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Anyone still excited about HDCD ?

With all the talk about SACD an DVD-A no one seems to bring up HDCD. Note: I not looking for a HDCD vs SACD battle here.. I will be picking up a universal player for my HT system but for 2 channel I decided SACD did not buy me much especially given the lack of software. I just picked up a redbook player that includes HDCD so I thought why not give it a try.. and I like it. It seems to me that there are more choices for high end player that include HDCD than SACD (altough this seems to be changing) I have my cd player behind me in the room which makes it really easy to do a blind A/B test. It HDCD sounds better to me than normal decoding. I mostly notice a deeper, bigger soundstage. Naturally it does not do multi-channel but then again multi-channel has a whole set of requirements and issues that 2 channel does not. While it may not be "perfect" (since nothing ever will) or not as accurate as SACD/DVD-A maybe HDCD is good enough for 2 channel...
btrvalik
dmitrydr
221 posts
 
The problem with HDCD is that Pacific Microsonics chip limits the dinamic range to 6 dB, which is already not good for today.

Interesting... RR Reveries HDCD, being played on non-HDCD player sounds with lower level then on HDCD player, so I have to push the volume significantly. I haven't noticed such a difference on regular CD, they sound the same level on both players...
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,209 posts
 
No I am no longer excited about HDCD,So many format
I like better than HDCD,Like the SACD, DVDA,XRCD,
Golden ears is correct.
vaystrem
80 posts
 
"In September 2000, Microsoft Corporation acquired PMI. Microsoft continues to incorporate PMI's pioneering technology into offerings for the PC. This technology brings to Microsoft unique strengths in digital audio signal processing that are increasingly important as digital media becomes a primary source of entertainment."

http://www.hdcd.com/about/index.html

So they bought it not for any competitive reasons, but to integrate intellectual property from this organization into Windows Media Player. Or perhaps they perceived it would lend WMP some legitimacy?

Has anyone tried an HDCD in Windows Media Player 9 to see if it decodes it? (out of curiousity?)
bowlin42dade08d
2 posts
 
what web site would i look for hdcd. thanks.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
HDCD is a clever way to get more out of 16 bits. If 16 bits were all that was available HDCD would be important. But 24 bit hardware has become commonplace, so HDCD has become irrelevant, except for playback of any HDCD discs that you already own.
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