[Don_S]

I just came from the Borders 50% off sale and was tempted to pull the trigger on "Miles of Aisles" and "For the Roses" in HDCD.  I already have the early CD versions. Is there much improvement in the HDCD?  Any strangeness in the HDCD issues?

Those are two of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums but they are so old I really do not listen to them very much anymore and my CD cases are overflowing.  Still there are a few favorite tracks on the disks.

[bummrush]

It could be,but  probably small ,i wouldn't bother even if the discs you're looking at are half off,save your cash.

[mjosef]

FWIW, Joni's HDCD discs were at one time among the best sounding cds I owned(mid 90's), even without the HDCD decoding on playback. I remembered hearing a distinctive step up in sound quality with the HDCD disc vs the regular cds of the late '80s and '90s.  They still sound great today. Currently many cds (in the genres I dwell) are done just as good or better as the technology has 'improved'.
I would get them if you like Joni Mitchell.

[slovell1]

i have the "miles of aisles" in hdcd and it really sounds good. a really open top end and the bass is very tight. if you like joni buy it, you won't be disappointed.   

[Don_S]

i have the "miles of aisles" in hdcd and it really sounds good. a really open top end and the bass is very tight. if you like joni buy it, you won't be disappointed.   

Are you playing it back on a standard CD player or does it have HDCD decoding?

[slovell1]

i'm running my cd player through a parasound 1100 outboard digital to analog converter with hdcd decoding. your cd player or dac has to have hdcd capability or you won't hear the difference. hdcd discs will play fine in standard players, you just don't get the extension in fidelity.
sam   

[Don_S]

i'm running my cd player through a parasound 1100 outboard digital to analog converter with hdcd decoding. your cd player or dac has to have hdcd capability or you won't hear the difference. hdcd discs will play fine in standard players, you just don't get the extension in fidelity.
sam   

Sam,  Thank you.  My player is standard format only.  I think I will save my money for some new (to me) music.

[slovell1]

no problem don. miles of aisles is a killer joni mitchell cd, she's live with the la express for her band. i've always really enjoyed listening to it, don't know if i'd pass it up imho. joni doing jazz is a real treat for the ears, its well recorded and live.
best regards,  sam

[bummrush]

Whether your player is hdcd or not,,,the disc is still supposed to sound a bit better.

[hifitommy]

probably better than the hdcd.  quite well recorded spacially, it does well in surround matrix like pro logic or dynaquad.  SQ or QS would likely be good as well even though its not in SQ.  there is enough spatial info to warrant this effort. 

not that stereo isnt good enough, but the surround effect is kinda nice.