HDCD VS SACD

I can't comment on SACD, but I do own a Rotel CD player with HDCD capability and several HDCD encoded CD's. Let me be blunt, whenever I seriously look for CD's to purchase, HDCD encoding is the closer for me. If you like vinyl, you'll love HDCD discs.

Stanwal,
If your DAC or CDP doesn't have HDCD built in, it cannot decode the HDCD portion of the disc. It would play as a standard redbook CD.

There's a very good explanation of HDCD technology on Wikipedia if you're interested.

I just finished listening to "Life On A String" by Laurie Anderson. One of the best sounding cds in my collection. Probably listened to this cd 25 times but for some reason tonight is the first time I noticed the HDCD light on my cdp.
On well recorded cds it can do wonders.
As for SACDs, I only have a few and the only thing that plays them in my house is the Oppo, DV-980H. The Oppo's audio output section doesn't really compete with my cdp so it is a dedicated dvd player.

"It is a playback only decode system, which means that it's benefits are applied during the playback of standard Redbook CD's and is only compatible with that format."

This is wrong. It has to be recorded HDCD to be played HDCD so it is NOT "a playback only". In HDCD coding the least significant bit is switching dynamic range of the rest. It is known as "in band signaling". Playback on standard player is a little suspicious (if nothing else is done) since the least significant bit becomes garbage (noise). I believe that the sole purpose of introducing schemes like that is to make it very difficult to copy (HDCD) or impossible to copy (SACD).

I have to make some strong dissenting view to what RCrerar mentioned.

1."good news is that most SACDs also include a standard Redbook layer that can be played back on conventional CD players. "This is not good news at all!!!Most single layer SACD sound significantly superior to the hybrid disc.

2."For now some of the very best Redbook players can offer performance that is virtually indistinguishable from even the best SACD players." This is utter nonsense!!!The very best CD player are Eons behind the top of the line SACD player.YES they are close if you compare both on redbook playback;but redbook versus DSD?no way!!!Just quickly compare Meridian highly rated 808.2 versus the SACD of dcs PUCCINI .No match,really......

3.To hear what SACD is all about you need:
A}To hear the SACD in dsd mode.There are many companies that 'cheat' and has their SACD layer in PCM ...these are craps.You can start with some STOCKFISH records stuff;very well engineered dsds......

B]You need to use wide bandwith amplifiers;that way the real advantage of dsd SACD are easily heard:wide headroom ,more details ,coherence,more bodies to instruments......

c]Once,heard it is very hard to go back to CD.Of course you do have good CDP like the dcs that makes the listening to CD less painful.