HDCD: What do you like?

a couple of HDCD's have found their way into my collection...Wrecking Ball, Emmylou Harris...Avalon, Roxy Music...two of my favories...I was disappointed...there's an echo sound, dynamics aren't the same...the redbooks sounded better...could be my equipment, but...DaViD II, Casanova, Dreadnaught...I've been e-mailing Theta and they think it just may be the recording format...if it is, I've heard better remasters...if it's a software/chip upgrade. I'll see...

Erik Friedlander/ Topaz: cello, bass, alto sax, percussion. All the musicians on this one are obviously very accomplished players (and listeners). The harmonics from the bass and cello, the juxtaposition of attack and decay, and the richness of tonal detail make this an excellent test disc.
HDCD/SACD does not always = better. Know that lots of polished turds and bottles of smoke are waiting for you to consume them.

Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman
Avalon by Roxy Music
......... Bee Gees (the last one CD from 2000)

You might discover that you have more HDCD's than you think, many CD's are marketed without the HDCD logo even though they incorporate the technology. While investigating this technolgoy is a very worth while endeavor, I would caution you from putting too much emphisis on this aspect alone.

All of the Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry solo albums were remastered in HDCD and sound fantastic, better than the vinyl. Try "For Your Pleasure".

Joni Mitchell's catalog up through "Mingus" sounds fantastic in HDCD. For demo purposes (not to mention musical delight), try "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" which features stunning Jaco Pastorius bass sonics.

John Hammond's "Wicked Grin" is a rocking, bluesy collection of Tom Waits songs, produced by Waits. It's HDCD and sounds fantastic.