Myth: HDCD Discs Sound Better Even in a Regular CD Player?

[AdamCalifornia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferbose Bob Katz also stated, in his book, that Pacific Microsonics' HDCD system has a superb A/D converter. That explains a lot.

I do not think that this is the case, because "The Best of Jethro Tull" and Roxy's "Avalon"
and "The Best of Roxy Music" play fabulously on my regular CD (and nonHDCD at all) Pioneer DV-578A.

Again, it may well be that this particular title was badly remastered.
On the other hand the sound is compressed and it looks as though the
engineer was too aggressive in the above explained way.

My computer is messed up, no sound at all. I'll take Johny Cash's HDCD disc to a store and
will listen on a fully compatible HDCD player and I'll tell you.

Regardless whether this cd will play well or not on an HDCD player,
you and me have been warned that 'aggressively manipulated' HDCD cds
may not play well on regular (non-HDCD) players!


See you at the Winter Olympics

in Torino, Italy

Adam

 

[Garbz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tachikoma Does WMP9 play HDCDs at 20 bits like a "true" HDCD player, or is it simply "compatible"? If yes, can foobar2k do the same?

What does one software have to do with the other? No foobar2k has no ability at all to extract the extra resolution of an HDCD. Yes windows media player does. The reason for the first is that the technology is proprietary and foobar2k is open source. That said no other closed source programs play HDCDs with full support either. The reason windows media player 9 can is because Microsoft bought pacific microtel. Ever wondered why new NAD cdplayers with HDCD support have microsoft written on them

 

[FalconP]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druid Healer It might be because a lot of the "HDCD" stuff in HK is fake.

No; they're from big labels like Universal.

 

[Voodoochile]

I've also noticed that HDCD discs tend to be nicer projects to start with, so it's hard for me to decide (for myself) how much is due to "ancillary benefit" versus just starting with a good recording and mastering.

Either way, you should check out Lucinda Williams' 'World Without Tears' disc. The detail in the guitar work is stunning

, particularly in an HDCD player. It also does not say HDCD on it anywhere.