High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD),
HDCD-encoded CD’s are encoded with 20 bits of information, as compared with 16 bits for all other CDs. HDCD overcomes the limitation of the 16-bit CD format by using a sophisticated system to encode the additional 4 bits onto the CD while remaining compatible with existing CD format.
XRCD and XRCD2 are the same. Extended Resolution Compact Disc (XRCD) is from JVC. This is also done within the current CD standard, so no special cd player or decoding box is needed to hear the benefit of the xrcd. It is essentially the same as HDCD using 20 bits instead of the normal 16 found on standard CD’s.
