HDX and HDCD

Eugene, no the HDX does not support HDCD.  Best is to rip any HDCDs with something dBpoweramp with their HDCD plug-in.  This then makes a 24bit file for the HDCD (nominally around 20bit).  The HDX can then play these files through attached or network storage. 

Note that when you rip an HDCD to WAV via any other means it will be just like a normal CD 16bit 44.1kHz.  However, using dBpoweramps conversion software with the HDCD plug-in it can convert any file from an HDCD rip into a 24bit file.

Thank You!

One more question. Do DAC and/or DAC-V1 support HDCD conversion?

DAC does not. I use dBpoweramp as per Richard's post.

I've read a bit of negativity regarding HDCD generally.  Two questions:

-Do HDCD discs also have non-HDCD tracks too or is there only one set of tracks?

-Is there a benefit from ripping HDCD tracks with a ripper that has an HDCD decoder function (dbPoweramp) and then adding them to my server, rather than ripping with the uServe?

And a third, have any of you critical listeners found HDCD to introduce undesirable sound qualities? That's the theme on one well-known forum dedicated to recorded music.

No.

Yes. Because a ripper not configured to pick up the 20Bit information will just do a 16/44 rip. Just like a CDP withot the HD decoder will play it back at 16/44.

Sometimes. It has a lot to do with the providence of the source material. I have the limited release Japanese Yes catalog and it is characterised throughout by a kind of "loudness" effect. Treble very sparkly, bass boosted. Same with Tubular Bells. Others sound just fine and others still cannot be compared because I only have the HDCD version. In the days when I ran a bare CDX2 this "opening up" was welcome. But I have come to conclude that it is an artifact and not true to the originals I am familiar with, even if it sounds more appealing on occasion. The overall conclusion is the same as always - if it sounds good to you, then it's good. If it don't then it isn't.

I think the quality of the source material has a much greater effect on the presentation.