Listen carefully: Both DVD-A and SACD promise you-are-there sound quality. Both require new discs and players. SACD can be listened to in 2-channel stereo, or in 5.1 surround sound; DVD-A can only be listened to in 5.1 surround, but offers video clips and images you can view on your PC or TV. In 5.1 surround mode, there's not a lot of difference between the two formats to the untrained ear. The problem is that not every audiophile likes 5.1 surround sound -- some believe 2-channel is closer to what a live performance sounds like. In that case, your only option is SACD.