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Do HDCDs sound terrible on non HDCD players?

Being an analog guy I have but a small collection of CDs and only a handfull are HDCD encoded. All of them sound terrible on my non HDCD player with thick lower midranges, smeared, closed-in textures and a general lack of cohesiveness. For reference my player is the original Rega Planet and the HDCDs are as follows: Olu Dara, In This World, Steve Earle, El Corazon, Garcia and Grisman, Shady Grove, Neil Young, Silver and Gold. Any opininons?
128x128viridian
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viridian's avatar
viridian OP
4,184 posts
 
Can't really be the system as all other discs sound fine. Perhaps, as posited above, it is the particular HDCDs. If anyone has specific experience with the ones listed it would be interesting. I wouldn't change the system though. Do the math, 3500 LPs and 60 CDs of which exactly four are HDCDs. I'm not exactly committed to the medium.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Sounds like it is the cables to me. I had similar results with Kimber and Audioquest when I demo's them a while back. Try a pair of Nordost Blue Heaven (used around $100 to $125). Or borrow some if you can. If out of your budget, then the Nordost Solar Wind.
viridian's avatar
viridian OP
4,184 posts
 
Sugarbie, all CDs sound fine except for HDCDs. How can interconnects be the culprit? Perhaps the DAC; maybe someone else has a Rega and can throw some light on it.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Since you do not have an HDCD decoder, those CDs are just a plain old vanilla CD to your Planet. They should play no different then any other CD. They might just be lousy sounding CDs.


So back to your original question: No, HDCDs do not sound terrible on non HDCD players in my opinion. I have many HDCDs and can attest to it from years of personal experience.

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