD-A system in the OEM channel, it is not the first OEM system to play DVD-A's in surround sound.

My wife's Chrysler Pacifica has a DVD-Video surround sound system (complete with center and sub channels) that most certainly does play DVD-Audio disks, and it sounds mighty impressive as well for an OEM system.

This brings me to a major shortcoming of our audio system: It cannot play DVD-Video. I've got a huge collection of concert videos that I would love to play in my TL but can't.........

 

Got to agree with the others on Linkin Park too. That album is awesome. I wish they have the regular album in DVD-A format with separate channels. I got Metallica too. It's much better than the CD but not much surround sound. I'm thinking of trying this Diana Krall. I'm not much of a Jazz fan, but if it's good music as you guys say it is and makes good use of the surround sound, I'm all in. I don't know if I'll like the music though. I'm more into hard rock. I wish they have Danzig or Sepultura on DVD-A.

 

Go to the dealer again, and crank it up. I was not impressed while at the dealers, either. After getting the car, I was amazed by the system. Put in the demo disk and listen to the Grover Washington track from Limelight, the surround sound is great. The demo DVD has some good tracks on it, you just gotta find them, and play it loud, and give it 10 minutes or so. Then go back to a regular CD or radio, and you will notice the difference immediately.

 

Does anybody have any recommended good web sites to purchase these at. I went to the Wherehouse (sp?) and they had a few but they are mixed in with the other CD's. What a pain!

 

Buy.com has a DVD-A section. They list 538 available. Prices are decent and free shipping.

http://www.buy.com/retail/music/sear...c=109&dclksa=1

 

are the DTS music cds same as the DVD-A?

 

Yes, they are playable but they are not the same. I'm not an audiophile, but as I understand it the DTS disks are a CD-media format. They do have 5.1 audio. They do not have the same resolution (depth of sound?) as the DVD-A format 5.1 disks. I'm sure there are more technical explanations, but I think this is correct in layman's terms.

 

dvd audio players do not and should not play dvd video. its not a problem its a good thing. what sense does it make to have video distracting the driver? if you want to be an ass and drive all over the road just stay on the phone. dvd video with surround is not the same as dvd audio. if it were then dvd audio players for the home would be redundant.

 

just looked at one of the links above for selection. seems that unless you like classical, old rock, or jazz youre out of luck. I know that liking music is subjective but there doesnt seem to be enough variety. and those prices are sickening. can someone tell me why if you have a dvd burner why you cant just copy a dvd with dvd xcopy or similar software? not MAKE one copy one.

 

the DVD audio system on the tl is absoulutely the best sound system out there, the only other car to come with surround sound in the entire U.S. is a Hummer. The sound quality is 500x better than a normal CD, I mean that's like the difference between a record and a CD. For me it sounded like the band was in my back seat! Maybe u should get ur ears checked.

 

Clearly you misunderstood my post. I have several concert DVD's that I would love to listen to, not watch, while tooling around in my TL. As far as I know, every DVD-Video player will play DVD-Audio disks with no problem--certainly the 2 DVD players I have at home and the aformentioned DVD-Video player in my wife's Pacifica play DVD-A disks just fine.

 

thanks for the sleuth of replies, all.

Went back to (a different) dealership for another listening, and this time I do hear the seperate channels. The only problem I still have is whether the 6 channel format really works for music? It makes sense for movies to have center channel take on most of dialogue and such, and the sides for other sounds.
I suppose the same can be done for a song with a lead singer, and each channel taking on a piece of the band. But that becomes both placement and distinction of the sound. Its one thing to say you can hear each instrument clearly, but another to say you can tell the drum is coming from the left. To me, music should be distinct, yet but not regional. Perhaps thats why quality reproductions in 6 channel are so rare. Or maybe I'm just not used to the new format?

A few things that Acura could've done to enhance the sound system:
* improved cabin noise reduction: the insulation doesn't keep out all the external noise.
* improve engine noise: this could be partly due to cabin insulation, but the engine noise makes you want to crank up the sound to drown out the engine.

A car that beats the TL on this aspect (IMO) is the Lexus ES/GS 300. The cabin noise level is just superb. I know they're not quite on the same price level (well the ES is, actually), and the TL is targeting more the sports sedan enthusiasts. Just things for my TL wish list...

my $0.02...

 

Corn: the Pacifica might play DVD "audio" in Surround, but it is playing the DTS track from a regular video Music DVD, not the higher resolution DVD-A track. Just like any home dvd player will play the music from a DVD-A, just the DVD-V track only.

 

I can't say for sure with my wife's Pacifica becuase it's not mentioned, but both my home DVD-Video players state they play DVA-Audio in their owners manual and do contain the DVD-A trademark sign on the box where listing the various formats they decode (such as MP3, WMA, etc....).

Here is a link to the specs of one of my DVD players clearly stating it supports DVD-Audio: http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...Model=DVD-F85S