I know some of you are saying you don't need someone to tell you how to listen to music! However we are talking about surround and high resolution music. This includes stereo and multi-channel, DVD-Audio, DTS cd's, SACD, and, DUALDISC. (There are three other types touted as above average, SHM, XRCD 1 & 2, and K2HD, (I only have one of theses, a K2HD disc of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's first album. It sounds as good as a nice Japanese pressing. I think all these are made in Japan and are just regular CD's processed with better equipment and disc material). 

I found I needed to learn some things as I went along the way.

The first thing I learned was to be sure to connect everything correctly. You would think it's easy but if you have never tried to connect multi-channel cables between the video player and sound system, you may find it more daunting. Follow the picture instructions in your manual although they can sometimes be wrong or unclear especially those manufactured in another country. A few people asked me about cables. I've read many articles about it. There are varies opinions. Many say spending big money on cables is not necessary. I agree but to a point. I think we can all agree there are going to be beter made cables than others. I definately believe some are way overpriced. If you have a real budget system then budget cables are great. I try to look at the scale of the system. High end system, high end cables, meium/medium. The demands of your system need to determine the quality of the cables. Of course the higher quality the higher cost. You need the right tools to do the right job. You would not use the same extension cord to run a power table saw that you would use to light your Christmas tree with. But, do you need a $1000 extension cord for the saw or is a $400 going to perform as well? It takes research.

The DVD-Audio, SACD, DTS, and DualDisc, discs are produced in high resolution. It's known as 96mHz 24bit. It's too technical for me to understand so I can't explain it that way but you can find many articles online. Just Google what you want. Basically the sound is generated at different bit rates, megahertzes, and such. It produces a very clear, realistic, 3-D, sound way above a regular CD. It allows more sound to come through more accurately. You can hear things you may have never heard before. The "ting" of a cymbal can be heard until IT stops. Almost like your ear was right on it. High and low ranges of sound become apparent. It's high definition for your ears! The others are either made from a better material or a finer production process. I think most of us will agree a regular Japanese made CD sounds better than a regular American made CD.

These dics come in a variety of "styles" (?). The best sound you can get will be from DVD-Audio, the high resolution multi-channel discs which are that 96/24 thing I mentioned earlier. Some can also do Dolby Digital 5.1,  DTS, high resolution and/or regular stereo. In other words there are several combinations, Usually the disc will tell you what it can do on the back, (well you have to read it, of course the disc won't "tell" you). There are also symbols that you can use/ The DVD-Audio symbol is easiest. Kook at one of your DVD's. You'll see DVD above something that looks like a wave with Video underneath that. A DVD-Audio is the same except it says Audio where it says Video. The SACD has this wierd symbol that I can't even duplicate. It's like a semi squashed circle but the edges go into the circle at some points then come back out. For more a little more information on buying these see my "buying dvd-audio sacd dualdisc" Guide/Review.

 Aside from you basic sound system unit, you can have a totally seperate unit for each function. Just like on the discs, An amplifier that allows you to hookup a DVD-audio player, a DVD-Video player, an SCAD player, as well as tape and vinyl player hookups. Just like the discs, there are machines out ther can do do some or all of this. Just like on the discs, that symbol would be on the player. Altough there are not many, you can buy a regular DVD (Video) player that play all these just like it plays regular CD's. Just remember...

To play a DTS music disc everything must have DTS capabilities and the correct cable hookup, a digital coaxial cable.

To play a DVD-Audio disc everything must have DVD-Audio capabilities and the proper cable hookup, a multi-channel cable connected to the analog multi-channel inputs. You can not use the digital coaxial and get the high resolution.

To play an SACD disc everything must have SACD capabilities, (although some are "hybrids" that allow you to play it on any CD player but it will not be in high resolution). Like the DVD-Audio, you must use a multi-channel cable system connected to the analog inputs.

To play a DUALDISC everything must have DVD-Audio or SACD types of capabilities to get the high resolution. The cable hookup must be like SACD and DVD-Audio for high resolution. A DUALDISC has a regular format CD on the other side. It's like two CD's glued together. They are thicker and can sometimes jam in the player or not be read correctly. I have not had any such problems but that's what I've heard.

Once you have the cables hooked up to the sound system unit, in most cases you will have to "set" your player to the proper path. Possibly on all machines. All systems are different. You may have to choose between digital, analog, multi-channel, etc, settings on your player. Each one will work or not work based on the cables used and if they are hooked up properly. And on that topic, I've read and heard a fairly even amount of opinions on whether or not you need super cables, decent, or just OK cables. Of course we all know that a digital coaxial cable is different from an RCA cable and can not be substituted just as those are both different from a subwoofer cable that can not be substituted with the others either. But within each category, I believe there certainly is a difference in the grade of cable you can get. I know I don't want a cable that costs $10. Do I need the one that is $1000 one or is the one I found for $100 reasonably as good as the $1000 one? I just don't know the answer because of so many opinions. I know I would go for the $100 one at least.

