HDCD FLAC FOOBAR SPDIF Cary 303/200 HDCD

HDCD is a format that "magically" encodes 20bits of data into 16bits. There is a signal bit in the stream that identifies it as HDCD. If the decoder takes the HDCD data and converts it to 24/96 the player has no way of knowing that the original source was HDCD. If you configure Foobar to pass HDCD PCM unmolested to the player then the light should come on. Although depending a how/where the HDCD decoding is done in the player that light still may not come on when not using the physical disc. HDCD 16bit PCM can be played just fine without decoding, just slightly lower SNR.

Kijanki, I believe what you said is true only if encoding is done with HDCD Peak Extend. Don't know if that's always done or not. The 16th signal bit and decoding hints is usually in only 1-2 percent of the data samples.

Bozzy, you shouldn't need the "audio manager". You need something like ASIO or WASAPI to allow Foobar to send unmolested PCM straight to the USB or S/PDIF output.