[G]

Hi All,

  Long time no type. I have a Aragon D2A2 that does HDCD decoding. I had this one CD that sounded better than it did through my other DAC and lo and behold. It was a HDCD and I didn't know it. I've since tried to find HDCD disks and I have to tell you that the pickins are slim. They do sound better though IMO.

[wje]

I have the Onix xcd-88 player that decides HDCD.  Ironically, the last 2 contemporary jazz CDs that I purchased this weekend have HDCD encoded tracks.  I'd estimate that 1/3 of my CDs are HDCD.  

I can appreciate the improved sound of HDCD.  Unfortunately, it didn't get a good launch.

[DeadFish]

Hey Big G, long time no type, fer sure!

Glad to hear from you and it sounds like you about have my thoughts in a nutshell.  The HD/CD coding seems to empasize different than what a good DAC brings to the party.  With what Jamie and I listened to, it was a mixed bag when it came to preferences.  Ultimately with both formats' best reproduction, one is subject to the recording engineers.

I don't know if I have quite as many encoded cd's as you wje, but I know I have more than I thought I had before I started looking.
Agreed that HD/CD hasn't had much of a launch, and I find it curious that as many HD/CD disks that are out there, and continue to come out, that so little emphasis comes out regarding the available hardware to play it.

Thanks everyone for chiming in on this thread.  I got some real answers to my 'quizicles', and I hope others did as well.

Best Regards,
DeadFish

[G]

Hey Big G, long time no type, fer sure!

Glad to hear from you and it sounds like you about have my thoughts in a nutshell.  The HD/CD coding seems to empasize different than what a good DAC brings to the party.  With what Jamie and I listened to, it was a mixed bag when it came to preferences.  Ultimately with both formats' best reproduction, one is subject to the recording engineers.

I don't know if I have quite as many encoded cd's as you wje, but I know I have more than I thought I had before I sta ...

Fish it's my understanding that HDCD is considered a "dated" technology and I don't think they are still making compatible players or DACs. I could be wrong though. Maybe Scott can provide more info.

[DeadFish]

I won't argue with you at all, Gavin, in that HDCD is a bit long in the tooth and dated, as I mentioned in my original post regarding it being older than SACD or DVD-A.
However, the fact that cd's are still coming out  using it is what provoked my wondering on it. (Most notably, the endless parade of Grateful Dead remasters, for me)
I think it can be a 'bang-for-the-buck' option for some people, and I'd almost bet it could still be marketed successfully to folks that don't want to throw down the cash for an external DAC.

[rynopr]

Which player did he buy at Best Buy that has DVDA/SACD & HDCD?

Thanks

[Dusty Chalk]

I don't enjoy listening to HDCD-encoded disks unless they are properly decoded.  I consider this to be more important than the tubes-vs.-solid-state debate.

I was just listening to a CD, and thought to myself, "there's something wrong with this".  So I went and flipped upsampling off, and sure enough, the HDCD light on my DAC came on ("option" on my MSB Link DAC III).  It took several songs to figure out what was going on, but I did...eventually...

[jedi35]

I'm very late to this discussion, but I enjoy several Reference Recordings HDCDs done by this Prof. Johnson guy. These are mainly classical discs, and I find that the miking is a bit on the distant side. However, there is usually quite a bit hall ambience, and I enjoy the fact that loud peaks don't offend my ears so much. I always notice that orchestral textures seem to hold their integrety in complex passages on these discs. I haven't spent as much time with SACD or DVD-A, but in my comparisons I haven't been convinced that the newer technologies are superior. I reserve the right to change my mind.

Adrian