DSF File Extension | How to Open? [Definitive Guide 2023]

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If you are faced with computer files that has .dsf extension, it may be files various types. Read what contains such files and how to open them.

December 3, 2023 updated

Author: Yuri Korzunov,
Audiophile Inventory's developer with 25+ year experience in digital signal processing,
author of the articles that make audio easy for beginners

Audio Basis - articles about audio

Data types that contains in .dsf files:

DSF file (.dsf) contains a high-resolution audio format, that contains a lossless 1-bit audio stream in sigma-delta modulation (aka Direct Stream Digital). The format is intended for DSD DACs. Multichannel DSD music is supported. The alternative format is DFF. Read how to play, convert, edit DSF music files and more.
Alternatively, a file with .dsf extension may contain vector graphic: drawn objects, text, raster images. It is a graphical format to store diagrams, illustrations and others. DSF format may be opened with graphical editing software: Corel Designer, DAZ Studio.
DFS file may contain a story project: the title, author, story themes, characters, their relationships, plot progression. It's used to writer brainstorm for organize stories. Such files are opened by Dramatica Pro.

What is DSF format? What is a DSF audio file?
What are DSF files used for?
DSF specification
How do I open a DSF file?
What program opens a DSF file?
How to convert DSF
DSF conversion guides
Articles about DSD converter comparison
How to play DSF files
How to edit DSF files
DSF vs. DFF
DSF sound quality (DSD vs. PCM)
Where can you get .dsf files
Conclusions
Frequently asked questions
References
Read more

Watch and share: DSD vs FLAC [Format Comparison]

Watch and share: What is DSD audio? Video explanation

What is DSF format? What is a DSF audio file?

DSF is a high-resolution audio file format for audiophiles.

The format contains an audio stream in Direct Stream Digital (DSD). It's based on 1-bit sigma-delta modulation. The stream may be stereo or multichannel.

Audio format is like a box to store music or audio.

Different audio formats like boxes different forms and sizes.

If the stored thing (music) is more than the size of the box. The thing is cut to fit the box (lossy audio format).

Audiophile formats allow saving "the things" (recorded music) without altering.

It's necessary to remember, recording process loses some part of the musical information.

What are DSF files used for?

DSF sound files are used for music or other audio recording, distribution and storage.

Primarily, this file format is intended for music lovers.

In many cases, DSF files contain classical music and jazz.

DSF specification

DSF file format support sample rates:

2.8 MHz (DSD64, D64, CD sample rate 44100 Hz x 64),
5.6 MHz (DSD128, D128),
11.2 MHz (DSD256, D256),
22.5 MHz (DSD512, D512).
45.2 MHz (DSD1024, D1024),
etc.
Read details below and read more about sample rates.
Bit-depth: 1 bit (see below bit number discussion) [1]
Modulation type: sigma-delta modulation (aka DSD)
Channel number: 1 ... 6 (see below)
Metadata (song, album names, year, performer, artwork, etc.): ID3v2 format

Detailed DSF specification

More details

Sample rate DSD calculated as 44100 Hz x K (coefficient: 64=2^6, 128=2^7, 256=2^8, 512=2^9, 1024=2^10, etc.)

Example: 44100 Hz * 64 = 2 822 400 Hz = 2.8 MHz

Also, DSD sample rate may be based on 48000 Hz [2] (non-standard range). However, the range can be implemented in DSF files too.

DSF audio file structure is:

Header
Audio data
Metadata block

The audio data is divided into blocks. The last block may be filled partially. Wrong values in the header can cause the reading of the unfilled place of the last block. In some cases, it can cause clicks/pops at end of the DSF file.

The channel number is an integer value. So channel numbers more than 6 may be supported too. DSF have specified channel types and channel position in file structure from "mono", "stereo" to "5.1". However, the channel variable has reserved an unspecified range for custom types. Of course, using custom types may cause issues with different software and hardware.

How do I open a DSF file?

You can open DSF files with computer software, digital audio players, media servers and other devices. Read details below.

What program opens a DSF file?

.dsf files may be opened with computer programs:

DSF converter software list...
DSF player program list...
How to edit DSF

How to convert DSF

Converter software transforms DSF audio files to other sound formats:

Converter quality is estimated by noise/artefact level of conversion.

Also, converters to DFS files may be compared by overload tolerance. Read more >

DSF file converter software

Disclaimer: wrong or obsolete software descriptions may be at this page. To get exact information, contact the software developers and/or vendors. If you found wrong information, contact us, please.

