HDCD playback

HDCD's are compatible with any standard CD player. Of course you won't get the advantages of the HDCD encoding without the HDCD decoder. HDCD discs can be found intermixed with standard CD's. Of course the Reference Recordings web site has a nice selection of HDCDs available.

Therefore in order to appreciate the advantages of HDCD encoding one does need a compatible player. Do these players that incorporate HDCD decoders necessarily list this feature? In other words, if my player doesn't list HDCD as a feature, it is likely that it won't decode HDCD encoded disks??

Most players that decode HDCD have an HDCD logo on the faceplate and will have a light that indicates the HDCD decoding process. There have been reports of the HDCD light behaving strangely. Some discs may have some tracks endcoded with HDCD and other tracks without HDCD encoding. Some discs may contain HDCD encoding but fail to label them as such.

Yep, what Unsound said......

The players will typically have an HDCD logo on the faceplate.

BTW, the oft-mentioned Oppo universal players all have HDCD decoders in addition to playing DVD, CD, DVD-A and SACD. A well modified Oppo makes a great all purpose machine.

Enjoy,

TIC

My last reciever had an HDCD decoder on board and would work with any CD player. I now use the Oppo 980 for the few that I have.