Glenn Richards wrote:

So short of doing an analogue "rip", is it possible to decode HDCD in
software and dither it down to 16-bit linear before encoding it as an
MP3, to avoid compression on playback?

Part of the licence agreement is, if I recall correctly, that the decoded
signal is not available digitally.
If you have a suitable sound card (24 bit) then Windows Media Player will decode
HDCD.
So it might be possible to use Total Recorder or some such program that
will insert itself between computer and soundcard to copy the music at 24/44.1.
I haven't tried it yet.

--
Eiron

No good deed ever goes unpunished.