See more FREE audio converters >

Converter software	Input files	Output files	Sample rate	Operating system	Graphical user interface
AuI ConverteR 48x44	DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM (FLAC, WAV, mp3,...)	DSF, DFF, PCM	up to D1024 (DSF, DFF), up to 1536 kHz (PCM)	Windows, Mac	Yes
Audiogate				Windows, Mac	Yes
DSD2FLAC	DSF, DFF	FLAC, FLAC DoP	up to D128	Mac, Linux	Yes
Foobar 2000	DSF, DFF, ISO	PCM	up to D512	Windows	Yes
iso2dsd	ISO	DSF, DFF	D64	Mac, Windows, Linux	Yes
JRiver	DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM	DSF, PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux	Yes
sacd_exract	ISO	DSF, DFF	D64	Mac, Windows	No (command line tool)
TraX SACD Extractor	ISO			Mac	Yes

See more FREE audio converters >

Check now:

Watch and share: How to convert DSF to FLAC

Conversion may be applied to adapt of resolution and file format to used software (audio player or editor) or hardware (music server, computer, DAC, portable player, mobile phone, etc.).

Converter DSF audio files for audio devices variety

Conversion DSF to PCM and PCM to DSF is applied with quality losses. Converter software defines sound quality.

Conversion of audio file formats doesn't improve the quality of the audio file on its own.

But some playback modes/resolutions for audio devices (sample rate + bit depth) may cause lesser distortions during playback. Thus conversion of files to such resolutions (sample rate + bit depth) can improve playback sound quality (lesser noise/distortions).

As rule, non-real-time conversion (via audio file converter) is not restricted by real-time performance of software/hardware and there possible to apply more exact digital signal processing.

With one-time offline conversion of DSF audio file before playback, we can save electric energy, that is consumed for "heavy" conversion processing during each playback seance.

DSF conversion guides

Articles about DSD converter comparison

How to play DSF files

WARNING: The audio player table can contain errors. It is not offer or advertising. We are not affiliated with listed products. We guarantee nothing. If you found wrong information, contact us, please. To get exact information, contact the software developers and/or vendors.

How do I play DSF audio?

You can play .dsf files with audio player programs or devices.

DSF audio player software list

See more FREE DSD players (Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi) >

DSF player	Operating system	License	Sample rate	Description
Foobar2000 (with sacd input plugin)	Windows	Free	up to DSD512
Hysolid	Windows	Free	up to DSD256	To work on music server PC with smartphone app control
Fostex Audio Player	Windows, Mac	Free	up to DSD128
Media Player Classic	Windows	Free
TEAC HR Audio Player	Windows, Mac	Free	up to DSD256

See more FREE DSD players (Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi) >

To play DSF files, audio players can send music stuff directly to 1-bit DSD DAC or convert inline ("on fly") to PCM and playback at traditional PCM DAC.

Audio conversion PCM to DSD and DSD to PCM has lost quality anyway.

The alternative way is offline (non-realtime) conversion DSF to PCM or PCM to DSF with converter software. Usually, offline conversion is not restricted by real-time CPU performance and can use "heavy" precise algorithms.

Audio players may have issues with DSF format compatibility: supported channel number, metadata artwork size or other.

If an audio player supports stereo files only or you want to save disk space at a portable digital audio player (listen to stereo headphones), it is possible to convert multichannel DSF 5.1 to stereo.

For "native" playback DSF, DSD DAC is needed.

For playback DSF at PCM DAC need conversion DSF to PCM.

Playback DSF audio file

How to edit DSF files

Edit DSF audio content

Read articles about editing of DSF audio files...

Edit metadata

AuI ConverteR 48x44 (Windows, Mac)
JRiver (Mac, Windows, Linux)
Metadatics (Mac)

In the AuI ConverteR you can apply artwork size limitation during conversion:

see Settings > Metadata tab > Maximal size artwork... (width or height)

Edit audio data

To the author's knowledge, there is no information (patents, publications) on what DSF file may be edited "natively" (straight in 1-bit format) without conversion to PCM format and back to DSF. Here PCM has more wide meaning than WAV file in 24 or 32 bit / 352 kHz.

Editing DSF audio file

As example, DSF format may be:

- converted to PCM 352 or 705 kHz, 32-/64-bit float point,

- edited in usual audio editor, and

- converted back to DSF.

It is a lossy transformation. But, professional editing software has losses comparable to resampling.

There is a ringing audio matter. However, the author still doesn't know about the exact research on the ringing impact on ear perception.

Advice: To minimize the losses, use conversions DSF to PCM and PCM to DSF once.

Audio data may be cut by block without changing of binary content.

Watch and share: FLAC, AIFF, WAV to DSF converter

Also, read how to edit DSF file's sound content here...

