I'm so confused....

I recently was doing my first upgrade, getting new amp and speakers... In regards to the source I made quite comprehensive searches in forums and reviews, and got that CD players are generally divided into two groups with a border in around $2000. Meaning that even if Music Hall sounds some better then NAD, it still on about the same level. Significant change is achievable when you jump above $2K. Thus, I needed a source, but I didn't want to invest too much in something I'm going to upgrade just when financial situation allows, I ended up with NAD C541i. I find it extremely good for its price and it allows me to wait peacefully the required time to get some serious CDP.
In regards to HDCD, once I've got it, I don't think I'll be able to stay without it - if you're not into SACD yet, IMHO it may be considered as an essential feature.

Hi DC
You ask if HDCD is anything to care about? Emphaticaly yes!
I am a huge fan of HDCD.
HDCD is seriously far better than 16-bit redbook; the 20-bit Pacific Microsonics DAC's (Pac.Mic. is now bought out by microsoft) are considerably sonically superior. Even ordinary 16-bit discs sound better when played on an HDCD machine. However when you hear the 20 bit HDCD discs - it's just amazingly better, and at no additional cost above redbook discs.
Larger music selection than SACD, less costly hardware, backward compatible, and you're not paying $25 per disc either. Be aware that not all HDCD's are identified on the back cover; sometimes you end up with a pleasant surpise when you play a new disc & that HDCD indicator light turns on. An example: Stevie Nicks' Enchanted boxed set which is not labeled as HDCD anywhere on the packaging. The same songs on the Enchanted set, compared to her original releases are breathtaking. HDCD is a killer format.

I agree with Bob about HDCD. I had purchased a Music Hall CD25 as my first serious CDP, and it has HDCD. HDCD disks are wonderful. I now have a Dan Wright/Response Audio modded Music Hall CD25, which has a tube output stage. Great upgrade, will keep me satisfied until the SACD/DVD universal players are more abundant (and cheaper) and there are more SACD's and DVD's to care about.

Then I will purchase a standalone universal player.

What's funny about HDCD is that Simaudio has an official upgrade for its Moon Eclipse CD player that REMOVES Pacific Microsonics digital filter (i.e. HDCD circuitry). They succeeded to build a CD player that sounds better without HDCD then when it's in HDCD mode!

Okay. So after a long hiatus, check in time. Oh how a few weeks can change our worlds. I got the Jolida, and am about to get an Audio Note 2.1x balanced DAC, so the Jolida will move to the back of the class as a transport only. I tossed the NAD and got the Cary/AES 6pacs, and I bought a pair of Totem Hawks. New ICs and I'm a happy boy. The Jolida will likely move along in a few months once my bank account recovers. I'm bitten and there's no turning back.