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HDCD To MacMini To Ayre QB9 Twenty DAC

Here I am, waiting as patiently as possible to receive my newly upgraded Ayre QB9 Twenty DAC. With the upgrade comes the ability to playback HDCD cd’s. The only HDCD’s that I’m aware of owning are the Rhino releases of Grateful Dead shows. What I don’t know about is whether I just rip the HDCD onto my hard drive and then my DAC will read it that way? Also, I’m thinking that Audirvana won’t transport the HDCD signal even though it will with DSD files. Any insights would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
goofyfoot
toddraymond's avatar
toddraymond
13 posts
 
Hey goofyfoot, did you ever figure out how to make it work (play HDCD discs / tracks to your QB-9 Twenty)?

How are you liking the 'Twenty', by the way?
goofyfoot OP
1,326 posts
 
Hi toddraymond,

I ended up buying a Bryston BDP Pi and since using it, I have noticed my Ayre DAC on the HDCD setting. The Bryston is a considerable improvement over the MacMini and the Bryston/Ayre Twenty combination is like a dream.

Unfortunately, I'm not getting any playing time in as my amplifier has been with the technician these past three or so months.
toddraymond's avatar
toddraymond
13 posts
 
Hello @goofyfoot. Thanks for reporting on the BDP Pi!  I'll have to look into that.  Am considering a JCAT USB card and doing Mac Mini > JCAT > QB9 Twenty, but will also look at the Bryston unit.
80s_forever
43 posts
 
You can use the program dBpoweramp to rip the CD to a 24 bit flac,  that way you can use any dac to play the file and not loose any of the dynamic range that HDCD offers.
goofyfoot OP
1,326 posts
 
toddraymond,
My amp was repaired and now I’m back up and running. Yes, as reported earlier with the Bryston BDP Pi, I’m seeing the h44 reading in the display which indicates that my Ayre is reading the HDCD file.

80s_forever,
thank you for the advice!
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