Yet there's no technical reason why surround systems can't do the same, though it could be argued that independent control over the LFE channel has its benefits. It's not that simple. DVD-Audio's projected growth rests on a public that is comfortable with and excited about surround sound. That's why the best bet for commercial success is to go with an existing system, namely 5.1. But just because consumers love to hear the Titanic's rumblings surround them as they watch it sink, that doesn't mean they'll prefer to listen to their music in the same way.
Many adults listen to music while doing household chores or driving somewhere.
It's teenagers who make up today's hardcore music audience, and they sure can't afford a surround system. While over 600,000 existing 5.1 surround sound systems provide hope for the new format, that number will have to grow dramatically for DVD-Audio to succeed and endure. Put another way, from an audiophile perspective there is no installed consumer base for DVD-Audio. More sobering is the fact that hardware manufacturers and content owners have yet to agree on copy protections for the new format. Although it is safe to assume that, as with most technologies, the prices will come down as the market matures.