Cambridge Audio 640C or HDCD???

cmy330go
cmy330go Posts: 2,341
edited March 2006 in Electronics
Need some opinions here. As some of you already know I just recently purchased a 640C from Audio Advisor for a really nice price. However (this is my own fault:o ) I assumed it was HDCD capable, but alas it is not.:(

Is this something I should be concerned with? Would I really notice much of a difference if I were to upgrade to say a Music Hall CD25.2 or something similar? Or would I have to go considerably higher to notice a marked improvement over the 640?

Thanks in advance!
Dave
HT
Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

2 CH
Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
Post edited by cmy330go on
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Comments

  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited March 2006
    There are not that may HDCD titles out there. Believe it or not a good number of them are country and contemporary Christian albums. Seems the engineers in Nashville like the format. HDCD is a nice format to have but out of several hundred CDs, I only had around 25± HDCDs. I would get a player beause it is good and if it decodes HDCD....all the better, but I wouldn't get rid of a good CDP because it doesn't.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited March 2006
    +1 on what Shack said!
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited March 2006
    Agreed. HDCD is not a relevant consideration when purchasing a CD player.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited March 2006
    Well that makes me feel a little better. I was aware that not many titles are HDCD, but I just wasn't certain if it was worth chasing after. I have had some experience with HDCD at my last job, but it was always on mediocre players such as Denon, and plus the demo rooms didn't allow for good enough sound to hear the difference anyway.

    I guess I was primarily concerned with how it would handle (or effect) regular CD, because I was reading an article the other day that stated many HDCD players also enhance NON-HDCD discs. Does anyone know exactly what is done to enhance? Is basically just up-sampling?

    Well anyway thanks for the comments. Hopefully now I can sleep tonight.;)

    Thanks Much!
    Dave
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited March 2006
    Put a good 20 bit remastered CD or HDCD in your 640C and enjoy. You can tell a difference. I've heard various takes on the HDCD capabilities of the 640C. I'm not sure what to believe, however you do get better SQ with a good CD or HDCD.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2006
    HDCD's sound really nice on players that don't even decode them. Get the Cambridge.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • cmy330go
    cmy330go Posts: 2,341
    edited March 2006
    steveinaz wrote:
    HDCD's sound really nice on players that don't even decode them. Get the Cambridge.

    Thanks! Already got it.:D
    HT
    Mits WD-65737, DirecTV, Oppo DV-970HD, XBOX ONE, Yamaha RX-A1030, Parasound Halo A23, Rotel RB-985, Music Hall MMF-7, Parasound PPH-100, LSi-15, LSi-C, LSi-FX, LSi-7, PSW-1000, Monster HTS2600

    2 CH
    Parasound Halo P3, Parasound Halo A21, Sutherland Ph.D, VPI Classic 3 w/ 3D arm & Soundsmith Aida Cartridge, Arcam CD72T, B&W 802 S3, Monster HTS2500,
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter