HDCD

Fraser,

I've tried copying several CDs before and from my experience, the HDCD information appears not to be lost. My CDX still showed "HDCD" on its display when the particular HDCD track was being played. Further experimentation with mp3's downloaded from the net and converted into normal CDs also yield the same results.

Regards
Laxton

If your CD-R has a sample rate convertor in it that cannot be disbales the HDCD information will be lost. If this can be switched of so as to clone the CD its is copying the HDCD information will be preserved. I believe you can clone CDs in Philips and Marantz CD-Rs

Immediately after posting my query, Barry Fox explains the nature of HDCDs in HiFi News.

Apparently HDCDs have hidden control codes which triggers decoder in a compatible player and the player then shapes the noise to improve overall performance.

Apparently, Microsoft has just bought Pacific Microsonics, the originators of HDCD.

Fraser

Hi folks,

I have an HDCD compatible CDX, and I must admit, I struggle to tell the difference between HDCD encoded and normal CDs. It seems to me that there are good and bad recordings, and this is the most significant quality determinant. What do you guys think?

Regarding the copying of HDCD encoded discs-if you create a disc image on your hard disc, and subsequently copy this onto your CD-R, there's no problem.

Cheers, Jens

I think you're correct that you can get good recordings on CDs, which are not encoded with HDCD. What I've found, though, is that HDCD disks are usually produced with care throughout the development cycle (or remastering, for an older CD). This extra attention to quality shows, even when playing an HDCD on a regular player. Therefore, I find that HDCDs sound better, on average, than regular CDs.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on TUESDAY 06 February 2001 at 01:46.]

Just listen to the latest remastered Doors cd. The first track, Riders on the Storm, is non- hdcd, while the rest is. The difference is very obvious, but could still be down to the studio I suppose. Excellent disc though, and the first time i've heard The Doors with real bass.

Can't seem to find it anywhere but does anyone know if the CD5 is HDCD capable?

Sherman,

The CD5 is not HDCD enabled. Of the current players the CDX and CDSII are, not sure about the older players.

Simon

I don't think HDCD is the be all and end all of quality. It depends what we are comparing to as well. My DCC (the company not the dodgy cassette)version of Joni Mitchell's Blue is much better than the HDCD version to my ears. I tend find that HDCDs mainly have better air and space but sometimes worse rhythm. But some have great rhythm too (e.g Beck's Midnight Vultures). Interesting that you can prefer HDCD mastered recordings on non-HDCD players. That's 15-bit music you're listening to there (the HDCD control codes are buried in the LSB).

It worth remebering that Sony's SBM, Apogee UV-22, Cedar and HDCD have the same objective - to increase the subjective quantization depth of CD beyond 16 bits. Its now rare to come across a 'straight' 16 bit CD, so the comparisons are diffult to make with a so-called 'normal' CD.