DSF vs. DFF

DSF file format's binary audio content may be exactly copied into DFF.

However, DFF has no standard storing metadata way.

DFF consists of blocks. It allows inserting a block with metadata. However, DFF software should recognize metadata blocks.

Warning: some software can convert DSF to DFF or back with modifications (non-bit-perfect mode). So checking every converting tool is recommended.

DSF sound quality (DSD vs. PCM)

If we want to compare quality DSD (sigma-delta modulation) and PCM (pulse code modulation), we consider ear tests. As example, dsf vs flac or other. However, not all so simple.

First, mathematical models and hardware implementation should be separated.

Sound file is a pure mathematical implementation of the theoretical model of sigma-delta modulation. As the final criterion here, quantization noise level (QNL) is considered. The level depends on frequency.

Hardware implementation distorted the mathematical model by non-linearity of real electronic components, their frequency characteristics, electrical hum, electromagnetic interference.

Software implementations have different resampling, modulation and demodulation algorithms, that can cause different features and sound.

Bit depth (BD) and sample rate (SR)

DSD bit depth may have any positive integer value theoretically. Bit depth and sample rate may be considered in complex only. Both these values impact to quantization noise level:

higher BD or SR => lower QNL.

Higher bit depth has lower quantization error (QE), and, therefore, QNL.

Higher sample rate provides a wider frequency band and the noise energy is distributed in more wide band. So QNL is reduced.

Quantization error and quantization noise level are different things. The noise level depends on the error. But for the same error, the noise level may be different for various frequencies.

Noise shaping (NS)

To reduce the quantization error energy at useful music band (UMB), sigma-delta modulator "pushes" the energy to high-frequency range. It is called "noise shaping" (NS).

Band reserve shall be provided for NS. It reduces the useful band into fixed SR/2.

There are ways of expanding signal band:

more steep the shaping;
more high sampling frequency value.

Steeper shaping can cause modulator stability breakdown in overload (read below).

Higher sampling rate causes larger file size, more computing resources and electrical energy consumption.

Can we reduce bit depth and keep quality?

Yes. To keep the useful band level noise, noise shaping is applied. Quantization error energy from low-frequency range "pushed" into high-frequency area. However, we lose part of high-frequency band in the full range [sample rate / 2].

Noise shaping can cause audible artifacts in some apparatus due to non-linear distortions (intermodulations).

Overload

Sigma-delta modulator is sensitive to overloads. After overloading it may go out of a stable condition and don't return to stable state until forced restarting. Read more below.

For avoiding overload DSF records may have 6 dB headroom for guaranteed avoiding of overload. For a demodulator (DAC), it has no sense. So signal may be increased up to several dB. Such function may be called auto level normalization.

Auto level normalization

Quantization

DSD's quantization noise level depends on sigma delta modulator and demodulator implementation.

Generally, DSD 64 causes a higher noise level than DSD 128, DSD 256, DSD 512. Because DSD64 has lesser noise band reserve than higher sample rates. The band reserve is placed at high-frequency range. The range is intended to get excessive noise energy. Lesser sample rate - lesser band reserve - lesser noise energy may be pushed without delta-sigma modulator's stability breakdown.

In this part of the article, we will consider noise level in the useful music band. Above the band noise-shaped level grows significantly.

In the table below trends bounding with DSF discretization frequency increasing. It was important to remember, that the trends depend on modulator and demodulator implementation.

**DSD sample rate bands**
	Noise floor in useful musical band	Useful musical band width
CD	about -100...120 dB	20 kHz
DSD64	about PCM 24 bit	about 20 … 22 kHz
DSD128	lower DSD64	wider DSD64
DSD256	about PCM 32 bit	wider DSD128
DSD512	about PCM 32 bit	wider DSD256
DSD1024	about PCM 32 bit	about 100 kHz

Where can you get .dsf files

You can get .dsf files different ways:

in online download music websites.
convert DFF to DSF without quality losses.
rip SACD to DSF.
convert SACD ISO to DSF.

Conclusions

From point of view of mathematical model, DSD and PCM have differences:

Noise level,
Transmitted band.

I.e. no difference between PCM and DSD, between kinds of pulse code and sigma-delta modulations when they are considered as formats.
Because these formats are abstract mathematical models. They give potential abilities for implementation in the real life.

These features may be implemented differently as hardware and software.

It is developer's choice, what parameter increase to reduce noise: sample rate or bit depth.

I.e. instead bit-depth increasing, designer can increase sample rate, and contrary. Or noise shaping can be applied instead.

Thus no univocal advantages of PCM or DSD as format (mathematical abstraction).
But implementations may have advantages.