Experienced just the same the 2fer sounds great now too!!! Use FOOBAR if your cd player ins not enabled. Buffalo springfield box is peak extended too!!
So the peak extended feature is just something that my Oppo DV970 will recognize and play? I know it recognizes and plays all HDCDs.
Some more HDCD-encoded releases that use peak extension: Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball Madeleine Peyroux - Dreamland Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Playback 6CD boxset Jimi Hendrix - The Ultimate Experience ("Special Edition")
NAD 342 here...very happy with it but have nothing to compare it too. If I bought one today it would either be the OPPO 93 or 95 to extend the bang for the buck...
Those two graphs are quite telling. Playback differences on a standard CD player compared to a similar quality one (lots of variables, I know) with HDCD should be quite obvious.
^ The whole loudness war could have avoided if every record label used HDCD with Peak Extend on brickwalled CDs they put out ...
Here's my list. Lots of Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, and Neil Young in HDCD. Some of the titles that have no HDCD features enabled don't have an HDCD logo on the packaging. The HDCD magic bits were detected so I listed them. I haven't actually scanned everything in my library. I've likely got other HDCD titles hiding. The peak extend shows up on some albums in the Grateful Dead and not in others. I don't know how the mastering engineers are making the decisions about when to include peak extend and when not to. Maybe they're flipping a coin? Maybe based on the sound quality of the source tape? Code: Big Bill Morganfield - Rising Son Blind Pig Records / BPCD 5053 / 1999 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Etta James - Blues To The Bone RCA Victor / 82876-60644-2 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Etta James - Let's Roll Private Music / 01934-11644-2 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Keb' Mo' - Slow Down OKeh - 550 Music / BK 69376 / 1998 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Otis Taylor - Below The Fold Telarc / CD-83627 / 2005 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Otis Taylor - Defintion of a Circle Telarc / CD-83659 / 2006 [HDCD] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Jimmie Vaughan - Plays More Blues, Ballads & Favorites Shout Factory / 826663-12722 / 2011 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Paul DeLay - DeLay Does Chicago Evidence / ECD 26101-2 / 1999 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Paul deLay - Nice & Strong Evidence / ECD 26091-2 / 1998 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none (Multiple Artists) - Mendelssohn & Shostakovich: Violin Concertos (Hilary Hahn) Sony Classical / SK 89921 / 2002 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Diamond - David Diamond: Complete String Quartets, Vol. 2 (Potomac String Quartet) Albany Records / TROY 540 / 2002 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Handel - Messiah (Dublin Version, 1742) (John Butt) (Dunedin Consort and Players) Linn Records / CKD 285 / 2006 [Hybrid SACD] [CD Layer] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Stravinsky - Firebird; Nightingale; Rite of Spring (Eiji Oue, Minnesota Orchestra) [HDCD] Reference Recordings / RR-70CD / 1996 [1997 Grammy nominee for best engineered classical] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Serebrier - Symphony No.2, Fantasia, Winterreise (José Serebrier) Naxos / 8.559303 / 2007 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Béla Fleck - The Bluegrass Sessions: Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume 2 Warner Bros / 9 47332-2 / 1999 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Béla Fleck and The Flecktones - Left of Cool Warner Bros / 9 46896-2 / 1998 [mfd for BMG] HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Béla Fleck and The Flecktones - Outbound Columbia / CK 62178 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Marcus Roberts - Blues for the New Millennium Columbia / CK 68637 / 1997 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: none The Brian Setzer Orchestra - Vavoom! Interscope / 0694907332 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out [Columbia Legacy 1997] Columbia Legacy / CK 65122 / 1997 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB David Grisman Quintet - Dawgnation Acoustic Disc / ACD-49 / 2002 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Mannheim Steamroller - Fresh Aire III [Remastered] American Gramaphone / AG 5003-2 / 2000 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Mannheim Steamroller - Fresh Aire IV [Remastered] American Gramaphone / AG 5004-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none (Multiple Artists) - Instant Karma: The Campaign To Save Darfur Warner Bros / 156028-2 / 2007 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Crosby, Stills & Nash - Greatest Hits Rhino / R2 76537 / 2005 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none David Byrne - Feelings Luaka Bop - Warner Bros / 946605-2 / 1997 [mfd for BMG] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Eric