2. digital
  3. 1139949439

HDCD a flash in the pan already??

I started looking for a new CD Player a while back but put the search on the backburner for a bit(needed a new sub & picked up a Onix Rocket UFW-10)so now it's back to CD Player hunting and it seems to me there are less HDCD players coming out then when I orginally researched. For example the new Music Player 25.2 isn't HDCD ready where the CD-25 was nor is Onix's best CD Player CD-2(their lower one xcd-99 is). Even though they're out of my price range players newly released players like the Rega Apollo,Cambridge Azur 640 or Naim CD5i do not appear to be HDCD. Is this another format that isn't going to make it or just a option on lower end players. I was recently at a couple local CD stores (Borders, Fye and Barnes and Noble) and there were at the most 3 HDCD Cds there none of which I would be interested in.. Starting to seem like HDCD shouldn't even be an option to look for in my CD Player search.. Any comments?
pmt1209
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
HDCD like dolby and THX are just licensing(use of logo/commitment to standards) deals. most new standards redbook stuff is certainly on a par with HDCD. like THX, its just not important anymore.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Pmt1209, all about HDCD seems to have been taken down. It is too bad.
pmt1209 OP
44 posts
 
Tbg, why do you think that is? I couldn't find anything on their site about it, you would think since they own it they would want to promote it..
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Supposedly HDCD processing is a clever way to get resolution equivalent to 20 bits (instead of 16). Can't hurt, but why bother when straightforward 24/96 is available?

I have heard that the basic HDCD technology is applicable to video, and that is Microsoft's real interest.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Pmtl, they do mention that you can get HDCDs off their music page. I think they are so concerned about Apple Itoons and the Ipod and the new Intel chipped Macs that their investment in HDCDs is trivial.
More to discover