HDCD decoding (which DAC)
- Thread starter ghamilton
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benricci
Super Member
No, an external DAC that can decode the HDCD signal should work as long as your transport (in this case your existing CD player) outputs over digital. I think the bigger issue the OP is going to find is that a lot of newer DACs have no HDCD support. It’s a long-dead audio experiment that isn’t really worth the trouble at this point. In fact I can’t remember the last DAC I saw that supported it.
You’d be better off downloading hi-res files to a PC and using a modern DAC than fiddling with decoding old HDCD-enabled discs.
ghamilton
Super Member
At this point all I want is the best I can get from a standard CD. I know that 44.1 16bit is max for this. I guess I'm just looking for the best quality Recording. You can get good and bad recordings on vinyl. It's the same with this I guess. I downloaded the planets from reference recordings and was blown away by the quality. The CD seems to still have potential.
More HDCD info here -
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...st-i-use-cd-player-with-hdcd-function.856273/
Don't know of any NEW DACs that do HDCD - what kind of budget did you have in mind?
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...st-i-use-cd-player-with-hdcd-function.856273/
Don't know of any NEW DACs that do HDCD - what kind of budget did you have in mind?
benricci
Super Member
As previously mentioned, there’s probably nothing new on the market supporting HDCD. It’s dead and abandoned. You’ll need to look at the used market if it’s really that important to you.
SterlingOne
Super Member
Your post made me wonder if my OPPO-205 decodes HDCD. It was not listed as a playable disc type; but, I also did not see it listed as a non-playable disc type.
benricci
Super Member
Your Oppo 205 does not decode HDCD.
benricci
Super Member
Literally no one is going to come out with what you want. We've already told you that. "They" already did - many years ago, and no one really cared. If you want HDCD decoding, you'll need to find an old unit.
cpt_paranoia
Addicted Member
You could always rip the CD using a ripper that includes an HDCD decoder; MusicBee has a plug-in to do just that, and outputs 24-bit samples.
robert_kc
Super Member
OP: I’m afraid that I can’t directly answer your question about an external DAC that will decode HDCD. However, below I discuss universal players that decode HDCD.
I know you said that you only want CDs. If you like classical music, why are you not interested in newer formats (i.e., compared with the 40-year-old Redbook CD format)? There are MANY classical recordings available on SACD, and Blu-ray variants, and hi-res downloads. There are many hi-res recordings of modern classical performances. And, there are some remastered older recordings (e.g., historically significant performances) that are available on SACD or Pure Audio Blu-ray or hi-res download.
You mentioned “The Planets”. The following hybrid SACD from Reference Recordings of a modern performance of Holst’s “The Planets” features an SACD layer, and a CD layer which features HDCD.
FWIW, I’d be more concerned with being able to play the SACD layer of this hybrid disc, vs. being able to decode the HDCD on the CD layer.
There are also some classical recordings on Pure Audio Blu-ray, including this remastered older 4 track recording of “The Planets”:
FWIW, I’d be more concerned with being able to play the Pure Audio Blu-ray disc vs. the CD.
I don’t own either of the recordings listed above. Here’s the SACD that I own that includes “The Planets”:
If you get a universal player, you will have available a wealth of modern hi-res classical recordings, which IME offer superior audio quality. If you’re interested in more discussion about this: Relevance of Hi-Res Recordings for Classical Music
FYI, there are limitations associated with coax and TOSLINK based DACS, discussed in the later paragraphs of this post: Examples of Hi-Res Classical Recordings & Discussion of DACs.
The Oppo BDP-105 and BDP-95 will play everything via their internal “audiophile-grade” DACs (including decoding HDCD), except these older Oppo machines won’t play Ultra HD Blu-ray. (As has been pointed out, the Oppo UDP-205 will play HDCDs, but as a regular CD.)
What is your budget?
If you only need stereo analog audio connections, you can often buy a Sony UBP-X1000ES (1 generation old universal player) on eBay for $300 including shipping. Or, you can spend $500 for the newer UBP-X1100ES. These may not decode HDCD, but they will play the wealth of classical recordings that are available in modern hi-res formats, including discs and downloads. FWIW, as a classical music lover, because of the wealth of hi-res classical recordings, I’d rather spend my money on a universal player that will play all modern formats, vs. on an outboard DAC that won’t play SACD or Blu-ray.
If you want a universal player that decodes HDCD, then I’d get a used Oppo BDP-105 or BDP-95. Following is verbiage from Oppo’s Knowledge base about the BDP-105:
Bottom line, I suggest that you consider newer formats such as SACD and Blu-ray, in addition to HDCD. And, I suggest that you beware the limitations of many external DACs (particularly those employing coax and TOSLINK) in terms of supporting without compromise SACDs (i.e., playing the SACD layer, not the CD layer) and Pure Audio Blu-ray (without down-grading the audio).
