HDCD

They usually have the logo on the back with copyright info. There aren't many of them about to be honest, the idea never really seemed to take off for some reason. Shame, although I gather the HDCD chip makes ordinary CDs sound good anyway.

By the way, has anyone EVER seen a classical CD HDCD encoded? I haven't.

Hi Dave and Ear,

Essentially all of Reference Recording's excellent classical releases are in HDCD. Most of the orchestral works are with Eiji Oue and the Minnisota Orchestra. Not household names, but very good interpretations/performances. Many of RR's releases have received grammys in the classical music category. RR has an unusually high representation in HP's (of The Absolute Sound) Super CD list here I have about 20 of their CDs in both classical and jazz and all have stunning sonics. I particularly like the Stravinsky's Rite of Spring CD and the compilation disc "Reveries". I first got introduced to RR from a cut included on Stereophile's Test CD3 here The cut was a jazz riff by Dick Hyman: "Topsy" (HDCD-encoded) 6:11
(from From the Age of Swing, Reference Recordings RR-59CD) RR-59 gets alot of rotation on my CDS3. Another stunning cut on Test CD3 is Airto Moreira and the Gods of Jazz: "Nevermind" 7:43
(from Killer Bees, B&W Music BW041), which I also tracked down and bought. I highly recommend Test CD3, which you would get for free by taking advantage of Stereophile's offer with the purchase of a 9 CD package deal. All of those (though not HDCD) are excellent, particularly the CDs recorded at the Santa Fe Chamber music festival. Buy Them

RR's web site is here There you will see the praise heaped on "Bells for Stokowski", which I guess I now will need to get.

Norman

Oh, and Dave- In answer to your original query: When it came to buying Joni Mitchell's HDCD remasters released recently, I did go to the local store to make sure I got the right copies rather than order them from Amazon.

Something else, Ear- Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations, both 1955 and 1981 versions released on Sony's "A State Of Wonder" light up the HDCD indicator, though there is no reference to HDCD encoding either on the packaging or the CDs themselves. Much has been made of the fact that the 1981 version is made from the analog back-up tapes rather than the digital recording originally foisted on the listening public in the 80s. A good package at a steal price.

[This message was edited by Cosmoliu on Thu 06 January 2005 at 18:05.]

Hi Cosmoliu,

Thanks for the info and links. I see RR's site is temporarily out of action but I'll keep an eye out.

Still, HDCD encoded discs seem to be quite rare. I wonder why? Oh and does anyone know what it actually does, technically?

Hi Ear,

Try HDCD Also, that site mentions that Pacific Microsonics was bought by Microsoft in 2000. I did a search at Amazon several months back, intending to find CDs, and they sent me to a technical exerpt in one of the books they sell online. That description was way beyond me; I just tried that again but came up dry.

Do return to RR when they are back up. You will be richly rewarded. BTW, I think Amazon sells some of their titles, but I much prefer to support small outfits like them directly.

Norman

Hello Dave,

What do you particularly like about HDCD? I find the ones I have sound 'forced' and 'in your face'.

Regards...George.

George,
i tend to find the opposite - HDCD's sound more open and yet snoother on my setup. Paul Simons latest solo offering is HDCD, and I really like this, as does Mark Knopflers last two or three album releases...

andy c!

HDCD I find is really good - seems to add an analogue flavour to the sound (I have LP12 and CDX2/XPS2). Artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell insist on it for their remasters I believe
As I understand the technology (and I don't really) they use 20 bit technology but only need 16 for the music with the spare being used for ambience/atmosphere

HDCD seems to be taking off in country music releases. Several of the album I have got have it.

I just need a HDCD enabled player now