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Thread: NAD 541i HDCD Question.. |
    
Bronze Member Username: Bobby29
Baltimore,
MD
USA
Post Number: 48
Registered: Apr-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 06:05 pm: |
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Is HDCD only available via digital outs, or can I also get it via analog? What if my receiver has an HDCD decoder? |
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 06:22 pm: |
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Got mine hooked up analog and it plays HDCD recordings.Don't know about your receiver..sorry |
Bronze Member Username: Bobby29
Baltimore,
MD
USA
Post Number: 49
Registered: Apr-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 11:25 pm: |
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It plays them, but does it decode them correctly? |
Silver Member Username: Myrantz
Post Number: 684
Registered: Aug-04
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 11:53 pm: |
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It would be my understanding that all information going out via a digital connection is to be decoded at the terminus (or the receiver's dacs, decoders etc). If using the analogue connections from the 541i then that machine's decoders should be doing the work.
Does a HDCD display icon show when playing a HDCD encoded disc?
Do your ears hear a better resolution when playing the HDCD's?
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Bronze Member Username: Bobby29
Baltimore,
MD
USA
Post Number: 50
Registered: Apr-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 01:08 am: |
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My Rantz-
I guess my main question is can an HDCD signal be transmitted via analog outs to a receiver without an HDCD decoder.
I don't have the cd player yet, but I'm weighing it with the non-HDCD 521BEE.
I'm guessing I will prefer the analog sound of the NAD's dacs over my Elite 53TX's dacs, however I want to hear it both ways. BUT, if I prefer the NAD's analog outs and it will not enable me to use the HDCD, then I may as well go with the 521BEE.
I don't think my Elite has an HDCD decoder, but I just got it so I'll check the manual tomorrow. |
Silver Member Username: Myrantz
Post Number: 685
Registered: Aug-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 01:38 am: |
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Rob
If the NAD cd player decodes HDCD then using the analogue out should be fine, but check with your dealer, as my advice is only guesswork. |
Bronze Member Username: Alexfromholland
Post Number: 27
Registered: Aug-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 08:39 am: |
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If you have an HDCD capable CD-player, then the decoding is done by the CD-player itself and it will output the signal via the analogue CINCH outputs. If you're using digital output, the HDCD decoding has to be done by the receiver as it will NOT be bypass the D/A converter in the CD player. Hope this clarifies it.
The HDCD led will be switched on when a HDCD is played. (e.g. Sailing to Philidelphia by Mark Knopfler). HDCD's can also be copied! |
Bronze Member Username: Frank_abela
Berkshire
UK
Post Number: 63
Registered: Sep-04
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 - 01:49 pm: |
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Either way Bob, I'm willing to bet that the C541 would sound better using its analogue outs than via a digital interface to your amp, provided you've got a decent set of analogue interconnects of course.
Generally I find that CD players (and the 541 is a fine CD player) give better results this way, mainly due to reduced jitter.
Regards,
Frank. |
Bronze Member Username: Bobby29
Baltimore,
MD
USA
Post Number: 55
Registered: Apr-04
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| Posted on Friday, October 15, 2004 - 11:37 am: |
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I sent NAD an email regarding this issue. Got a response today:
Thank you for your recent request via the NAD Electronics web-site.
Digital output is necessary for HDCD playback.
Best regards,
Karen Pritchard
So, it seems to get a true HDCD signal, you need to transmit via digital outs.
Bummer. I would have bought the 521BEE instead since I do not intend to hook up my 541i via digital outs. |
Bronze Member Username: Alexfromholland
Post Number: 30
Registered: Aug-04
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| Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 06:01 am: |
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Rob,
This is definitively not true. I have a NAD C541 (with HDCD decoder) hooked up to a T743 via analogue outs of the CD player and it plays HDCD's just fine! If you want the receiver to have the HDCD decoding to be done, then you'll need to use the digital out of the CD player.
Alex |
Silver Member Username: Black_math
Post Number: 177
Registered: Dec-03
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| Posted on Monday, October 18, 2004 - 02:41 pm: |
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The 541 will play HDCD-decoded signals through its analog output. It will pass the encoded signal via digital out which then must be decoded. In order to decode the HDCD signal via digital out, the receiver/pre pro/DAC must have the required Pacific Microsystems digital filter chips. |
New member Username: Lancelot67
Post Number: 1
Registered: Oct-04
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| Posted on Saturday, October 23, 2004 - 06:45 am: |
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hello forum readers.my question is.i can buy a secondhand nad c541 for 299 euro with 6 months quaranty.is this a good offer and how is the sound of this maschine compared to c542 which cost much more? |