Clapton - Complete Clapton (Disc 2) Reprise / 294332-2 / 2007 [HDCD code on Disc 2 only] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Eric Clapton - Reptile Reprise / 9 47966-2 / 2001 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Anthem Of The Sun [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 74393 / 2003 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Aoxomoxoa [Bonus Tracks] Rhino / R2 74394 / 2003 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks Vol 24 Rhino / R2 76477 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Dozin' at the Knick Grateful Dead Records / GDCD 4025 / 1996 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Grateful Dead - Europe '72 [Bonus Tracks] Rhino / R2 74399 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Fillmore West 1969 Rhino / 8122-73193-2 / 2005 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - From the Mars Hotel [Remastered] Rhino / R2 73277 / 2006 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Grateful Dead - Live at the Cow Palace: New Year's Eve 1976 Rhino / R2 74816 / 2007 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Live/Dead [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 74395 / 2003 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Nightfall of Diamonds Grateful Dead / GDCD 4081 / 2001 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Rocking The Cradle: Egypt 1978 Rhino / R2 512959 / 2008 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Steppin' Out With The Grateful Dead - England '72 Grateful Dead / GDCD 4084 / 2002 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Terrapin Station [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 73279 / 2004 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Grateful Dead - The Arista Years Arista / 07822-18934-2; 18934-2 / 1996 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Grateful Dead - To Terrapin: Hartford '77 Rhino / GRA2-6008 / 2009 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 74401-F / 2001 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses) [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 74401-H / 2001 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - Ladies and Gentlemen... The Grateful Dead (Fillmore East, April 1971) Grateful Dead Productions, Arista / GDCD 4075 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Grateful Dead - The Grateful Dead [Bonus Tracks] [Remastered] Rhino / R2 74392 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 1: Garcia) Rhino / R2 78063-A / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 2: Garcia (Compliments)) Rhino / R2 78063-B / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 3: Reflections) Rhino / R2 78063-C / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 4: Cats Under the Stars) Rhino / R2 78063-D / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 5: Run for the Roses) Rhino / R2 78063-E / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia - All Good Things: Jerry Garcia Studio Sessions (Disc 6: Outtakes, Jams & Alternates) Rhino / R2 78063-F / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band - Ragged But Right Jerry Garcia Family / JGCD-1003 / 2010 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Jerry Garcia Band - Let It Rock: Keystone Berkeley, 11/17/75 & 11/18/75 [LIVE] Rhino, Jerry Garcia Family / JGCD-0010 / 2009 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Jerry Garcia - Garcia Plays Dylan Rhino / 8122 73263 2 / 2005 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Jerry Garcia Band - After Midnight: Kean College, 2/28/80 [LIVE] Rhino / R2 76536 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Jerry Garcia Band - Don't Let Go [HDCD] Grateful Dead / GDCD4078 / 2001 [HDCD] HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Jerry Garcia Band - How Sweet It Is... Grateful Dead Records / GDCD4051 / 1997 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Green Day - Nimrod Reprise / 9 46794-2 / 1997 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Jimi Hendrix - The Ultimate Experiende [Polydor] Polydor / 517 235-2 / 1992 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Johnny Cash - 16 Biggest Hits Columbia Legacy / CK 69739 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Johnny Cash - The Essential Johnny Cash Columbia, Legacy / C2K 86290 / 2002 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: none Leftover Salmon - The Nashville Sessions Hollywood Records / HR-62142-2 / 1999 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Mark Knopfler - Sailing to Philadelphia Warner Bros / 9 47753-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: none Mark Knopfler - Shangri-La Warner Bros. / 48858-2 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II Reprise / 311932-2 / 2007 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Greatest Hits Reprise / 48935-2 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Hawks & Doves Reprise / 48499-2 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Living With War Reprise / 44335-2 / 2006 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Prairie Wind Reprise / 49593-2 / 2005 