For those who are going to PC audio, there is software, such as dBpoweramp, that will do the 16 bit to 20 bit conversion for HDCDs. It then pads it with zeros to 24 bits. You just check a box when you do the rip.
HDCD Decoding ?
Recently, I have noticed that the specifications for CD players sometimes mention that they are compatible with HDCD CDs. I thought that HDCD died about ten years ago. But HDCD CDs have always been playable on any CD players; albeit not all CD players would decode the HDCD formatting because that required a special digital filter from Pacific Microsonics.
Several years ago, when HDCD first appeared, Pacific Microsonics required that anyone licensed to use their HDCD filter had to install automatic attenuation in their players for ALL non-HDCD discs. This was not necessarily a good thing.
When a 21st century CD player will read HDCD discs, it may or may not perform the automatic change in volume as a result. The net impact in older HDCD players was that all normal (non-HDCD) discs were attenuated. I own a few hundred CDs and only about 6 of them are HDCD. I expect that now in the year 2013, this is no longer a problem regarding the Pacific Microsonics HDCD filter. My guess is that current players are not using a Pacific Microsonics filter.
Perhaps "compatible with" is simply a reminder that the CD player will play the older HDCDs as regular CDs?
What says the group mind?
Several years ago, when HDCD first appeared, Pacific Microsonics required that anyone licensed to use their HDCD filter had to install automatic attenuation in their players for ALL non-HDCD discs. This was not necessarily a good thing.
When a 21st century CD player will read HDCD discs, it may or may not perform the automatic change in volume as a result. The net impact in older HDCD players was that all normal (non-HDCD) discs were attenuated. I own a few hundred CDs and only about 6 of them are HDCD. I expect that now in the year 2013, this is no longer a problem regarding the Pacific Microsonics HDCD filter. My guess is that current players are not using a Pacific Microsonics filter.
Perhaps "compatible with" is simply a reminder that the CD player will play the older HDCDs as regular CDs?
What says the group mind?
Showing 4 responses by dtc
One reason for reducing the volume on non HDCD tracks was to deal with CDs that contained both HDCD and regular CD tracks. The Oppo players implement HDCD and actually allow you to turn it on and off. Their HDCD implementation used to use a customized version of a Mediatek chip. I believe they are still using Mediatek for HDCD with the 103/105, but I have not seen anything that confirms that. It is my understanding that the Oppo does not change the volume for regular CDs, but I have not tried it. You might check with Oppo on the details. They are usually pretty good about answering this type of question. |
There is some good information on HDCD on Goodwin's website, including links to original papers on the subject. Information on HDCD There is a also a very comprehensive list of HDCD CDs there. HDCD CDs According to the FAQ on that site the reason some HDCDs do not have the HDCD label on the case was that the artwork was completely prior to the mastering process. |