Smart Sound: The Future of Music Technology
Learn about the slickest new digital sound systems
April 7, 2003
High-Resolution Audio
Over the past two or three years, better-than-CD-quality versions of some of the greatest albums ever — many even remixed for surround sound — have been available in the form of "super audio CD" and DVD-Audio discs. They're called "high-resolution" because they use a different encoding method to store more sound information than a regular CD, providing a richer experience that is closer to analog. Although the price of these discs has dropped to the $15 to $20 range, the challenge for consumers has been figuring out how to play them.
Philips and Sony make most SACD players, which can also play DVD-Video discs. If you like what the format has to offer — Beck, Destiny's Child, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Norah Jones — one of the best players out there is the Philips DVD963SA ($500). Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon was just released in surround sound on SACD.
You'll find plenty of great artists in the world of DVD-Audio, too, including Metallica, the Eagles, Linkin Park, Elvis Presley ("30 #1 Hits") and REM. Every DVD-Audio title has a surround-sound mix, and most come with bonus videos or photography. Although DVD-Audio discs can be played in standard DVD-Video players, to hear the high-resolution audio tracks, you need a standalone player. There are cheaper ones, but one of the best on the market is Panasonic's DVD-RP91 ($700).
If you can't decide on the format, don't worry. Pioneer, Marantz, Denon and Yamaha have all introduced "universal" players, which can handle both DVD-Audio and SACD discs. To hear the surround-sound mixes on either SACD or DVD-Audio, you would need a surround-sound receiver; fortunately, in the age of DVD movies, those receivers can sell for as little as $200.
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