I know you said that you only want CDs. If you like classical music, why are you not interested in newer formats (i.e., compared with the 40-year-old Redbook CD format)? There are MANY classical recordings available on SACD, and Blu-ray variants, and hi-res downloads. There are many hi-res recordings of modern classical performances. And, there are some remastered older recordings (e.g., historically significant performances) that are available on SACD or Pure Audio Blu-ray or hi-res download.
You mentioned “The Planets”. The following hybrid SACD from Reference Recordings of a modern performance of Holst’s “The Planets” features an SACD layer, and a CD layer which features HDCD.
FWIW, I’d be more concerned with being able to play the SACD layer of this hybrid disc, vs. being able to decode the HDCD on the CD layer.
There are also some classical recordings on Pure Audio Blu-ray, including this remastered older 4 track recording of “The Planets”:
FWIW, I’d be more concerned with being able to play the Pure Audio Blu-ray disc vs. the CD.
I don’t own either of the recordings listed above. Here’s the SACD that I own that includes “The Planets”:
If you get a universal player, you will have available a wealth of modern hi-res classical recordings, which IME offer superior audio quality. If you’re interested in more discussion about this: Relevance of Hi-Res Recordings for Classical Music
FYI, there are limitations associated with coax and TOSLINK based DACS, discussed in the later paragraphs of this post: Examples of Hi-Res Classical Recordings & Discussion of DACs.
The Oppo BDP-105 and BDP-95 will play everything via their internal “audiophile-grade” DACs (including decoding HDCD), except these older Oppo machines won’t play Ultra HD Blu-ray. (As has been pointed out, the Oppo UDP-205 will play HDCDs, but as a regular CD.)
What is your budget?
If you only need stereo analog audio connections, you can often buy a Sony UBP-X1000ES (1 generation old universal player) on eBay for $300 including shipping. Or, you can spend $500 for the newer UBP-X1100ES. These may not decode HDCD, but they will play the wealth of classical recordings that are available in modern hi-res formats, including discs and downloads. FWIW, as a classical music lover, because of the wealth of hi-res classical recordings, I’d rather spend my money on a universal player that will play all modern formats, vs. on an outboard DAC that won’t play SACD or Blu-ray.
If you want a universal player that decodes HDCD, then I’d get a used Oppo BDP-105 or BDP-95. Following is verbiage from Oppo’s Knowledge base about the BDP-105:
HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) discs can offer expanded dynamic range and improved audio resolution over traditional compact discs.
By default, HDCD decoding is disabled. You can enable HDCD Decoding from the Audio Format Setup menu:
1. Go to the Setup Menu and then Audio Format Setup.
2. Select HDCD Decoding and set it to On.
If you are using analog outputs for audio, you will want to ensure that HDCD Decoding is set to On. If you are using any of the digital audio outputs (HDMI, optical, or coaxial) whether or not you enable HDCD Decoding will depend on whether your receiver is capable of performing HDCD decoding on its own.
If your receiver cannot decode HDCD audio, set HDCD Decoding to On in the player. If your receiver can decode HDCD audio, set HDCD Decoding to Off in the player. In some cases, having HDCD Decoding enabled in both the player and receiver may result in occasional popping or crackling sounds due to HDCD being decoded twice.
By default, HDCD decoding is disabled. You can enable HDCD Decoding from the Audio Format Setup menu:
1. Go to the Setup Menu and then Audio Format Setup.
2. Select HDCD Decoding and set it to On.
If you are using analog outputs for audio, you will want to ensure that HDCD Decoding is set to On. If you are using any of the digital audio outputs (HDMI, optical, or coaxial) whether or not you enable HDCD Decoding will depend on whether your receiver is capable of performing HDCD decoding on its own.
If your receiver cannot decode HDCD audio, set HDCD Decoding to On in the player. If your receiver can decode HDCD audio, set HDCD Decoding to Off in the player. In some cases, having HDCD Decoding enabled in both the player and receiver may result in occasional popping or crackling sounds due to HDCD being decoded twice.
Bottom line, I suggest that you consider newer formats such as SACD and Blu-ray, in addition to HDCD. And, I suggest that you beware the limitations of many external DACs (particularly those employing coax and TOSLINK) in terms of supporting without compromise SACDs (i.e., playing the SACD layer, not the CD layer) and Pure Audio Blu-ray (without down-grading the audio).
To my knowledge, it does NOT.
Then again, the OP has already said he just bought a new disc player and is not in the market for another disc player,
he just would like an economical HDCD DAC.
But sadly, there are no New affordable DACs that do HDCD.
ghamilton
Super Member
Thank you hjames. You understand me well.
And thanks to all of you for all this information.
Now let's go listen to my turntable.
