Is HDCD dead?

As stated above there are some new releases and remasters still being released in HDCD. I have Arcam players and they decode HDCD. I like the HDCD playback more, but don't detect a quantum leap in playback, just cleaner, or maybe more focused.

Like the others, I am able to compare the Dead remasters in HDCD to the original CD release, and the original vinyl. All different in many musical respects.

I am glad I have it, but, I don't know that I would go out of my way to have an HDCD decoding player vs. having a quality player. If I go to upgrade away from the Arcam, I would be looking for the best regular (Redbook) playback I could afford. 98% of my CD's are not HDCD.

Spaz, Garcia hovering 6 feet above? You sure that's not the mushrooms you just ate? :>)

Jim S.

I think it important to remember, that one can cut back the volume on HDCDs to comparable CD levels, that having HDCD capability doesn't have to compromise regular CD playback, that HDCDs are still being manufactured and (this is of course speculative) that for quite some time into the future the number of HDCDs choices will probably out number SACD and DVD audio choices combined.

Play your HDCD discs on a PC with Windows Media Player (the newer versions do decode HDCD - if you press the pause button while playing a disc, a small HDCD logo will display at the bottom - and doesn't that tell you that Microsoft owns it now).

This site is available in English and has list of current HDCD players and recordings. I prefer HDCD by far over regular red book CD. Most of the Rhino catalog Grateful Dead remasters are HDCD, Neil Young records HDCD and many others.
http://www.hifimusic.se/hdcd/?p=home&lang=en