hey all. could someone discuss dvd audio and sacd. would any cd player be able to play these. differences in quality(can it be heard in a car).price,and mabey a retail outlet in canada. thanxs

Multi-channel dvd-a playback is currently available in only a handful of elite dvd players for the car, among them, Alpine F#1, Pioneer top of line, Eclipse, and kenwood I believe. All of these players are well over $1500. There are not a lot of dvd-a dvd's available as yet or possibly ever will be. Sacd is the rival, and I know of no players (car audio), that currently are compatible with that format, there may be some though. Personally, I was waiting for dvd-a to take off, but it looks like that's not really going to happen anytime soon. Alpine does have a few players that will play dvd-a, but it's a mixdown to 2 channel output, so no multi channel. The problem seems to be in the industry as there is no consensus as to which format to use, so everyone is waiting to see if one wins out over the other. So far, neither is doing well enough to give hope. My advice is to forget about it for now, and wait for the big boys to figure it out...it's possible that none of the formats may win, and something else might come along and take over...so don't run out and buy all the dvd-a's or sacd's that you find.

__________________
2004 300M SPECIAL
Alpine CDA 9833
Alpine Pxa-h701
Alpine Rux-c701
Rockford fosgate p400-4
Rockford fosgate p4004
Hifonics BX 1205D
JBL c608 GTi
JBL p693
Infinity 2.5" center channel
Alpine type R 12"(2)
all active SQL set up with 1900 watts rms

allright thanks. if i understand, some dvd players will play dvd a(examples you listed) i read sacd is 2 layered, with a super audio layer and a regular cd layer. is there any advantages with second layer over a "normal cd"

Sony is coming out with three sacd players. As I understand it, the MEX DV1000 is two channel, MEX DV2000 is 5.1 as well as the double din model XAV1

Some SACD arfe double layered with cd and sacd tracks. Some are 5.1 on the SACD layer and some are high rez 2 channel. While this is very confusing and worse when you add in DVD audio with its own different sets of standard, 4.1, 5.1 and hi rez 2 channel.

I have a great wife and am lucky enough to have a deicated sound room. The confusion is worth it for the sound. I am in line to get an auto sacd player now.

Rgds
EJM