In article , Glenn Richards
wrote:
Jim Lesurf wrote:

It is an interesting question. However for myself, the main 'bar' to
giving any answer is the absence of detailed technical information on
HDCD that would let me determine what *actual* effect the process
has... I've read all sorts of claims and general descriptions over the
years that 'describe' HDCD, but none that would enable any analysis,
etc. (Indeed, the descriptions I've seen at different times
contradicted one another!)

The effect seems to be one of a compander. Another post mentioned
something about soft peak limiting, which would resolve with the
observed effects. Many HDCD discs sound squashed dynamically when played
on a non-HDCD player.

If so, I doubt that the people at 'HDCD inc' would welcome us knowing this!
It implies that most of (who don't have players with HDCD players) should
avoid such encoded CDs as they will exhibit audible compression which could
be avoided with correctly recorded non-HDCD discs! Not exactly an advert
for people to buy HDCDs...

According to the manual SBM uses "a form of noise shaping to encode an
effective resolution of 24 bits into the 16-bit medium". Whatever the
jargon, it works - analogue recordings made from HDCD do sound more
detailed.

Again, if so, this is 'bad news' for the people at 'HDCD Inc'. It is quite
easy for people making professional recordings to employ noise shaping.
Indeed, I'd expect this to be quite common. The Sony SBM is essentially
just one proprietary version of this. Hence it indicates that there is no
need for anyone making professional CD recordings to use HDCD - and by
doing so have to pay fees, and degrade the results on most (non-HDCD)
players.

I have had my doubts about HDCD being worthwhile. What you say leads me to
feel I should avoid any HDCD discs like the plague. :-) Certainly, if I
were a professional CD producer I would do so, given what you say...

Slainte,

Jim

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