DVD-Audio and SACD are two competing formats of high quality audio recordings, both formats are vying to take over the role of the CD in the home but have less than expected take up by consumers.

SACD was released in 1999 with DVD-Audio following in 2000, both systems are fairly similar in the fact they offer multi channel audio compared to CDs two channels. Both systems also incorporate a copy protection system to stop users burning copies of their record collection for friends, this copy protection is often criticized by users as the reason why record companies are keen to push the superior audio quality of the systems.

For many people the quality of these new formats are not noticeable when compared to CD and the record companies won’t see the rush of people running out to buy new SACD or DVD-Audio collections like they did when CD was released.

The first players that were released were very expensive, with only the true audiophiles jumping on board. SACD players at first could also play standard CDs as well, while DVD-Audio players could play CD and DVD – video. Today there are players on the marker that are rather cheap that play both DVD-Audio and Video, SACD and CDs. This backward compatibility along with the reduction of player price may be the saving grace of both formats.

The discs themselves are also backward compatible to some degree with the majority of SACD disc having a hybrid CD layer so they can be played in a normal CD player. Many DVD-Audio discs on the other hand include a Dolby Digital or even DTS track so they can be played on a standard DVD Video player but not in a CD player.

If you long for better quality than CD a DVD-Audio and SACD combo player would be the shot to go with your decent surround sound setup, you could even start building you collection of hybrid SACDs before you purchase your player. If on the other hand you think your MP3 collection is just as good as your CD collections quality then you probably won’t notice the performance enhancements of a SACD or DVD-Audio system