What do I need for DVD Audio?

[steve lucas]

Have just got a dvd audio disc- Beethoven 9th from Canada. Pushed it through my Panasonic 360- Sherwood DD amp and it sounds OK..but Panny doesn't support DVD audio. so can't get the 'Advanced Audio' channels.

Apart from upgrading the DVD player to one thar supports dvd audio (ANY Recommendations?), what else do I need? Am currently connecting the dvd player to the amp via co-ax digital link.. though the amp also has optical, Does DVD audio need a new amp, or an amp with 6 phonos?

Advice gratefully received

Ta

[CLH]

You will need a new DVD player with 6 channel outputs and an amp with six channel inputs. Clearly you'll need another 6 leads!

As far as the amp is concerned I can't quite recall what you need. I think that you need an amp that will cope with 96khz output but I'm not sure if DVD audio allows you to downmix for a lesser amp.

I recall reading that my Yammy DSP AX 620 will allow it but I can't recall why. Sorry I cant help more!

[lynx]

Originally posted by CLH
You will need a new DVD player with 6 channel outputs and an amp with six channel inputs. Doesn't it output a bitstream signal ?

[Pathfinder]

CLH is correct as the bitstram outputs for Dolby Digital and DTS output "movie quality" signals.

On the D/A conversion subject:
As the signal is piped via 6 analogue leads no Digital/Analogue conversion is required in the amp, it merely amplifies the line-in signals and pumps up the speakers. The 24bit/192kHz sampling goes on in the DVD-A deck.

Some research threw up the following machines less than a grand.

Toshiba SD900E £950ish. Best Buy but expensive.
Toshiba SD510E £300-£400. Just out, not many around yet.
http://www.home-entertainment.toshiba.co.uk/consumer/home.nsf
Denon DVD-1600 rrp £500 so probably £400. Also new.
http://denon.jp/europe/dvd1600.html
Denon DVD-1300 £700 multi reg.
http://denon.jp/europe/dvd3300.html
Panasonic DVD-RA71 £430 multi reg.
http://www.panasonic-europe.com/dvdaudio/
Pioneer DV646A £300 (£350 multi reg).
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/main.php3?id=DV-646A
Pioneer DV939A £800 multi reg.
http://www.pioneer.co.uk/main.php3?id=DV-939A

Browse and enjoy!

Pathfinder

[steve lucas]

Think I'll wait till prices come down a bit - if format gains popularity. The DDMix is quite impressive- quite a bit better than normal CD and gives surround sound.

The DVD audio from it is no better than normal dvd ... Paul Simon 'Youre the One' concert is knock out.. and it comes with video...
My DD amp cost over £500 three years ago.. now you can pick them up dirt cheap... will wait a bit!

[Philc]

I also believe that in order to get the best out of DVD-A you should have speakers which are DVD-A compatible and thus have a frequency range somewhere between 0Khz and 96Khz as opposed to CD's 5-20Khz.
Of course these will be expensive at the moment,but other things like connectors and amp have a factor in getting the best out of DVD-A format.