DSD files [Where Are Free Downloads, Comparison 2022]

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📀📁DSD files are audio files that contain high-resolution 1-bit audio data in Direct Stream Digital format. Read audio software developer Yuri Korzunov's article about formats and their comparison, sound quality, DST data compression, how DSD works and others. Keep reading...

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DSD audio file conversion

What is DSD file

📀📁DSD files are computer files, that contain audio or music data in Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format.

SACD is an optical disk format for a laser player.

DSD computer-file types:

DSF (.dsf) is an audio format by SONY.
DFF (.dff) is an audio format by Philips.
SACD ISO is an audio file with a copy of content of SACD optical disk. It may be made via ripping.

DSD file comparison

Read the main article about DSD vs DSF vs DFF comparison >

DFF vs DSF vs SACD ISO comparison

Radial bands in the format sector of a DSD file show its functionality.

Sound quality

The sound quality of different DSD audio file formats is the same. All these formats are lossless. I.e. they store an audio stream without losses.

How big is DSD file?

See how large is a DSD file. The size comparison for different sampling rates.

	DFF size (MBytes/min)	DSF size (MBytes/min)	SACD size (MBytes/min)
DSD64 stereo	20.5	20.5	20.5
DSD64 multichannel (5.1)	61.6	61.6	-
DSD128 stereo	41.1	41.1	-
DSD128 multichannel (5.1)	123.2	123.2	-
DSD256 stereo	82.1	82.1	-
DSD256 multichannel (5.1)	246.3	246.3	-
DSD512 stereo	164.2	164.2	-
DSD512 multichannel (5.1)	492.7	492.7	-
DSD1024 stereo	328.5	328.5	-
DSD1024 multichannel (5.1)	985.4	985.4	-

Size compression is implemented in DFF and SACD ISO format only (DST [Direct Stream Transfer] compression method). The compression quality is lossless.

How DSD works

DSD is a format based on 1-bit sigma-delta modulation.

In short, DSD is the same PCM with bit depth reduced to 1.

But it causes a high level of quantization noise.

To reduce the level, noise shaping is used. It "pushes" the noise energy from the audible frequency range to ultrasound.

To "pushing ability" the total frequency band should provide reserve at the ultrasound frequency range. It is achieved via a higher sample rate.

The noise shaper has feedback inside, which can cause broken stability of DSD modulator due to input overload.

Read details on how DSD works...

Free DSD downloads

Audio samples, free DSD music and test signal downloads:

How do I play DSD?

Various DSD audio player software can playback 1-bit audio 3 ways:

convert to PCM ("on fly");
native DSD playback;
both.

Can iPhone play DSD files?

Yes. There is iPhone software to play DSD files.

Read details and see the player list here >

How do I convert DSD?

A converter software can support different formats, functionality and have various DSD processing qualities.

Read details:

Audio converter list >

How do I edit DSD?

The author never knows about so-called "native DSD editing". There is no math base, that allows summarizing or multiplying with two 1-bit values and putting the result in 1-bit value. Thus, DSD altering may be provided in multi-bit math only. After the editing, DSD re-modulation is applied to return to 1-bit domain.

Losses by proper DSD editing are comparable with qualitative re-sampling. I.e. almost transparent for a user.

An editor software may support various formats, functionality and have different qualities of DSD processing.

Read details: