HDCD
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 175
veteran
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OP
veteran
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 175 |
Ok, as I am slowly deciding on my audio upgrades, I found the 5-disc CD changer I want(a Denon). It also has HDCD decoding. My question is, if the CD player has HDCD decoding, does the receiver have to have it, also? Or is this completely on the CD player?
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236 |
I don't think so. I think as long as the player has it, and you use a digital connection (Toslink, or coax) you should be fine.
Correct me if I'm wrong guys!
ps - HDCD isn't all that big of a deal. So don't make your purchase decision around it.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 973
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 973 |
i think you're right Craig, seems to me on an earlier post here I recall someone saying they're big in Asia, but are not very prevalent here in n.a. Not anything to worry about anyways.
"Chickens don't clap."
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 175
veteran
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OP
veteran
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 175 |
Oh, it isn't. It is just an option I saw on the player I picked and figured I would find out if I would get any benefit from it.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236 |
This explains the format http://www.hdcd.com/
It doesn't sound any worse, just don't expect giant leaps in sound quality. I have a few HDCD's...they sound as good as a well recorded/engineered cd.
You can find lots of HDCD's on Ebay. They're mostly sold from Hong Kong dealers. I've bought two. They're not too expensive. One came scratched though. (Factory defect, not used)
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5
regular
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regular
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 5 |
HDCD decoding can be done either by the CD player or the receiver. If done by the CD player, you'll need to use an analog connection to your receiver. Otherwise, if the receiver is doing the decoding, you need a digital connection and any CD player with one will work fine.
HDCD support is nice to have, but really unnecessary. There's not much audible difference.
Endaar
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 5,236 |
Oops...that's what I meant. I've just got my head on backwards today I guess.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 171
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 171 |
I'll echo my thoughts from the other recent HDCD thread, that I couldn't even tell the difference between HDCD and non-HDCD on an HDCD sampler CD that has the same tracks in both formats to "prove" the superiority of HDCD. I think it is very much smoke and mirrors, but it can't hurt to have it. It should not be a primary factor in a purchase, though.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958 |
I agree. As hard as I try, I can't hear a difference.
I live the life I love and I love the life I live.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
Try harder! Visualize the cleaner, more pristine bits coursing through the cables to you speaker cones...
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 958 |
Yes,yes...I think I can see the bits. It helps if you chant...HDCD cleaner bits I can see.
I live the life I love and I love the life I live.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 427
devotee
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devotee
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 427 |
SO my new Denon 2910 decodes HDCD. I don't seem to have any HDCD titles that I know of. I have seen quite a few at Best Buy, however.
I would be very curious to know if there is any difference. Does anyone know if my DVD player will automatically decode the HDCD format? So there would be no way of doing a direct comparison short of copying the disc and then having the 16 bit version on a blank disc and then the 24 bit version on the CD. That might be a good idea actually.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,501
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,501 |
Yes...it does decode automatically.
If you have a HDCD and a non-HDCD version of the same disc, you should be able to make a disc with both versions of a single song and then compare.
My experience with HDCD had not yielded any perceptible difference in sound quality.
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Re: HDCD
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,270 |
Curtis & Snippy,
That was more or less my impression way back when HDCD was introduced. I recall running two CDs in sync, one with HDCD and one without. When I switched between the two, there seemed to be a slight increase in dynamic peaks on the HDCD version, if memory serves. But it was very hard to isolate. HDCD is a sort of peak unlimiter, or dynamic range expander, so you'd expect to hear some kind of increased dynamic range.
Regards,
Alan Lofft, Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
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