HDCD playback


Will HDCDs play on standard players, or do the players have to be compatible - like SACD/SACD players?

If they do play on standard equipment, where/what is a good source for purchasing HDCD's? I know Microsoft bought the technology and that there may be licensing issues.
2chnlben
HDCD encoded disc play just fine on a standard CD player.

Do a google search on HDCD and you'll find plenty of sources like CDUNIVERSE and more. You can also go to Amazon.com, go to the music tab and search on HDCD. It will list all of their available titles.

Enjoy,

TIC
HDCD's are compatible with any standard CD player. Of course you won't get the advantages of the HDCD encoding without the HDCD decoder. HDCD discs can be found intermixed with standard CD's. Of course the Reference Recordings web site has a nice selection of HDCDs available.
Therefore in order to appreciate the advantages of HDCD encoding one does need a compatible player. Do these players that incorporate HDCD decoders necessarily list this feature? In other words, if my player doesn't list HDCD as a feature, it is likely that it won't decode HDCD encoded disks??
Most players that decode HDCD have an HDCD logo on the faceplate and will have a light that indicates the HDCD decoding process. There have been reports of the HDCD light behaving strangely. Some discs may have some tracks endcoded with HDCD and other tracks without HDCD encoding. Some discs may contain HDCD encoding but fail to label them as such.
Yep, what Unsound said......

The players will typically have an HDCD logo on the faceplate.

BTW, the oft-mentioned Oppo universal players all have HDCD decoders in addition to playing DVD, CD, DVD-A and SACD. A well modified Oppo makes a great all purpose machine.

Enjoy,

TIC