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High Definition CD or HDCD - What is it exactly?

I have an Audio Aero Capitole MKII and always thought it had the ability to read HDCD's. I thought this until recently playing an HDCD on a friend's CEC CD player which has a small light that appears that tells you that it is reading the disc as an HDCD. The improvement and realism in the sound was awesome. The realism in sound reminded me of SACD in many ways, although I don't have much listening experience with either HDCD or SACD.

What exactly is HDCD and why can't the Aero Aero (at this price point) play/read these types of CD's?

One more thing...I burned a copy of the HDCD, but the CEC player did not recognize the copy as an HDCD.

Your comments are appreciated. Thanks,
gerryn
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
If you have windows media player (version 9.0 or above) and windows XP you can set up your computer to decode HDCD as long as you have a 24 bit capable sound card by doing the following. Go to tools-options-devices-speakers-properties-performance and check the box for 24 bit capability. Your computor will now decode HDCD.

Chuck
nsgarch's avatar
nsgarch
2,524 posts
 
Thanks Chuck. Will it say "HDCD" in blue letters across my screen? (Guess there's one way to find out ;-))

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czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Nsgarch

No, but the description pertaining to the 24 bit box mentions that you can now decode HDCD as long as you have a 24 bit card.

Chuck
ghostrider45
449 posts
 
Czbbel - Interesting - the HDCD process only results in a 20 bit data stream, so I wonder why Microsoft wants a 24 bit card.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Ghostrider45

The only explanation that I was able to find states the while HDCD is a 20 bit stream as you mention most sound cards are either 16 bit or 24 bit and that you must step up to the 24 bits before the 20 bit HDCD can be used. Here is still more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCD

Chuck
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