Okay, so when I'm rollin' through Best Buy, I see music DVDs but they strike me as videos of live concerts and such.

What the hell am I looking for to play on my TL? Are these the same things only you're only using the audio track?

And here I thought I was fairly technically astute...

 

You're looking for DVD audio, not the DVD you'd play on your tv (concert video, music video). It's a music CD that's been recorded/mixed in the 5.1 format for your audio system. Most stores have a small section, or they can be ordered on-line. Average prices run from $25 to $50 each, so they're not cheap. When loaded into your CD player in the TL, the slot they occupy will show DVD or DTS beside the disk number.

 

just to summarize...

stay away from music dvd and super-audio (SACD)...

ONLY get DTS and DVD-Audio discs...

here's an example of a disc you can get:



notice it says both DTS and DVD-Audio on it...

 

There's the clues I've been looking for. Thanks, dude!

 

Best Buy discontinued carrying DVD Audio discs this year. You can get them online at a few different places. The DTS website is good at http://www.dtsonline.com/shopping/catalogue/music.php. I've also had good luck at Acoustic Sounds at http://store.acousticsounds.com/cate...ds=g_dvd_audio.
Plus, you can try out 5.1.com at http://www.5point1.com/index2.html. Those 3 are the most reputable and you can consistently get DVD Audio discs from them.

 

Does anybody know where I can buy DTS/DVD-A discs in or around the San Diego area? Any ideas are welcome.

Thanks!

 

you lookin for Blank DVD discs, cuz you can get those anywhere, just gotta match upf with your burner. Or you looking for actual audio discs?

 

If you can find any stores that carry DTS or DVD-A discs-let us know. You would think someplace in San Diego would carry them, but don't hold your breath. You'd probably do better by ordering them online. There are other alternatives. Sometimes you can find DualDiscs. This is (unfortunately) another alternative format for DVD-Audio/SACD's that didn't catch on either. There are some discs like the LOVE cd from the Beatles that was done in "Surround Sound". Both of those types of discs will play in our TL's. I have quite a few DualDiscs and a few Surround Sound discs. I'll try them this weekend in my Type S and write again with results for everyone.

 

Frys Electronics has a small selection of DVD-A discs and a slightly larger selection of DTS CDs.

 

Is DVD-A going to be the 8-track of the new millennium?

 

Along with SA-CD, yes probably 8-track status soon. The convenience of compressed audio (mp3's et. al.) has killed the quest for higher quality multichannel formats.

It's a shame, really. After I started getting DVD-A's for the car, I bought a home player that read them as well. I've got a pretty nice home theater, and to listen to Beck's 'Sea Change' album in full discrete multichannel at those super high sampling rates/bit depth is just stunning. The sound just sparkles out of the speakers.

After you compress the file size roughly 10 to 1 (I'm looking at you, MP3) there isn't much sparkle left.

 

i'd tell you where i got my DVD-A discs, but can't remember the name of the store...there's a link to it somewhere lost in this forum...they had over 200 titles to choose from and were one of the best priced stores too...

and yes, DVD-A never did catch on...what's next? Blu-Ray-Audio discs...? ..that would be some high-quality stuff...

 

found it!!

dvd-audio discs at cd universe... 250 of them!

that's where i bought mine... crystal method - legion of boom and porcupine tree - in absentia...

 

Actually "rimz" is not too far from the truth on the BluRay Audio discs. First, Blu Ray is capable of 7.1 discrete audio surround sound. Dave Matthews and Chris Botti have already recorded Blu Ray disc concerts that are now available on Blu Ray. But if you have a 5.1 or a 7.1 surround sound system at home, you'll REALLY enjoy DVD-Audio discs. DVD-A discs like Goodbye Yellowbrick Road have an extra 2nd disc inside them. The 2nd disc is "The making of the album". It's pretty amazing to watch Elton John and his band back in 1975! Plus, it has extra tracks on the album itself-like the acoustic version of Candle in the Wind. It's the original lead vocals, the original backup vocals and one acoustic guitar...it's INCREDIBLE and should be able to be accessed in your TL because the extra tracks are on the original album CD-not on the extra 2nd disc. If there are video's or discographies or clef notes on the DVD-Audio discs, you can't play them in your car....just the audio tracks. That's because your TL will not play video's on the NAV screen. Also try anything from the Eagles or especially Steely Dan. These bands really "get it." They understand how incredible high sampled/high resolution audio really sounds. Dave Koz also has an album called "The Dance" that sounds more and more incredible the louder you turn up the volume. Bon Jovi has a DualDisc out of the classic album "Slippery When Wet". The album sounds great in surround sound. Plus, the "extras" on the disc are all the video's from the ablum (like Livin On A Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name)! So get DVD Audio discs while you can...you never know how long they'll be available.

 

I have been able to create a DVD-A disk using a concert DVD. I think there have been several other threads discussing this, but the basic steps are:

1. Use DVD-Audio Extractor to rip the 6 channels from the DVD to a multichannel Wave file.
2. Use Solo DVD (www.cirlinca.com) to create the DVD-A disk.
3. Enjoy in the TL

I used DVD-R disks from Sony...they were really cheap, $12.99 for a 50 pack at Best Buy. You may have to be selective as to which tracks you put on the DVD-A, since many concert DVD's are dual layer and I didn't want to test it with a $1+ disk.

The Solo DVD program is free for up to 5 DVD's, then it's $45 to buy.