JVC XRCD CDs, are they worth the extra cash?

I started buying xrcd's about a year ago and wondered the same thing. I called JVC America and talked to a high level techie who knew a lot about the process, but didn't know anything about other labels using the 20bit k2 process. I did my own research and this is what I discovered: the core of the xrcd process is the 20 (or now, 24 bit) encoding process, but that is only part of it. JVC brags that they use the best of technology at every stage of the process, from analog master to burning the end product. Probably most important, in addition to the K2 process itself, is the zillion dollar Sony equipment they use for the conversion from 20 to 16 bits which keeps jitter to a minimum. Although other labels use k2 (such as prestige), only XRCD claims to pay such close attention to all phases of the production.

I also did have the opportunity to a/b 2 or 3 titles (on my Linn Ikemi)which were available on both XRCD and Prestige's K2 process and I admit I couldn't hear much of a difference - both sounded great. But if I had to choose between XRCD and other K2 process without the opportunity to compare, I would choose XRCD simply because I have about 12 XRCD titles and not one of them is less than fabulous.

My favs: Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard and John Coltrane - Black Pearl

Enjoy the music!

Dire Straits XRCDs as well as others can be found on the Canadian distributor http://www.a4audio.com/home.asp

Prices seem reasonable, I just ordered a slew of them.

Matt

The FIM label (licensed by JVC) has the XRCD2 format.

Ross

Mzn50, I also bought an XRCD2 Sampler disc from http://www.a4audio.com/home.asp. The prices are half decent and I like that they are in Canada so I don't have to pay huge at the border. Although they do cost way more that other cd's.. Thanks for the tip. Have you found any other Canadian online retailers that sell XRCD2's?
Please let me know

Most XRCDs are better than the "standards" and some are not better, but merely just as good. Although, I have yet to hear a standard sound better than a XRCD. Examples: Jazz at the Pawnshop is the best I've heard. Mancini's Charade and Breakfast at Tiffanys are excellent.

At the CES I asked the JVC XRCD reps why the pop recordings were not in their catalog. The reps replied that "those" cds are not officially licensed for sale in the US and may actually be bogus. Of these "unofficial" recordings; Nat King Coles Love Songs is really smooth but lacks dynamics and transparency. The Dire Straits "Brothers In Arms" is thin and digital sounding (the reissue cd is just as good, the lp is the best, however, the recording may just be thin and digital sounding). Ditto for the Eagles "Hell Freezes Over." Also, there are some Chinese XRCDs of Chinese singers like Faye Wong and Teresa Teng, that may be of interest to those who have diverse musical interests.