HDCD

I cannot be definitive. OTOH, if JRiver can decode HDCD in software, I see no reason to reject the idea that others cannot also do it in firmware. Can you suggest a performance test to determine whether there is decoding?

Maybe burn two discs, one with the software hdcd switched off and see if there’s a difference when played back at the same level on a known real chip based hdcd player.
But you have to be careful, I believe hdcd can sound slightly louder in dynamics.

" If you play it back without HDCD encoding, the quiet part is simply louder so it’s like dynamic range compression. As the quiet part arrives, HDCD encodes a flag that tells the DAC to reduce the amplitude. The DAC is working in 24 bit so it can shift it down without loss of resolution. Then as the music gets louder again, the HDCD encodes another flag telling the DAC to "go back to normal". ."

Cheers George

Apology, I have been calling the company that produced the hdcd PMD100 and PMD200 chips PMD (Pacific Microsonic Devices) where in actual fact it's PMI (Pacific Microsonic Industries), sorry guys.
Also I forgot that Microsoft bought PMI way back in 2000

In 2000, Microsoft acquired PMI to boost its strength in digital media, and the HDCD codec was later added to Windows Media Player, making it the first software player to support it. There are thousands of HDCD titles and numerous HDCD CD players on the market.

Again maybe it's just a light that says hdcd is being played as WMP doesn't know what dac you have, that's got the HDCD decoder chip in it or not.
Cheers George

Yes an Oppo will stream the HDCD info to another dac that has a PMD100 or PMD200 hdcd chip in it and you will here hdcd. But it’s own dac looking at this Oppo 105 will not as there in not PMD chips in it https://ibb.co/WVmh7qg

This is from other forums around, and there are a few that question it.
"I opened my Oppo HDCD capable DVD player, and I don’t see a Pacific Microsonics chip."

No-one on the net can confirm any PMD100 or PMD200 inside any Oppo player, can anyone here to put an end to this speculation???

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1Rw2jKpXXXXcEXVXXq6xXFXXXy/Hot-stock-PMD-200-PAT5479168-SSP26812FU100-...

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~eUAAOSw9M9dSRwY/s-l1600.jpg

Cheers George

secretguy OPThe Oppo plays SACD as well, correct?

A while back in Audiogon someone of note said they (Oppo) detect HDCD cd and turn a light on, but don’t have the Pacific Microsonic Devices PDM100 or PMD200 decoding chip in them to actually decode HDCD, this "could" be because all Oppo’s use Delta Sigma (bitstream) conversion??

Because if you look in that list of dac/players I posted and seach for PMD100 or PMD200 you only get dacs and players that use them that are R2R ladder dac chips not Delta Sigma.

If your interested in getting one used, type in PMD100 or PMD200 in the search bar of this vast data base of players and dacs that used them.
http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm

Cheers George

The last Pacific Microsonic Devices PMD200 hdcd chips weren’t cheap https://www.widescreenreview.com/news_detail.php?id=2657
https://www.stereophile.com/news/10674/index.html
then Delta Sigma (bitstream) took over and and killed production.
But now that R2R is coming back strong "maybe" they’ll make a comeback?? Does anyone know if Pacific Microsonic Devices are still around?

Cheers George

By the way I was listening to a RR recording yesterday. Great stuff.

Yeah!!, the  RR cd's, hdcd or non hdcd 16/44 or the 24/96, blow all forms of music sources away for me, even the RR download stuff, except if you ever get to listen to the original master un-transfered recording from the studio, on your system.

Cheers George

secretguy
I guess HDCD failed in the marketplace.

I don’t think it’s dead, as I believe Reference Recordings ( Keith O. Johnson) still use it, with 16bit and 24bit recordings.
https://referencerecordings.com/
https://referencerecordings.com/?s=HDCD
As do some hiend Japanese studios.

I think it sound magnificent, especially if you have a cd player or dac that had the last hdcd chip, the PMD200, the 100 was very good still but the 200 is something else.

If your interested in getting one used, type in PMD100 or PMD200 in the search bar of this vast data base of players and dacs that used them. http://vasiltech.narod.ru/CD-Player-DAC-Transport.htm


Cheers George