Found this article interesting HDCD

[NeilGabriel]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDCD

I was wondering about the HDCD format. I have a few older CDs encoded with this and they are some of the best audio quality in the collection...especially a couple by Joni Mitchell that make the CRS+ sound awesome. Apparently, though this is just in the production quality of the CDs as I doubt that any CD player I have is HDCD capable. This article seems pretty skeptical of the format and whether it improves sound quality. Any opinions....?

[strider]

I enjoy the HDCD titles I have, wether I'm playing them on my system that decodes the HDCD info or not. I'd have to agree with what I've read from others, that the titles encoded in HDCD typically are better produced/recorded. This holds true for the HDCD and redbook playback.

As for playback, my CD player doesn't decode the HDCD, my AVR does. Need to use the digital output to the AVR to get the info there. It's a cool feature, it does sound better then redbook IMO. Not something I'd replace a current, functional, AVR to get, however.

[engtaz]

Glad you got the CRS+ working to your liking.

engtaz

[Shizelbs]

I have to agree too with the above comment. All the HDCD titles I've personally heard seem to be very well recorded in the first place. That should be priority #1 for all recordings.

[rskarvan]

HDCD is awesome. All CD's should be HDCD encoded!!!!