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HDCD Decoding ?

Recently, I have noticed that the specifications for CD players sometimes mention that they are compatible with HDCD CDs. I thought that HDCD died about ten years ago. But HDCD CDs have always been playable on any CD players; albeit not all CD players would decode the HDCD formatting because that required a special digital filter from Pacific Microsonics.

Several years ago, when HDCD first appeared, Pacific Microsonics required that anyone licensed to use their HDCD filter had to install automatic attenuation in their players for ALL non-HDCD discs. This was not necessarily a good thing.

When a 21st century CD player will read HDCD discs, it may or may not perform the automatic change in volume as a result. The net impact in older HDCD players was that all normal (non-HDCD) discs were attenuated. I own a few hundred CDs and only about 6 of them are HDCD. I expect that now in the year 2013, this is no longer a problem regarding the Pacific Microsonics HDCD filter. My guess is that current players are not using a Pacific Microsonics filter.

Perhaps "compatible with" is simply a reminder that the CD player will play the older HDCDs as regular CDs?

What says the group mind?
poetcatullus
poetcatullus OP
53 posts
 
Yes indeed, Nsgarch!

I agree that the original PM chips were not necessarily all that wonderful after all. And I fully recognise that in the price/quality category of Levinson and Wadia, HDCD can be implemented without compromise, either to the HDCD discs or regular CDs.

This takes us back to the original issue. If I see a current mid-priced CD player that includes HDCD decoding and an HDCD indicator light, without knowing what process the manufaturer is using, how can I know that said player is not going to compromise my regular CDs (either intentionally or by default) with their particular HDCD implementation. Is the old attenuation practice from the 1990s even used today at all?
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,048 posts
 
One reason for reducing the volume on non HDCD tracks was to deal with CDs that contained both HDCD and regular CD tracks.

The Oppo players implement HDCD and actually allow you to turn it on and off. Their HDCD implementation used to use a customized version of a Mediatek chip. I believe they are still using Mediatek for HDCD with the 103/105, but I have not seen anything that confirms that.

It is my understanding that the Oppo does not change the volume for regular CDs, but I have not tried it.

You might check with Oppo on the details. They are usually pretty good about answering this type of question.
dbphd
1,633 posts
 
I've played HDCD recordings, especially the Reference recordings Stravinsky and Big Band Basie, many time with my Oppo 95 and noticed no loudness difference compared to CDs. Those two recordings are superb. On a good setup, Big Band Basie has a great sense of air and openness. At one point I thought I'd simplify by replacing a Proceed PAV and Amp 2 with a Sony AVR. That sense of air when I played Big Band Basie deflated. The Sony AVR was gone soon thereafter.

db
sonicbeauty
324 posts
 
You mention that you have a few hundred albums. If you are judging only by the HDCD logo showing on the packaging that's one thing. But in reality, I would be surprised if you only had 6 cd's with HDCD encoding. I myself have a surprising number where there is no logo at all, but the ''light'' confirming HDCD status does come on. Neil Young is pretty well-known to have HDCD encoding.
sonicbeauty
324 posts
 
Sorry, meaning cd's not albums of course !
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