JVC XRCD CDs, are they worth the extra cash?

You know what would be great?? An XRCD encoded in HDCD... That would be neat

As noted by Bomarc above, the JVC 20 bit K2 Super Coding process is excellent too. Recently all eight of the original Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) CDs were re-mastered using the JVC K2 process. I have the eight original CDs, the two gold Chronicle CDs, and also all eight of the recent JVC K2 CDS. The JVC K2 CDs are easily the best of the bunch, and are clearly better than the gold ones.

The K2s sound more natural with excellent vocal and instrumental timbre and much less electronic edge or "glare"-- hate to say it, but they sound more analog like! The gold CDs may be a bit smoother than the originals, but in a blind test, I doubt I could tell which was which. Cheers. Craig

I own 10 XRCD's or XRCD2's. I have not heard another hybrid cd format (that can play on a regular cd player) that compares with the quality of the XRCD sound. I recently got Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms. It's a major improvement over the original.

I only have a couple of XRCD's. The biggest difference to me is that they seem to have greater dynamic range. This might be percieved due to a "blacker background" or a lower noise floor. The quiet passages are VERY quiet and the louder ones are at full intensity from my experience. As such, you can get in "trouble" if you up the volume for discs that start out quietly and build up in momentum.

I also have two ( slightly obvious ) questions for Craig:

1) Do you like CCR ? : )

2) Will we be seeing an advertisement for your "extra" CCR discs on Agon ? Or are you of the "too much is not enough" persuasion ? : ) Sean
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Sean; Yep, big CCR fan here, and besides those mentioned, I have several other CCR compilations. At some point I may trade in the original set-- but hey, they could be collectible some day, so no rush-- and they are paid for. Now that I have a good CD recorder, anything is possible with all these CCR CDs;>)

It seems I never did answer the thread question though. I only have a couple XRCDs, and not of my favorite music, but the recordings are excellent. Cheers. Craig