Does anyone know if HDCD uses proprietary discs, or if they are using simple old CD-rom's?
I popped a cd into the computer last night, and it came up as HDCD...
I wasn't sure if HDCD was an entirely new format, but I don't know how they can really get any better sound without using more space (ie. bigger discs). What do you know?

HDCD is encoded on regular discs.

I could explain how it works, but I don't want to confuse you.


Not to mention I don't quite remember.

With the altter being the real reason? [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'm also interested to find out [img]smile.gif[/img]

Here is some info from HDCD.com:

So ya. They put more bits into every byte!

[ August 16, 2004, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: JRace ]

HDCD uses a "conventional" disc that is "encoded" with 20 bit information. The advantage of having a player that plays HDCD is that the Pacific Microsonics D/A decoder (I might have the name wrong) will improve the sound of all CDs -- obviously with HDCD disks sounding the best.

Well I don't know about that (i've never put much stock into the whole "my DAC sounds better than your DAC business)...and do all HDCD players have that chip? In fact some receivers (H/K) do the HDCD decoding.

I do know that there is some improvment in SQ on HDCD's.

The Alpine PXA-H900 decodes HDCD

I disagree -- before DVD players were all the rage -- the biggest improvement you could make to your system was to buy a D/A converter... especially a HDCD D/A converter -- unfortunately, with the popularity of MP3s many of todays younger folk have never experianced good D/A conversion -- please don't post back about "24 bit" resolution D/As in $250 car cd players... they suck.

hehe, you really like that thing!

Oh I have experinced good D/A conversion. Recently I had the opertunity to hear a Chord Transport/DAC unit with a Chord preamp/amp combo. In that system a high-end DAC did make a difference.

Perhaps I didn't explain myself good enough before...there can be an improvment using different D/A converters, but in order for you to hear the difference you need to be using a good transport, preamp, amp, speakers etc. Just adding a new DAC on a mid-fi system will not (for the price) add a justifiable improvment. Personally I feel that while HDCD is an improvement, using a cd player that decodes HDCD to play non-HDCD cd's will not be an improvment over a decent non-HDCD player.

Gawd that was a mouthfull.

[ August 17, 2004, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: JRace ]