DVD Audio is a music format that is designed to offer improved audio performance \rover CD. The new audio format can be used to provide listeners with Advanced \rResolution stereo and/or multi-channel (up to a maximum of six channels) music. \rIn order to play back DVD Audio discs, players have to be specially designed to \rsupport the format. So far, consumer electronics manufacturers have announced a \rrange of DVD Audio players, including home decks, portable players and devices for \rcars.

DVD Audio has a sampling rate of up to 192kHz compared to a maximum of \r44.1kHz for CD. It also supports resolutions of up to 24 bits, compared to 16bits on \rCD.

The idea behind DVD Audio is that it allows producers to give listeners a playback \rexperience that is much more faithful to the original master recording that has been \rpossible previously.

DVD Audio discs have a much higher capacity than CDs. This extra space can be \rused to provide audio at the highest possible quality or for longer recordings, or to \rprovide additional material, such as information on the artist, photos and even \rvideo, all of which can be displayed on a television screen. Alternatively, DVD Audio \rdiscs currently on the market from the likes of the Warner group of labels have the \raudio content in both DVD Audio format and as Dolby Digital surround so that they \rcan be played back on regular DVD players.

DVD Audio discs are navigable in the same way as DVD Video when played back on \ra player connected to a TV set. Users can select the required track from an on-\rscreen menu and with an internet connection, can click on links to go to websites.

These dual format discs are a good way to kick-start the market while DVD Audio \rplayers are still relatively rare. The market will also be helped by combined DVD \rVideo and Audio players.

Robert Armstrong is a contributor to The HDTV Tuner - a guide to the kit, the content and the \rissues related to HDTV.