DualDisc, the hot-selling new music product that combines a CD and a DVD on one disc, carries some ominous fine print. On each DualDisc package comes the disclaimer that the audio side of the disc does not conform to CD specifications and may not play on all DVD and CD players.

Even more troubling are the disclaimers from the manufacturers of CD and DVD playback devices. Most warn that DualDiscs may not play on their equipment, particularly slot-in devices where you insert a disc and the machine grabs and pulls it in. Some warn that the DualDiscs could get stuck or scratched. JVC and Onkyo flatly tell their customers not to use DualDisc products until further testing can be done.

Yet consumers appear to be ignoring the dire warnings and to date have reported relatively few problems to retailers and DualDisc manufacturers. Music industry officials say more than 2 million DualDiscs have already been purchased, and predict sales will accelerate in the wake of successful DualDisc-only releases by such big-name artists as Bruce Springsteen and Rob Thomas.

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