|
|
Post by srb on Jan 1, 2011 14:12:17 GMT -5
It was always my understanding that the DAC would do the decoding of the HDCD and that all the transport had to do was to pass the HDCD flag to the DAC. So I would think that the ERC-1 recognizes that it is an HDCD, but the actual decoding would be at the DAC. I believe you are correct. I have never seen a disc player that had a menu item to enable or disable HDCD decoding. Players with HDCD either decode them internally for their analog outputs, or bypass internal HDCD decoding if using the digital output. Steve |
|
|
|
Post by sharkman on Jan 1, 2011 14:18:17 GMT -5
Hmm, perhaps I've got it backwards then. I assumed when the ERC's HDCD indicator lit up that it was doing the decoding.
|
|
|
|
Post by srb on Jan 1, 2011 16:02:20 GMT -5
Hmm, perhaps I've got it backwards then. I assumed when the ERC's HDCD indicator lit up that it was doing the decoding. And it certainly is doing HDCD decoding (along with D/A conversion) to the analog outputs. Because the HDCD light is on my HDCD-enabled Rotel receiver when receiving a digital input from a HDCD-enabled disc player, my thinking is If the player had already decoded HDCD, the PCM bitstream would no longer contain the flag to signal the receiver to do HDCD decoding. It is also possible that I am mistaken! Steve |
|
edrummereasye
Sensei
"This aggression will not stand, man!"
Posts: 438
|
Post by edrummereasye on Jan 1, 2011 18:17:58 GMT -5
Hmm, perhaps I've got it backwards then. I assumed when the ERC's HDCD indicator lit up that it was doing the decoding. And it certainly is doing HDCD decoding (along with D/A conversion) to the analog outputs. Because the HDCD light is on my HDCD-enabled Rotel receiver when receiving a digital input from a HDCD-enabled disc player, my thinking is If the player had already decoded HDCD, the PCM bitstream would no longer contain the flag to signal the receiver to do HDCD decoding. It is also possible that I am mistaken! Steve EDIT: This space previously occupied by comments made after several Twisted Teas and a quick skimming of previous posts. As Emily Littella used to say, "Oh....never mind!" As for the XDA-1, I too am a bit leary of the response from tech support. It does not say flat out that the XDA-1 supports HDCD *decoding*, for one. You can put an HDCD into a CD player, or rip it to a PC and play it back with a player that doesn't do decoding, and you can send the output digitally to the XDA-1, and it will play it, and it will, in all likelihood, sound great...but you're not getting the benefit of HDCD. EDIT: See above. HDCD decoding isn't like DTS decoding; as someone else mentioned, HDCD's are usually well-recorded and well-mastered, and they will play as regular CDs as well...so just hearing good-sounding music proves nothing. Sort of like a hybrid SACD in that regard...unless you have some way of knowing whether you're hearing the 2-channel redbook or the 2-channel DSD, it's hard to tell, as they're usually a different mix and/or master from the corresponding redbook-only disc (if there is one). LOTREE - good info there, I had no idea that some players butchered it so badly. Ed |
|
ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
|
Post by ddhd on Feb 6, 2011 19:40:18 GMT -5
Any new information if indeed the XDA-1 decode an HDCD signal?
|
|
|
|
Post by rclark on Feb 6, 2011 21:56:47 GMT -5
I have a couple HDCD's and through my ERC-1 XDA-1 combo they sound fantastic, easily the highest fidelity music I've ever heard.
The ERC-1 displays HDCD when they are playing, bu the XDA-1 just displays volume as it normally would.
|
|
|
|
Post by solarrdadd on Feb 6, 2011 23:29:47 GMT -5
It was always my understanding that the DAC would do the decoding of the HDCD and that all the transport had to do was to pass the HDCD flag to the DAC. So I would think that the ERC-1 recognizes that it is an HDCD, but the actual decoding would be at the DAC. I believe you are correct. I have never seen a disc player that had a menu item to enable or disable HDCD decoding. Players with HDCD either decode them internally for their analog outputs, or bypass internal HDCD decoding if using the digital output. Steve i have both the Oppo 80 & 83 and in their audio setup menu there is an option for HDCD Decoding - On/Off what happens when you turn it off, i don't know cause i always had it set to On. I do have a couple of HDCD's too but like i said, i've never turned off the decoding and then played them to know if i can actually hear a difference. |
|
cawgijoe
Emo VIPs 
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it." - Yogi Berra
Posts: 5,033
|
Post by cawgijoe on Feb 7, 2011 10:10:32 GMT -5
I received an e-mail from Lonnie last week.
Lonnie says that the XDA does not decode HDCD.
I don't know what/if there is a difference between the ERC-1 direct to a pre-amp using HDCD.......and the ERC-1 to XDA-1 to pre-amp using an HDCD............I have not tried it yet.
That being said, though it would have been nice for the XDA-1 to decode HDCD, a majority of my discs are not HDCD and the XDA-1 has been superb in my system. Worth every penny.
|
|
ddhd
Minor Hero
Posts: 21
|
Post by ddhd on Feb 9, 2011 20:27:43 GMT -5
Thanks for the info
|
|
edrummereasye
Sensei
"This aggression will not stand, man!"
Posts: 438
|
Post by edrummereasye on Feb 10, 2011 18:28:38 GMT -5
Ditto...though I think this is a nefarious plot on Emo's part, to get me to buy an ERC-1. Which I might do, if other factors don't push me to buy an Oppo. The ERC would be exclusively for HDCD, as all my CDs, HD or otherwise, are digitized and the PC is my main player. Problem is, I don't think I can be bothered to use WMP for those discs, I like my AlbumPlayer too much. Almost easier to use the physical discs, than to remember to use a different software player on the FLACs. |
|
|
|
Post by GMan on Feb 10, 2011 19:36:22 GMT -5
^^^You could take your 16 bit WAV rips and run it thru an HDCD SW decoder to get 24 bit WAV and then compress it to 24 bit FLAC. That would allow you to keep using AlbumPlayer.
|
|
