Over the years, scientists and engineers have been endeavoring to improve the sound quality of the CD. A number of
attempts have been made, such as the introduction of DVD, CD24 and the like. The DVD technology has proven successful
for its high resolution and capacity for audio/video application. Sony also introduced a great format, the SACD (available
in a hybrid format) capable of multi-channel reproduction. However, the new formats do require some or total changes
of equipment. There have been millions of CD players and billions of CDs sold to nearly every home. Most listeners will
not forgo their favorite collection of music or do another round of purchase. The Red Book products still reign the market,
though discerning listeners are striving to find better sounding productions. This has encouraged the mushrooming of
some “audiophile” labels.
 

The R & D team at JVC has been smart in investigating ways to try to improve the sound quality of the CD within the
confines of the Red Book specification, so that the end product is playable in normal CD players. Evidently, they have
made a number of admirable achievements in this respect.

As early as 1987, the K2 engineering team within JVC first developed the K2 interface system which was an important
platform to increase resolution in the confines of the Red Book format. The team is called K2 only because the two senior
engineers happened to have the same first letter of their last names – K (Kuwaoka and Kanai). Hence, K2 is named after
them for any developments created by this team.
 

In1993 the K2 Team succeeded in creating 20-bit super encoding with the use of 20-bit A/D converters. The chart on
the next page illustrates the progress of their advancements in digital technology. A real breakthrough was achieved in
1999 when JVC launched its first XRCD products. Then in 2002, a more significant milestone was laid when they matured
their technology in the XRCD24 format. It was a real sonic advancement.

FIM had the privilege to debut the XRCD24 format at CES 2002. Within a short span of time, XRCD24 has already been
acclaimed as one of the best, if not the best mastering format in the audiophile world. Any normal CD player owner can
now enjoy high sonic quality music with XRCD24 discs.
 

A Giant Step Forward!
 

The K2 Team, however, did not stop and rest on its laurels. In 2004, another major breakthrough was achieved in
encoding not only 24 bit, but also 192 KHz into the Red Book confines!

After testing the K2 HD mastering products in the domestic market, Victor Entertainment, a JVC division spearheading
this important project, had decided that it was time to introduce it to the international market in 2007. A special team
of engineers at their Flair Studios in Tokyo was assigned to take on the K2 HD Mastering task. Hideo Takada, General
Manager, Recording & Engineering Division, intimated that although they now have a really superb mastering format,
the best sonics may not be achieved without well-recorded material and top-notched mastering engineering. They
entrusted this very task to the young but talented engineer, Takeshi “Hakkaman” Hakamata
 

I was invited to experience the performance of this format at Flair Studios in March 2007. I brought my master tape of
“River of Sorrow” there to try. A comparison was arranged so I could listen to the master tape and the new format. It only
took me three seconds to realize that K2 HD IS the format for the years to come.
 

I promised to bring the master tapes of fi ve new albums in May 2007 for K2 HD mastering, which I did. For many
years, I have never experienced such a level of excitement about new technology, but this time, I was totally captivated
and overwhelmed. Hakkaman’s meticulous care in his work enlivened the harmonic structure of the music in these
master tapes. I was so ecstatic with the stunning sonority of the mastered sound of these albums that my passion urged
me to do another eleven titles within the span of couple of months.
 

Yes! Fifteen great titles are scheduled for release in 2007/8. They will provide pleasing surprises to the audiophile
world, demonstrating how good the original sound of these recordings can be reproduced if it is done right! I believe that
their sonic excellence has redefi ned the standard in the recording industry.

If you ask me what kind of sound it is, I can only say it is the feelings. I feel I am very much involved in the music. I
seem to be so close to the soul of the music and so close to the presence of the performer, just like the feelings when I
listen to a live performance in my private music room. It is not Hi Fi. It is so close to realism.
It is, indeed, a giant step forward, closer to real live music!
 

 

Winston Ma
Summer 2007

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