CD players vs. DVD players
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Posted on Jan 23, 2004 03:36 pm
wrmach
I'm Roscoooo P. Coltrane
Member Since: Apr 12, 2003
I was wondering if anyone knew, if there were a difference in quality between CD players and those DVD players that play CD's,CDR's ?
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Jan 23, 2004 03:37 pm Well, I do know DVD are much higher resolution audio...but as a whole, CD's are 16-bit stereo regardless of what you play it on...DVD is much higher, but is different bewteen formats...two formats are currently vying for dominance.
Point being, it's digital, it is what it is, period.
Jan 23, 2004 03:50 pm so in a nutshell, it's all about the quality of your D/A converters, which if you're talking about a computer CD or DVD drive, is gonna rely on what souncard you have (unless you use that little analog cable to connect the two) eh,
so .. why'd you ask?
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Jan 23, 2004 05:06 pm never knew that...thats why neil young's always banging on about releasing all his back catalogue on dvd rather than cd - although last i read he was waiting for an even better format to come along...
Jan 23, 2004 05:36 pm Ya, good further explanation Jamie...thanks.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jan 23, 2004 06:10 pm I was just curious what was greater as far as quality...no biggie. Thanks
Jan 23, 2004 06:19 pm DVD, no contest.
Jan 23, 2004 09:24 pm but what quality are you reffering to. i don't gather that you mean to compare CD audio with DVD audio, but only the playback quality of a standard CDA on either device. In which case, again, it depends on how well the individual device is built. And furthermore if you're outputting digital the difference is indestiguishable save for idiosyncratic error handling, etc.
a nice high end audiophile CD player will last alot longer and read a more scratched-up disc than some junky $49 Wal-Mart rollback DVD player
Jan 24, 2004 04:05 am bottom line to me is this:
cd- 16-bit 44.1 samplesrate
dvda- 24-bit 96k samplerate
we can go thru all the wacky senarios until we are blue in the face, bottom line is the standard for each indicates when comparing apples to apples in terms of gear, the cabling that connects them, blah, blah, blah...dvd comes out on top.
flame...bringing sexy backMember
Since: Jul 01, 2002
Jan 24, 2004 05:11 am im glad i just bought one then...id love to hear one of these 5.1 cd's, like the pink floyd ones theyre releaseing...
Jan 24, 2004 05:23 am the pink floyd dark side of the moon 5.1 is awesome...
Jan 24, 2004 06:08 am but dB< that's not what he's asking. he's playing a CDA, not a DVDA. in fact, until he clarifies why he's playing CD in a DVD player, we can't be sure of what he's even asking.
i'm not saying you're wrong. the DVD is far superior compared to the CD format. but that's not what he's asking.
Jan 24, 2004 06:25 am Yes, but my point from the beginning has been that there are standards, a CD is what a CD is, 16-bit, 44.1kHz samplerate stereo track...regardless of what it is played out of. A DVD-A is a 24-bit, 96kHz samplerate multi-channel collection of tracks, regardless what it is played out of.
In addition, your point of the D/A converters is also valid. Which would lead me, based on common sense, to believe a DVD player may be superior to listen to CD's through given the fact they need to have higher resolution requirements and capabilities.
Hmmm, the more I think about it, it's an interesting question...
Jan 24, 2004 09:08 am very true, you should should write an article about why DVD's should be / are going to replace CDs as the standard by which we listen to music. then your point will be taken.
but still. he's not asking you to compare CDs and DVDs. i don't know what he's asking either.
Jan 24, 2004 10:13 am Actually, I did somewhat cover that in the latest article looking at surround sound. Not directly, but indirectly it is covered.
Maybe he just posted this here to see if you and I would start bickering :-D hehehe
Jan 24, 2004 10:18 am hehe, word
Jan 24, 2004 10:26 am which brings me to something else concerning a 24bit format, an issue that's popped up on many weekend movie nights at various spots i've been invited to watch DVDs, and that's the problems asociated with more having more dynamic range than the listener is used to.
how many times have you been watching a DVD and someones asks "what's she saying? turn it up" and then five minutes later during an action scene shits rattling on the walls?
i think people have got acustomed to a samller range between soft and loud and even more so with the battle to press hotter and hotter CDs these days.
do you think that the DVD audio industry will catch on to this simplicity in thinking among the average movie and music fans and start pressing DVDs with dynamic options or onboard limiters, or will the new educated masses recognize the power of the DVD and begin to appreciate a well made and dyanmic recording?
Jan 24, 2004 10:55 am From my playing with surround sound and the DVD format thus far I have come to the conclusion that that isn't necessarily the 24-bit reso as much as the production of it. Those producers could very easily have made the dialog and the stuff blowing up the same volume, but it looses it's impact and doesn't create the subliminal drama that the dynamics create.
You will see on many home theatre systems they have what is sometimes called "night mode" which will take dobly digital signal and sort of "compress" it to squash out those dynamics.
Also, if the listening room is set up right it will sound much smoother. My wife is going nuts cua we now have our huge entertainment center build and she is decorating it, the center includes the TV and sound system as well as all the front pseakers, and whenever she asks my opinion my answers always have something to do with how it will affect the sound of the room.
LOL
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jan 24, 2004 11:50 pm Wow, didn't mean to spark a conteversey! I thought my first question was self explanatory. I was just wondering what a cd would sound better on...sorry.
Jan 25, 2004 03:35 am CD's make great dernk coasters
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jan 25, 2004 12:23 pm They make good frisbies, too!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 25, 2004 05:00 pm Agreed with the frisbie thing. and I would venture a guess the CD playing on the CD/DVD player is going to sound identical as long as it is a quality player.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Jan 25, 2004 06:14 pm I agree with you Noize. I couldn't see it being to big of a quality difference.
Jan 25, 2004 07:20 pm Oh pahleese, CD's are hardy coasters or frisbees. CD's were a MAJOR step forward in audio fidelity and indeed longevity, and is still a good medium. Only now there is better...
Remember there are still people who swear by the ::gasp:: phonograph...
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 25, 2004 07:27 pm Hey easy on us guys who like our vinyl. And the only CDS I use as coasters are the ones that come in the mial, or the ones I make myself from forgetting to shut another program down before burning.
I will agree though, CD quality is still far and above most anything else out there, after all it is digital. Heck I still like my cassette deck.
Jan 25, 2004 07:30 pm Ya, I have an AOL CD as a coaster at work for my water jog :)
Yeah, vinyl is cool, all the dust noise, the pops and ticks, the cool sound of a dull stylus, can't beat it...and cassettes, oh, who couldn't love when they start stretching out really nice and get warbally...awesome effect :-P
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jan 25, 2004 07:50 pm Thats why I never use a dull stylus, they get replaced after about 100 or so hours of use. Spendy, but effective. The only good thing about vinyl is the bass is a bit thicker, but the crispness is definately better on a CD. The cassette thing is really a rare use now though as it is mostly for sample stuff now, and the occasional transfer from cassette to CD.
