Is the DVD single region 2 only?

I'm not aware if DVD Singles are regionaly coded, but... i found this on the net:

Do DVD-Audio discs include "Region Codes" such as used in DVD-Video discs? DVD-Audio does NOT include Region Codes. Therefore, all DVD-Audio discs will be playable on all DVD-Audio capable players. However, many DVD-Audio discs include DVD-Video components to provide compatibility with DVD-Video players. Those "objects or files" (usually Dolby Digital or DTS audio and short videos) could be restricted by Region Codes and may not be playable on all DVD-Video players.

____________________ "If you think you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out there to get you"

That is for audio.. now, are the videos on them regionaly coded.. I have no idea!

____________________ "If you think you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out there to get you"

You can still remember the first time you saw and heard a DVD-video in full surround sound. Maybe you were at a friend's house, or perhaps a pimple-faced teenager corralled you into a listening room at your local electronics retailer. The difference between DVD-video and VHS was unmistakable, and you knew you had to have it. If you're like us, you are still marveling at the incredible sound and video quality of your DVD player. And you're most likely convinced that this format is here to stay, unlike Betamax and Divx. Unfortunately, it may already be time to re-evaluate what is probably your most recent home electronics purchase. DVD-video isn't dying, but your DVD-video player just became slightly outdated. DVD-audio, a new format that lets you play movies as well as special DVD-audio discs on a single player, is the new kid on the block.

The History

An industry group, known as the DVD Forum, first established the format specifications for DVD-video in 1996. Shortly thereafter, under the advisement of music industry executives and audio equipment manufacturers, the DVD Forum set forth to create a DVD-based audio format. After years of debate over copyright protection and antipiracy measures, the DVD Forum released version 1.0 of the DVD-audio specification in March of 1999.

Basic Technical Facts

DVD-audio takes advantage of the high storage capacity of the digital versatile disc to present far more information to the listener than what is currently offered on a regular audio CD. Information can be stored on a DVD in a single layer at 4.7GB, dual layer at 8.5GB, or double-sided, dual-layer format at 17GB. By devoting up to 17GB to audio information, DVD-audio's sound fidelity excels above CD and DVD-video in every regard.

While a CD may present a wide dynamic range, it cuts out the frequencies higher than 20kHz. DVD-audio expands the high-frequency playback to up to 192kHz, and it extends the maximum dynamic range to 144dB, compared to a CD's 96dB. The quantization resolution of DVD-audio is 256 times finer that of audio CDs, with a sampling rate of up to 24-bits vs. 16-bitsCDs. All in all, each second of DVD-audio can hold up to 1,100 times the information as one second of the same recording stored on a standard audio CD.

DVD-audio is also quite flexible in terms of playback. DVD-audio lets you use separate channels for each of the speakers in the typical 5.1 surround setup, and each channel can be encoded at a different bit rate. For example, three front channels may be recorded at 96kHz at 24-bits, with two surrounds at 48kHz at16-bits. This type of configuration allows for fantastic sound while it also maximizes the possible output from the disc. "The result is high resolution and extraordinary dynamic range that means unsurpassed audio reproduction and an audio experience that is faithful to the actual performance," according to Rusty Osterstock, general manager of Panasonic's DVD division.

The extended storage capacity of DVD also allows for longer recordings to exist on a single disc. A DVD recorded at 96kHz with 16-bit sound in six speakers could last as long as 160 minutes. DVD-audio also presents music publishers with the option of releasing discs with as much as 8.5 hours of CD-quality sound.

As you might expect, DVD-audio discs can hold more than just audio. Publishers are expected to include interactive menus, liner notes, video stills, and short music videos on DVD-audio discs that may be viewed through your television just like DVD-video.

Despite all these great features, there are a few drawbacks. The biggest disappointment is that unless you have recently purchased a DVD player that supports DVD-audio, you won't be able to play DVD-audio discs on your existing DVD-video player. Second, in order to take full advantage of six-channel sound, you will need a receiver with six audio inputs on the back, a feature found only on newer mid- to high-end units. In addition, your receiver needs to support 24-bit/192kHz conversion, a feature that is available only on a small handful of high-end receivers.

Osterstock believes that these setbacks will not figure prominently in the long term. "DVD-video was successful because the video performance and multichannel audio soundtracks were demonstrable benefits over previous formats such as VHS and Laser Disc. Once the studios supported DVD-video by releasing more and more movie titles on DVD, the format took off." He added, "We believe DVD-audio has the potential for the same success based on broad consumer exposure and increasing software support by the recording labels. We feel DVD-audio will eventually become a standard feature on DVD-video players, and that the majority of players sold in the future will include this new format."

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The Players

By this point, you're probably wondering about the actual players. As of this writing, the only two widely available DVD-audio/video players are made by Matsushita and released under its Technics and Panasonic brands. Available for $1000 and $800 respectively, these units play DVD-audio discs, DVD-video discs, video CDs, and regular audio CDs. Denon and Kenwood are also slated to release DVD-audio/video players in the fall of 2000. Executives at Kenwood are optimistic about the future of DVD-audio. "These players are for people who want to experience the highest-quality audio and video recordings, and who don't see the point of buying separate players for music and movies," said Brian Towne, Kenwood's national product manager of home products. Plans are in the works for portable and car DVD-audio players as well.

