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HDCD Question

wanders

wanders

Super Member
I know HDCD is a passe format; but, here's a quick question. I'm using a sony 300cd player for storage and transport and sending the output to a denon dvd-5000 through an optical cable in order to use the denon's superior dac. The denon can also read single cds on its own; and, according to the literature, can play hdcd's.

Can the sony read the data from an hdcd (and send it to the denon) or must the hdcd be read by the denon?

Reason I'm asking, I see some desirable hdcd's available at decent prices; if I could store and play them with the sony, I might get some. But, I don't want to get in the business of storing cds in their jewel boxes; I've got too much of that already going on with vinyl lps.


Thanks,
 
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as long as the DAC is HDCD-capable, any CD transport will work fine. the HDCD signal is hidden in the regular Redbook signal and every laser will read it properly.
 
I've picked up 3 HDCD's from Goodwill for $1.50 each. Even though my equipment won't play them to their HD level, the regular CD level sound on them is superior to plain CD's. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think its because more quality & care went into their manufacture.

Now I actively seek these HDCD's out.

You will win with these fine sounding discs whether your equipment can decode them or not.
 
I once had a Harmon Kardon receiver in my bedroom system with a Sony CD Changer. No Sony CD player decodes HDCD, but when I played HDCDs from it into the HK, the HDCD signal on the HK would always light up. I think you'll be fine as long as the receiver/pre decodes HDCD and you send the signal via a digital cable.
 
Thanks for the advice guys; I ordered a couple of hdcd's I'll post my reaction after thet arrive.


cdfac said:
as long as the DAC is HDCD-capable, any CD transport will work fine. the HDCD signal is hidden in the regular Redbook signal and every laser will read it properly.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, cdfac, that's what I wanted to know.
 
HDCD is passe?

I say pass-e them all my way-e...

p.s. and every SACD too (don't want to neglect those either)...
 
'nother dumb s**t question

SACD: can a regular laser read sacd? If so, why can't you push that output through a digital (sacd)/analog converter?
 
wanders said:
SACD: can a regular laser read sacd? If so, why can't you push that output through a digital (sacd)/analog converter?
Click to expand...

A regular laser actually doesn't read anything, it merely scans. So yes, the laser will scan a SACD, however being in a completely different format, a redbook compatible player doesn't know what to do with the information. Basically it's like trying to read Tom Sawyer when it's printed in Chinese.

Best Regards,
TerryO
 
Update

Just received the Patricia Barber, Nightclub HDCD. Honestly it's better s/q than any other cd I own and, maybe, on a par with my best vinyl.

Too bad there is such limited selection of hdcd. How do y'all rate sacd v hdcd?
 
wanders said:
Too bad there is such limited selection of hdcd. How do y'all rate sacd v hdcd?
Click to expand...

Many HDCD-encoded CDs are not marked as such. Only when you play the unmarked HDCD in a HDCD-capable player will you realized you have a HDCD.

There used to be an online list of titles available on HDCD. Over at head-fi.org, there's an ongoing thread that tries to identify unmarked HDCDs.

On a hybrid SACD, the CD layer can be HDCD-encoded. In other words, you can have a HDCD and a SACD on one disc.
 
soundboy said:
There used to be an online list of titles available on HDCD. Over at head-fi.org, there's an ongoing thread that tries to identify unmarked HDCDs.

On a hybrid SACD, the CD layer can be HDCD-encoded. In other words, you can have a HDCD and a SACD on one disc.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the lead. TerryO's post had a thread which contained lots of good info and had that head-fi link. I'll see if I can score any of those titles; not much traditional jazz there however.

Based on the hdcd sound, I'll likely experiment with sacd, concerned that an investment in hdcd may be wasted when I go to sacd.
 
I wonder how many players handle both SACD and HDCD? I've never looked for the HDCD capability, but will now.
 
Negotiableterms said:
I wonder how many players handle both SACD and HDCD? I've never looked for the HDCD capability, but will now.
Click to expand...

Read that Oppo plays both SACD and HDCD. Wonder if anybody can verify. Basic question would be, I think, what is the optimum Oppo model for two channel audio, ideally something past it's prime that can be had economically. It doesn't make economic sense to pay for sophisticated video and multi-channel technology if you're not going to use it. Also, in terms of two channel digital, it does not look like there's going to be a replacement for SACD.
 
I've always considered HDCD a gimmick.

Its basically a companding system...they're limiting the audio then "expanding" it.

Having played with digital audio, one can get the same quality if you know how to properly dither and noise shape.

With that being said...when I do encounter a HDCD, I run it through the software "decoder" which does improve the sound...but I can still take that "20-bit" audio and dither it to 16 bit with no loss of quality.

Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk
 
Been reading reviews of both Oppo bdp-83se and bdp-95, both of which receive excellent audio reviews. Anybody have experience with either?

The 83se looks to be around $800 and the newer 95 maybe $1200, relatively inexpensive when compared to competitors.

Oppo literature indicates that the 83se plays all formats: sacd, hdcd, etc.
 
Can I ask where people are finding HDCD discs? Are they that much better than standard CD?

I have one SACD version of Brothers in Arms and when I use the digital output to my HDCD capable preamp, the HDCD indicator lights up and it sounds great. This is a very dynamic disc.SACD was very good but so is the CD layer. I was surprized to see the HDCD indicator because there's no mention of it on the disc.
 
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