HDCD®.
Both the Ikemi and Genki are equipped with an HDCD® decoder. HDCD® is a digital signal processing system developed by Pacific Microsonics of California which conceals control codes into a very small fraction of the recorded CD digital audio stream. An HDCD® decoder recognises these control codes and uses them to process the digital audio to increase its dynamic range and resolution, while leaving the original digital stream compatible with conventional CD players. The HDCD® process has been used successfully on many CDs, but possibly more importantly, the digital filters in the HDCD® decoder, through which all signals pass, are much better than most existing digital filters, so every CD benefits.
Digital outputs.
The Ikemi and Genki both have low jitter SPDIF digital audio outputs on BNC sockets. The Ikemi also has an optical output (Toslink) and an AES/EBU professional balanced low noise digital output. Though rarely used on domestic equipment this digital audio connection format combines the high speed and low jitter of an electrical interface with almost as low electrical noise as an optical connection.
We provided these digital outputs for connection to external processors, digital recorders and for potential future external DACs. However, as the digital and analogue audio circuitry used in the Ikemi and Genki are so good, and with the advantage of being in the same box as the source of the digital stream, there are currently very few external DACs which will give an improvement in sound quality!
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