Hey Ajax,

You're comparing apples to oranges. Of course any multi-channel four-, five, or six-channel recording of music, be it DVD-Audio, SACD, Dolby Digital 5.1, DPLII(x), dts, or Logic7 will, in most cases, sound much more realistic than 2-channel stereo (see my article on the inherent limitations of 2-channel stereo in the Axiom newsletter archives)
http://www.axiomaudio.com/stereoflaw.html

The real test is a careful comparison between a discreet multichannel format like Dolby Digital 5.1 and DVD-Audio/SACD, using the same music. When the channel levels are identical, and the same mix is used, the audible improvements are very subtle, in many instances inaudible.

The reasons for the commercial failure of DVD-A and SACD are many and complex, not the least of which is their incompatibility with most DVD players.

Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)