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Silver & Gold Reprise / 9 47305-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young - Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968 Reprise / 516758-2 / 2008 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Greendale Reprise / 48533-2 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: none Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Live At The Fillmore East Reprise / 44429-2 / 2006 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere [Remastered] Reprise / 9362-49790-3 / 2009 [Remastered] HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: some, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Phil Lesh & Friends - There and Back Again Columbia / CK 86624 / 2002 [Bonus CD] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Phish - Farmhouse Elektra / 7559-62521-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none The B-52's - Time Capsule Reprise / 9 46920-2 / 1998 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none The Beach Boys - Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best of The Beach Boys Capitol / 72435-82710-2-7 / 2003 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none The Beach Boys - The Warmth Of The Sun Capitol, EMI / 09463-93823-2-3 / 2007 [HDCD] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none The String Cheese Incident - 'Round The Wheel SCI Fidelity Records / 1003 / 1998 HDCD: peak extend: yes, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB The String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat: Best of the String Cheese Incident [Live] (Disc 1) SCI Fidelity Records / SCIFI 1125 / 2009 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none The String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat: Best of the String Cheese Incident [Live] (Disc 2) SCI Fidelity Records / SCIFI 1125 / 2009 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: -4.0dB..0.0dB Tracy Chapman - Telling Stories Elektra / 62478-2 / 2000 [HDCD] HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none Van Halen - 1984 [Remastered 2000] Warner Bros / 9 47741-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Van Halen - Diver Down [Remastered 2000] Warner Bros / 9 47718-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Van Halen - Fair Warning [Remastered 2000] Warner Bros / 9 47740-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Van Halen - Van Halen [Remastered 2000] Warner Bros / 9 47737-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Van Halen - Women And Children First [Remastered 2000] Warner Bros / 9 47739-2 / 2000 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: some, gain: none Widespread Panic - Über Cobra Sanctuary / 06076-84698-2 / 2004 HDCD: peak extend: none, transient filter: none, gain: none
^ Nice work! I think a lot of HDCD-encoded discs could have been much improved if Peak Extend and Gain features were skillfully utilized in mastering sessions (f.e. Nimrod & Tom Petty's Playback discs sound way better when played decoded compared to these same discs in regular RBCD players IMO).
The discs with peak extend do sound better when decoded. Some more than others. Some very noticeably better. I don't understand how the peak extend works. How it is compressed or limited and then expanded. What it is doing. I only understand it as magic. I should look to see if there is an explanation of how the peak extend works. My views on HDCD are mixed. I like that it can sound good. I don't like the inconvenience of needing to decode and I don't like getting compromised sound if I don't decode. Rather than doing HDCD peak extend, I would rather have them make a regular CD that has those dynamics. I don't see why those dynamics wouldn't fit on a regular 16-bit CD.
At least in a brickwalled gloom HDCD Peak Extend feature would have given audiophiles their beloved dynamic range back...
Those people should go right-out and buy an old first-generation Sony CD player to play their HDCDs on. That way they can experience all the worst aspects of digital all at once.
these may help you: wayback machine capture of HDCD site incl FAQ; see also the "Articles & Papers" section 1996 KOJ/Pflash AES Paper
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road single disc version (it's not listed as HDCD on the cover). 2CD deluxe edition is not HDCD.
So is this such a stupid question that no one will dignify an answer? I truly don't get the concept. Is Peak Extend just something that some discs have and others don't? Do I just play and enjoy?
I will defer to others more expert for a technical explanation, but my understanding is that if an HDCD-encoded disc is encoded using the Peak Extend feature, any player that decodes HDCD will decode the Peak Extend. So to answer your questions in order: no, yes and yes
...and by "individual Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers cd's?" I mean the remasters that have the HDCD ensignia on them and that followed the box set? I have always assumed that they contain the same mastering as the box set!?
Correct. Peak extend exists to reverse the limiting applied to make a loud master. No point for audio fidelity.
