HDCD

I cannot be definitive. OTOH, if JRiver can decode HDCD in software, I see no reason to reject the idea that others cannot also do it in firmware. Can you suggest a performance test to determine whether there is decoding?

" If you play it back without HDCD encoding, the quiet part is simply louder so it’s like dynamic range compression. As the quiet part arrives, HDCD encodes a flag that tells the DAC to reduce the amplitude. The DAC is working in 24 bit so it can shift it down without loss of resolution. Then as the music gets louder again, the HDCD encodes another flag telling the DAC to "go back to normal". ."

@secretguy

Thanks for the tip. HDCD flew under my radar since I was working overly when they were created. The library has a few and they do indeed sound better on my rig AND ....

I like the blue printed analogy. 

My Yamaha BD-S681 blu-ray player plays both SACD and HDCD. 

My Cambridge Audio CXU plays SACD, Blu Ray, and HDCD.  But try to find one. I bought it after Oppo stopped making players, but chose it instead of the pricier Oppos based on its streaming Youtube and comments by some who had compared its sound to the Oppo players.

Oppo 103, 203, 105, 205 all still show up for sale. Just keep looking and buy when you find!