Letters from the front

摘要

How reassuring that almost-forgotten silver disc variants have been rearing their little heads again. Their refusal to vanish has made me realise that any digital deviation, however minuscule, can peacefully survive thanks to universal players, with the possible exception of CD-G. We who cherish the obscure are worrying about nothing. Example: I was shocked recently to find that none of my CD players had HDCD capability. And while few of us are over-burdened with HDCD discs, a cluster of my most cherished are HDCD-encoded. Among them are reissues of the three Buffalo Springfield albums. Big deal, you're thinking. HDCD is 'compatible' with non-HDCD players. True, in the sense that it will work, and work well for the majority of listeners. On the other hand, if you've played an HDCD disc back through a suitably-attired machine, you will hear more convincing playback on every count, and you won't want to give up any of it. Don't believe me: go try it for yourself.