How it sounds

We were eager to actually hear the output of the two DVD-audio/video players currently on the market, so we checked out the Technics DVD-A10. With a retail price of $1000, we had pretty high hopes for it. It was set up to run through a Denon AVR-681 receiver with Energy Audissey APS5+2 speakers in the front and Energy RVSS surround speakers behind. Since we weren't able to find any DVD-audio discs for sale at the local record shop, we were forced to use a DVD-audio demonstration disc available at the local electronics retailer. First, we tried a Jazz track with two-channel, 192kHz, 24-bit sound. The speakers emitted a full, vibrant sound that was crisp and clean, with a definite warm quality. For the sake of comparison, we placed a regular audio CD in the player and listened closely. Played through a very respectable receiver and a nice set of speakers, it too sounded excellent. Overall, the DVD-audio disc sounded more alive - it sounded as if we were in an actual jazz club. However, while the DVD-audio disc did sound slightly brighter than the regular audio CD, the difference was not as significant as you might think, considering the massive increase in storage capacity on the DVD.

Next, we connected the DVD-A10 through a Parasound HCA2205 receiver. This time, we selected a six-channel, 96kHz, 24-bit version of Bach's Toccata en Fugue in D Minor. The exceptional quality of DVD-audio was especially apparent in six-channel mode, creating a fully three-dimensional sound field. We could actually hear the air passing through the pipes of the organ; it was as if we were seated within the walls of a chapel.

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The Obstacles

DVD-audio faces an uphill battle on a number of fronts. First, those who have already gone out and purchased a DVD-audio player are dealing with a frustrating chicken-and-egg scenario - it's nearly impossible to find DVD-audio discs for sale. In a surprise turn of events, four of the five big record companies have been hesitant to announce formal release dates of DVD-audio titles. Although BMG Entertainment, Sony Music, EMI Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music have publicly voiced support for the DVD-audio format, concerns about piracy continue, especially after the well-publicized hack of DVD-videos last year. And though copy protection for DVD-audio has been beefed up, only Warner Music Group has publicly announced release dates for this October. Paul Vidich, executive vice president of Warner Music Group, expects Warner to release DVD-audio titles this fall. Says Vidich, "This landmark accomplishment with DVD-audio is the first time leaders in the music, computer, and consumer electronics industries have worked together to develop a win/win solution in addressing business, artistic, and consumer interests. This sets the stage for future cooperation among these industries."

Despite all assurances, DVD-audio will only really begin to take off once the five big record companies fully embrace the format. There is little incentive for anyone, including audiophiles, to buy a DVD-audio player for which no DVD-audio titles are available.

Another obstacle faced by DVD-audio is the fact that most of the consumers who have recently entered into the DVD arena are not set up to fully reap the benefits of DVD-audio sound. Aside from the aforementioned six-channel inputs and 24-bit/192kHz processing necessary on the receiver, you'll need a surround-sound speaker setup. Amassing all the required gear quickly adds up to a sizable chunk of cash.

And even after you've laid down all that cash, you'll have no assurance that DVD-audio will be the be-all and end-all of digital discs. Just as DVD-audio is hitting the market, Sony and Philips are promoting the Super Audio CD (SACD). SACD is similar to DVD-audio in terms of sound (up to 100kHz, 120dB dynamic range), but different in that it supports text and still graphics, but not video. Like DVD-audio, Super Audio CDs can be played only on Sony and Philips SACD players. Sony's two SACD players retail for about $5,000 and $3,500. Sony Music currently sells about 40 SACD titles for $25 each on its web site. The company has plans to make 100 SACD titles and some DVD-audio titles available by the end of the year.

The SACD is not the only wild card on the table. A company called Constellation 3D is developing technology that will allow storage of up to 140GB on a single disc, with the possibility of a terabyte (1000GB) stored on a CD-sized disc that looms in the not-so-distant future. When asked whether Panasonic is developing any audio/video products to support this new format, Rusty Osterstock said he was unable to comment.

DVD-audio's future

Ultimately, DVD-audio's success will hinge more on the special features, interactive menus, music videos, and song lyrics than on its superior audio quality. Audiophiles will definitely get a kick out of the improved audio performance, but the base of music-buying audiophiles is not large enough to sustain the release of a wide variety of DVD-audio titles. As with DVD-video and the major film companies, the public needs to be assured that the five big record labels are willing to follow through with releasing attractive DVD-audio titles. As the demand for these titles grows and the price of DVD-audio/video players comes down, the format will have a much greater chance at success.

____________________ "If you think you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out there to get you"

NEW ORDER Crystal (UK Region 2 DVD including title track video, Behind Closed Doors audio track plus 3 bonus live clips: Temptation, Isolation and True Faith, picture sleeve NUDVD8)

So, UK Region 2...

____________________ "If you think you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out there to get you"