Originally Posted by
schmidj
Be aware that some recording engineers use the HDCD encoder/analog to digital converter because they like the "sound" of it. It is considered a high quality converter. Some engineers may have used it on particular recordings even though there was nothing, or just analog noise, below 16 bits to encode. Given that it is not unusual for tracks to be recorded by different studios and different engineers before being compiled into an album these days, I wouldn't be surprised to find some tracks. but not all, on a CD to have been encoded with HDCD.