Where can I buy HDCD encoded CD's.

Tony8377 · 22-01-2006, 4:26 PM

As title suggests, I have recently bought an HDCD capable player and would be interested to listen to a couple of said cd's. A quick search on google and amazon gave me a total of 20 titles to chose from, none of which i've ever heard of.

Are there any popular music cd's (as opposed to classical) that are HDCD encoded or has this format just not taken off at all? If there are, is there a list of titles available or an easy way to identify such titles when surfing music websites?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

eviljohn2 · 22-01-2006, 4:39 PM

There are loads of HDCDs around but they generally aren't advertised as such. Ones in my collection include discs by Tool, Pitchshifter and the Dropkick Murphys but there is a fairly long list on the HFC forum here:
http://forum.hifichoice.co.uk/viewto...639273b1c4b7d1

per-Sony-fied · 22-01-2006, 5:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony8377

As title suggests, I have recently bought an HDCD capable player and would be interested to listen to a couple of said cd's.

Are there any popular music cd's (as opposed to classical) that are HDCD encoded or has this format just not taken off at all? If there are, is there a list of titles available or an easy way to identify such titles when surfing music websites?

HDCD's are available in abundance however I must admit it is not always clear what is available. Your local HMV or Virgin would stock them or any store that sells CD's.... which ones are is a bit of a lottery. You could pick up a top 40 chart CD that has had the HDCD treatment.

Some disc's do not have the HDCD logo on the cover but are on the actuall CD. However most should exhibit this logo.

I must admit I thought I had quite a few but a quick scurry through some has only brought up 2!. 1 being the Bee Gees - Greatest hits (the record) and another being Tom Russell - The man from god knows where.

There are a lot of 24bit remasters out now which although a higher resolution CD are different to the 20bit spec for HDCD.

Microsoft are now the owners for this technology and looking at the site gives no clues as to which disc's are HDCD enabled. http://www.hdcd.com

Tony8377 · 22-01-2006, 5:10 PM

Thanks eviljohn2, turns out I have at least one in my collection (which shall remain nameless

) which I have just tested and it is HDCD and sounds very good. I have looked all over the case and inlay and there's nothing anywhere to suggest its HDCD - amazing, surely that's a good thing and should be promoted?

eviljohn2 · 22-01-2006, 5:30 PM

The Taste of Ink by The Used is also an HDCD IIRC.

I definitely agree that it's a missed promotion opportunity as even those of us without HDCD players benefit from a bit of time and care being taken during production to ensure a good quality product. I certainly find that it's a good indicator of recording quality.

per-Sony-fied · 22-01-2006, 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

http://forum.hifichoice.co.uk/viewto...639273b1c4b7d1

Thanks! That link has proven to be very useful to even further links.

Tony8377 · 22-01-2006, 6:06 PM

As you say I assume it's a good indication of production quality whether you have HDCD or not.

Just ordered Dire Straights on SACD as the accompanying CD is HDCD. Would also like to order Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head/Parachutes (Asian 2-disc set) but can't find it on CDWow or YesAsia, anyone have any suggestions of other places for Asian imports?

Also, for those interested, see here for another good list linked to from eviljohn2 earlier link.

Per-sony-fied, HDCD.com just seems to link to microsofts website and I couldn't find any list of HDCDs on there - Mr Gates does it again.

per-Sony-fied · 22-01-2006, 7:23 PM

Whilst doing a search I came across this site amusic that lists forsale a fair range of HDCD titles albeit an American site. Also lists a good selection of XRCD titles that are also well worthy of a spin.

Yes Tony the HDCD site contains no clues.... I.E no listings. A poor redirection to the Microsoft site.

25-01-2006, 1:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by per-Sony-fied

There are a lot of 24bit remasters out now which although a higher resolution CD are different to the 20bit spec for HDCD.
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CDs are always 16 bit. A 24 bit remaster refers to the quality at which the mixing and mastering was done at, this will still always be reduced to 16 bit for the CD. HDCDs are still 16 bit on the disc but through a special encode-decode process some of the added quality of 20 bits can be restored if played back through a HDCD decoder.

conkerman · 30-01-2006, 9:57 PM

Some of my Beck CD's are HDCD's and bloody marvellous they sound too!!

Floodedstatue · 31-01-2006, 12:34 PM

There's a ****-long list of HDCD's on the Head-Fi forums. Some surprising ones on there (surprising in a sense that some weren't labelled up as HDCD):

http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...highlight=HDCD

*The Dude* · 01-02-2006, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conkerman

Some of my Beck CD's are HDCD's and bloody marvellous they sound too!!

too right..! Mutations is a perfect example of just how good HDCD really can sound when done well.