[Jimi Zine]

Thanks Ifi Audio for the answer, informative as ever

 

[mraulino]

Hi iFi Audio,

slightly off topic, but since you touched on the subject... have you ever considered adding HDCD decoding capability in the Mini or any of your other DACs?

I have no idea of how costly (?) or technically challenging (??) this could be, but would see it as a great addition given the number of legacy HDCD rips I have (all done normally to 16/44), lack of enthusiasm to re-repurchase everything again in high-res (not to mention that some masterings originally done on HDCD might never be released as 24bit), and the fact that --due to licensing reasons I believe-- there's virtually zero option of HDCD decoding software player in the market today. But even so, Berkeley Audio Design seems to be the only one manufacturing HDCD DACs these days... right?

Would really appreciate to hear your (and other's) thoughts on this -- and personally, would see more value in HDCD decoding than preamp and headphone amplifier functions.

Thanks in advance!

Mario

 

[tf1216]

Not too long ago some folks thought LAME mp3 codec (lossy) was superior to the original *.wav file.  
 
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue32/lame.htm
 
I have not tried what is described in the article.  Has anyone else?  .

 

[iFi audio]

Hi iFi Audio,

slightly off topic, but since you touched on the subject... have you ever considered adding HDCD decoding capability in the Mini or any of your other DACs?

I have no idea of how costly (?) or technically challenging (??) this could be, but would see it as a great addition given the number of legacy HDCD rips I have (all done normally to 16/44), lack of enthusiasm to re-repurchase everything again in high-res (not to mention that some masterings originally done on HDCD might never be released as 24bit), and the fact that --due to licensing reasons I believe-- there's virtually zero option of HDCD decoding software player in the market today. But even so, Berkeley Audio Design seems to be the only one manufacturing HDCD DACs these days... right?

Would really appreciate to hear your (and other's) thoughts on this -- and personally, would see more value in HDCD decoding than preamp and headphone amplifier functions.

Thanks in advance!

Mario

Hi,

 
Here at iFi, we like HDCD and own a "few" such albums.

 
Officially speaking, if there was a way to do this without massive complications and cost it would have been included.

 
Microsoft bought Pacific Microsonic (the inventors of HDCD) for the potential of the technology as a copy protection measure but did not maintain the audio side of the business at all, so no HDCD decoder chips are available.

 
So a non-starter really.

 
But fear not. We have the technology...

 
Unofficially, there is a solution. The solution to HDCD on the PC is to rip using dBPoweramp with the HDCD decoder plugin, or to decode existing HDCD rips using dBPoweramp. This produces a 24Bit File at 44.1KHz*.

 
*HDCD is 18Bit only. It extends the top and bottom dynamic range by 6dB each.
When decoding to a FLAC File you end up with a 24Bit File, because computers like to work with multiples of 8 Bits (8/16/24/32 Bit).

 

 
HDCD Recommendation?
Enough talk of technology, we do listen to music on the odd occasion.

 
There are a fair few well-known HDCD recordings out there so we won't mention those but a real gem that is not so well-known is the "Local Hero" soundtrack by Mark Knopfler.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Hero_%28album%29

 
Great movie, wonderful soundtrack and made all the better with HDCD. A real gem.

 
A strong buy if there ever was one and it is cheap as chips. Used is £2.50 delivered from Amazon.co.uk.

 
 

 

 

[mraulino]

Thanks, iFi Audio, for the quick reply!
 
Yes, I heard about the workarounds which are unofficially possible on PC, but also that none gives the same result of a proper HDCD decoding done by an HDCD chip (have no idea however whether this is true or not)...
 
Anyway, would you have any clue on how (and why) Berkeley Audio Design does include the chips despite all the trouble? Well, how they overcome the part of the massive costs can certainly be explained by their much higher price levels, but if there are other technical and/or legal issues and Berkeley can handle them all, then in theory you guys could also do it! Or maybe it is just easier for them to get the chips/licenses because their DACs are not USB ones?
 
thanks again,
Mario

 

[iFi audio]

  Thanks, iFi Audio, for the quick reply!

 
Yes, I heard about the workarounds which are unofficially possible on PC, but also that none gives the same result of a proper HDCD decoding done by an HDCD chip (have no idea however whether this is true or not)...

 
Anyway, would you have any clue on how (and why) Berkeley Audio Design does include the chips despite all the trouble? Well, how they overcome the part of the massive costs can certainly be explained by their much higher price levels, but if there are other technical and/or legal issues and Berkeley can handle them all, then in theory you guys could also do it! Or maybe it is just easier for them to get the chips/licenses because their DACs are not USB ones?

 
thanks again,
Mario

Hi,
 
To answer your first question, as the original HDCD patents have expired it is now legal to make and sell HDCD decoding without Microsoft's approval, as long as one does infringe the HDCD trademark.
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Definition_Compatible_Digital
 
From our internal tests here the HDCD decoder in dBPoweramp (which we believe is reversed engineered from the HDCD decoding DLL Microsoft included with some versions of Windows Media Player) does the same as the original decoder in hardware, at least the PDM200 IC.
 
Therefore, in our humble opinion, we would not consider the unofficial solution as a "downgrade", just another way to skin a cat that is just as effective.
 
It simply decodes HDCD and instead of sending the data to a DAC, it writes it to disk as 24 Bit file.
 
This is the beauty of computer audio - it is open and dynamic.
 
 
To answer your second question, it is best you ask Berkley directly as it is iFi's company policy to not comment on other companies (never mind Head-Fi's policy) and they are nice guys so they should shed some light without giving anything away.
 
 
Thanks.

 

[blankdisc]

If you check the history of Berkley audio, it will be very easy to understand. The founders of the company literally invented HDCD. They were the owner of Pacific Microsonics.

 

[Jimi Zine]

One week until CES, Ifi will you be exhibiting this new DAC there?

 

[iFi audio]

  One week until CES, Ifi will you be exhibiting this new DAC there?

 
Hi,
 
Sorry the mini iDSD will not be at CES.
 
The rest of the iFi range will be there in room 29-123 in the Scaena Loudspeakers room.
 
http://www.scaena.com/speakers.html
 
A little overkill for iFi gear but the Scaena people quite like the iFi dacs.

 

[Jimi Zine]

Ok, how about at the Sound & Vision Bristol Show in mid/late Feb 2015?

 

[iFi audio]

  Ok, how about at the Sound & Vision Bristol Show in mid/late Feb 2015?

Hi,
 
We have a stall booked in the main hall on the ground floor.
 
The mini iDSD will show at the Munich High-End Show in May.

This will be the earliest sighting of this beast...

 

[Esprit]

The mini iDSD will show at the Munich High-End Show in May.

May!!!???
When on the market ?

 

[iFi audio]

  May!!!???
When on the market ?

Hi,
 
Would be May launch too.
 
So the final production unit at Munich. For sale after Munich.
 
Thanks.

 

[diamondears]

Hi,

Would be May launch too.

So the final production unit at Munich. For sale after Munich.

Thanks.

Availability in parts of the world?

 

[labjr]

Will the Mini use femto clocks? How important is clocking, especially when the mini with work with such high sample rates?