CD outputs and HDCD

6dB vs. 8dB dynamic range? Check your sources since either one would suck. One problem was the mandatory default lowering of the gain by 6dB for regular CDs. Many fixes were offered.

Couldn't find where did I read this. But if my memory doesn't lie me, the major reason of removal was the fact that PM filter offered inadequately narrow range comparing to the Burr-Brown's 24/96 one.

I sincerely doubt it but, if you can offer some documentation, I would like to see it. BTW, the BB 24/96 may be "capable" of a wider dynamic range but there are only the same number of bits from CD for all the DACs.

Frankly - I've been very impressed with the HDCD discs I've got ( decoded thru a EAD DSP-9000/III) . I do wonder how much of this is the HDCD encoding and how much is simply the fact that HDCD is generally only used by artists and/or producers/engineers who actually care about how the final product sounds - something that has always made more difference than what technical means are used for the improvement?
It is nice that I can effortlessly copy HDCD discs from a non-HDCD player to a non-HDCD recorder thru the digi outputs and retain the HDCD info.
Frankly - I still remain puzzled as to why HDCD never turned into a BIG THING?

I am on the same wavelength as audiopile. The few HDCDs I have sound great on my system botn on my HDCD and non-HDCD transports. It's too bad not all CDs are made with HDCD encoding. I guess the recording industry has no profit in it for switching to HDCD.