 Your machines may have a setting for DVD-Audio and DVD-Video in the menu. Some might do it automatically. If you don't choose DVD-Audio and play a DVD-Audio disc, it would not play in high resolotion but you would at least get Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS if it has that. Most players will show what kind of disc is playing on the screen of the player, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVD-Video etc. So if you want to play a DVD-Audio disc in high resolution but the player does not display it as a DVD-Audio disc then some setting is not right. SACD's are easy. You do have to set you player up one time then just put in the disc and it's ready to go. Also, some A/V units have it's own ambience sound settings. There is stereo, all channel stereo, orchestra, Pro-Logic music, TV, movie. etc. It's just different ways your A/V units can re-procuce the way the sound comes out.

ABOUT THE SOUND... it's very wierd sometimes. One disc can sound great all the way through, some are just all the way bad, some have good and bad. Usually though there is no problem. It's important to remember that some of these original recordings were made 30-40 years ago. Oddly some of the older recordings can sound better than more recent ones. A good example is Eric Clapton's 461 Ocean Blvd. In the DVD-Audio version. Eric's guitar is barely noticeable. Yet on Inside the Music- Classic Rock, Sugerloaf's "Green Eyed Lady" sounds excellent yet there is a good 25 years between the times they were originally recorded. Most of these are re-mastered by different people than originally. The band usually has no input. Sometimes they do. So what may sound good to Jeff Mutt might not sound the same to Tom Dowd, (who did re-master The Allman Brothers Live At the Fillmore SACD). Sometimes the tapes used were not good. Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell is a good example. Some of the original tapes were destroyed in a fire so the SACD is missing some stuff that was on the original recording both musical and vocal. It had to be re-worked in such a hard fashion that the bad sound is pretty noticeable.

I actually like to sit and intentionally listen to music, (have you ever fallen asleep with the music loud?). To really enjoy this kind of experience you really need to. If you are running between rooms or playing a disc while your in the kitchen cooking, you might as well just put in a regular CD. 

I was suprised how I first reacted to MCSS sound. I almost felt disappointed. It did not seem as intense as DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 like when I watched a movie. So another thing I learned is to really use the tools on the sound system unit. Even on songs from the same disc. I may need to adjust the bass, trebble, (and that means + and - ranges), sub-woofer, changing the volume on different speakers, (for example the middle speaker may be more pronounced so turning it down helps you ear pickup on the other speakers). Even the volume. Some need a boost while others need less. It's almost like drinking fine wine. You smell it, sip it, swish it around the glass, (I guess wine lovers know what that's about). When you just sit and listen, your senses take over and you will understand the difference in HOW you are hearing the music. On the other hand my wife says, "yeah it sounds nice", so she really does not hear it the way I do. I've read reviews where some feel these special discs did not sound better than a regular "re-mastered" version. I've tested it and I can tell a difference but of course I have not tried all of them. All of the above would be useless information if I did not mention speaker and body placement. Generraly the suggestions that come with your speaker instructions will be the best setup. For the subwoofer I've found that it bouncing off a wall really adds a nice even boom. Don't aim it towards other speakers. Some DVD's have a THX sound and picture adjustment/test feature. They are are little time consuming so be prepared. Some of them are more complex than others. One even needs special glasses but that may be related to a problem with part of the test on the disc.Your rear speakers are best are far behind you as your room allows, (considering you don't live in a castle). You want to be able to hear that sound travel from front to back, left to right, cirss-cross. You all know there is an optimum spot to sit in. Stereo is basically just left to right adjustments but surround sound requires left, right, front, back. Ever notice how the sound can be more even just by moving your head forward just a little? I used to move my couch away from the wall a few inches and found a nice change in how I heard the back speakers, (because my room does not let me put them behind me much). Unfortunately most of us are limited to what we can do by the size and shape of the room. But as you see there are many adjustments that can be made to make the listening experince really enjoyable.

So sit back, relax, and really take a listen to music. Fix it up the way it sounds good to you, Not all ears are the same. Close your eyes and let The Moody Blues take your mind on a mellow trip or let Metallica blow your mind apart.

If there is anything I can add, remove, or correct, on this guide, please contact me!

EVEN IF YOU ONLY LEARNED ONE THING YOU CAN USE, PLEASE CLICK THE HELPFUL BUTTON BELOW.