HDCDs are still being produced. See, e.g., the most recent Grateful Dead reissues.
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As I understand it, HDCD is a VERY clever way to provide a few additional bits of information from a 16 bit media. If we only had 16 bit media HDCD would be a winner. However, the world has moved on to 24 bit media, and that changes the picture. Some say that the 24 bit DVDA is not audibly superior to 16 bit CDs, so there should be no surprise that HDCD does not sound dramatically better. I have at least one regular CD which has the same reissued music as is on a HDCD. Frankly, the regular CD is better, probably because of the way it was mastered. The only CDs that light up the HDCD indicator of my equipment are ones that are so labeled on the case. |
The really good HDCDs in my collection outperform straight redbook in dynamics,extension,more 3 dimensional reach out and touch images. I have found over 50 encoded discs so far using this list from HDCD.com http://www.hdcd.com/music_catalog/music.asp?action=AtoZ&alph=Print&submit=1 which lists via title and catalog/ID numbers,over 5000 titles out there have recieved the treatment.The now Microsoft owned and revamped site has loads of info and lists all the mastering studios which offer or produce HDCD capable CDs. HDCD is incorporated into Wind/Media player version 9 to help data reduced streaming. 3 new releases November,maybe HDCD is set for a second act. Before hearing how well it expanded beyond redbooks ability I would have said don't make it the sole factor in a new machine.BTW the chinese are releasing titles now and have many CDPs with HDCD processing. |
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