Here's my analysis, for what its worth.
The inventors of HDCD are on record as saying that they only intended for it to be a transition technology until higher resolution formats came on stream. Remember that HDCD is relatively old now. It was before SACD, DVD-A, etc. On that basis, therefore, I would say it's done. However, the rights to HDCD were bought by Microsoft. I think the plan was that they had designs on it as a possible format to deliver music sold online. But it seems to be forgotten and is sitting on the shelf now. Realistically, I think that it's just been overtaken by advances in digital. Unless Microsoft give some indication of doing something with it, and putting their considerable muscle behind it, put HDCD in the museum with the eight track casettes.
In all likelihood, I would say that SACD is in the same boat, at least in the longer term. However, it may have a little more staying power. SACD was championed by Sony, but it's not a priority for them now. Partly this is a reflection of their new CEO's strategy of rationalization of the company's products, as evidenced by some of their corporate moves over the last year. But mostly, I think, that it too is a transition technology. Now that Blu-ray, (and HD-DVD)are in the marketplace, there is no need for Sony to push SACD any more. They certainly seem to have lost interest in it. Sony's new Blu-ray can be used for high definition audio if the desire is there to do that, as well as for all the video stuff. So there is simply no need for SACD now. It would be a duplicate for audio purposes only and that's not how Sony seems to be moving now at a corporate, strategic level. However, Sony do own a large music catalog and many of their hardware products do have SACD. So it may be around for a while. Sony are something of a pit bull with their products. They don't let go until they absolutely have too. It was only two or three years ago that they stopped making beta players, if you can believe that. And they stood by minidisc for a long time.
So I think that SACD has a little more staying power than HDCD. How long it lasts will depend upon whether Blu-ray wins the current DVD war, and whether it does double duty for audio. If that happens, it will accelerate the end of SACD.
Regarding equipment selection, the posts above make some good recommendations. I'd go with the SACD option.
The inventors of HDCD are on record as saying that they only intended for it to be a transition technology until higher resolution formats came on stream. Remember that HDCD is relatively old now. It was before SACD, DVD-A, etc. On that basis, therefore, I would say it's done. However, the rights to HDCD were bought by Microsoft. I think the plan was that they had designs on it as a possible format to deliver music sold online. But it seems to be forgotten and is sitting on the shelf now. Realistically, I think that it's just been overtaken by advances in digital. Unless Microsoft give some indication of doing something with it, and putting their considerable muscle behind it, put HDCD in the museum with the eight track casettes.
In all likelihood, I would say that SACD is in the same boat, at least in the longer term. However, it may have a little more staying power. SACD was championed by Sony, but it's not a priority for them now. Partly this is a reflection of their new CEO's strategy of rationalization of the company's products, as evidenced by some of their corporate moves over the last year. But mostly, I think, that it too is a transition technology. Now that Blu-ray, (and HD-DVD)are in the marketplace, there is no need for Sony to push SACD any more. They certainly seem to have lost interest in it. Sony's new Blu-ray can be used for high definition audio if the desire is there to do that, as well as for all the video stuff. So there is simply no need for SACD now. It would be a duplicate for audio purposes only and that's not how Sony seems to be moving now at a corporate, strategic level. However, Sony do own a large music catalog and many of their hardware products do have SACD. So it may be around for a while. Sony are something of a pit bull with their products. They don't let go until they absolutely have too. It was only two or three years ago that they stopped making beta players, if you can believe that. And they stood by minidisc for a long time.
So I think that SACD has a little more staying power than HDCD. How long it lasts will depend upon whether Blu-ray wins the current DVD war, and whether it does double duty for audio. If that happens, it will accelerate the end of SACD.
Regarding equipment selection, the posts above make some good recommendations. I'd go with the SACD option.