Trustysound

DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering very high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. The first discs entered the marketplace in 2000 and, as of 2006, titles are still being released. It is currently in a format war with Super Audio CD, another format for delivering high-fidelity audio content. Since media players that can play many formats (including DVD-Audio and SACD) are available for under $100[1], both formats are likely to co-exist (as do DVD-R and DVD+R).

Super Audio CD (SACD) is a read-only optical audio disc aimed at providing much higher fidelity digital audio reproduction than the compact disc. Introduced in 1999, it was developed by Sony and Philips Electronics, the same companies that created the CD. There is currently a format war with DVD-Audio, with neither side making any significant inroads to consumer acceptance. Media players that can play many formats (including DVD-Audio and SACD) are available for under $100, so both formats are likely to co-exist (as do DVD-R and DVD+R).

XRCDs are in every aspect regular CDs that just have been manufactured to stringent quality standards. This means that they can be played on any conventional compact disc player. It is interesting to note that an XRCD is supposedly priced about twice as high as a regular full-priced CD. JVC attributes this to the high cost of the quality mastering and manufacturing process.