12 FREE DSD [DSF, DFF, SACD ISO] Player Software Items [2019] Check It
DSD player software is designed to playback Direct Stream Digital audio files (.dsf, .dff, sacd iso, DoP). Look how to play DSD files via free software (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS for iPhone, iPad), about sound quality, comparison list at this page - explanation by audio software developer Yuri Korzunov.
DSD player list
WARNING: This table can contain errors. It is not an 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 with the software developers and/or vendors.
DSD player audio software list [See FREE audio players for hi-res]
| Audio player |
Opera |
Licen |
Sup |
Sample rate |
DAC inter |
Desc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSD players Windows, Mac, Linux | ||||||
| Amarra Luxe | Windows, Mac |
Com |
DSF | |||
| Audiogate | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 |
DAC limi |
||
| Audirvana | Mac |
Com |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
DoP, DSD to PCM | ||
| Daphile |
Run as firm |
Free | DSF | Music server. Stereo only | ||
| Foobar2000 (with sacd input plugin) | Windows | Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
up to DSD512 | ASIO, DSD to PCM | |
| Fostex Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | ASIO, DoP | |
| JRiver | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Com |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
ASIO, DoP, DSD over DLNA, DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD | ||
| HQ Player | Windows, Mac, Linux |
Com |
DSF, DFF (non-comp |
up to DSD1024 | DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD, ASIO, DoP | |
| Hysolid | Windows | Free | DSF | up to DSD256 | ASIO, DoP WASAPI |
To work on music server PC with smart |
| Logitech Media Server | Windows, Mac, Linux | DoP PCM files | Bit-perfect PCM output of DoP |
Need addi |
||
| Media Player Classic | Windows | Free | DSF, DFF | |||
| moOde audio player |
To run on Rasp |
Free |
Here infor |
|||
| Resonic Player | Windows |
Free, Com |
DSF, DFF | up to DSD512 | ||
| Roon |
Windows, Mac; server on Windows, Mac, Linux |
Com |
Bit-perfect, DSD to PCM |
Server may be instal |
||
| TEAC HR Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | ASIO, DoP | |
| Technics Audio Player | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | USB driver |
Read the soft |
|
| Volumio |
Run as firm |
UPNP \ DLNA, Airplay, DoP | Music server | |||
| Wtfplay | Linux | Free | DSF |
up to DSD128; DSD256, DSD512 are experi |
DoP | |
|
DSD players Android and iOS (mobile appli |
||||||
| HibyMusic | Android, iOS | Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
up to DSD256 | net driver (Dropbox / DLNA / LAN) native DSD, DoP, DSD to PCM | |
| Hi-Res music player-NePLAYER | iOS |
Com |
DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | DSD to PCM, DoP | Check DSD replay issues at online store page |
| HYSOLID | Android, iOS | Free |
Music server control appli |
|||
| Neutron Music Player | Android, iOS |
Com |
UPnP / DLNA, USB DAC, DoP, DSD to PCM |
There is evalu |
||
| Onkyo HF Player | Android, iOS |
Free, Com |
DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | AOA 2.0, DoP, DSD to PCM | Some limitations of free version |
| TEAC HR Audio Player | Android, iOS | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | DoP, DSD to PCM |
There are DSD limi |
|
| USB Audio Player PRO | Android |
Com |
DoP, DSD to PCM, native DSD play |
|||
[See more FREE audio players for hi-res]
Read more about mobile device connections to DSD playback here.
How to play DSD files
To play DSD files, audio player software should be configured properly. DAC may be either DSD or PCM.
There is no general rule, that is the best sound quality for every case.
When PCM DAC is used, conversion of DSD to PCM format is used.
DSD DAC may get audio stream natively (Native DSD via ASIO driver) of DoP (DSD over PCM).
Check out How to play DSD with foobar2000 >
Read more details below.
Sound quality
Bit-perfect mode
DSD files may be played back in bit-perfect modes:
- DSD file (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO);
- DoP (DSD over PCM) file (FLAC, WAV, AIFF, other lossless PCM files).
Bit-perfect means transmitting of audio file content to DAC without altering.
Gapless playback
When uninterrupted albums (operas, concerts) listen, non-gapless playback can cause clicks at track borders.
Gapless playback means playback album as a solid (uninterrupted) stream without re-initialization of DAC.
If album converted from one audio format to other with resampling, it can cause artifacts at track borders. To avoid the track-border artifacts, True Gapless conversion may be used.
Offline conversion mode
With bit-perfect mode, you can playback offline pre-converted audio files (including PCM to DSD). This mode doesn't consume additional computing resources for altering of an audio file. Also, it saves electrical energy that is spent to the processing.
Many of digital audio players (DAP) capable of playback at stereo headphones. But some your records may be multichannel.
When DAP play multichannel record, it downmixes to 2.0. Downmixing is lossy operation and its sound quality depend on implementation.
Also, extra channels consume free space on the hard disk of the DAP. Offline pre-downmixed to stereo files allow putting more songs at hard disk.
If file played back on a mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processing, it allows:
- saving battery charge;
- getting a longer time of autonomous work;
- getting more computing resources for other (not audio player) applications.
Inline conversion mode
DSD and PCM files may be played back with inline (real-time, "on-fly") altering of audio content:
- with DSD resampling;
- with room correction;
- with conversion DSD to PCM on PCM DAC.
This mode allows saving time for pre-converting of various audio files to the best sounding mode of DAC. But each playback can consume big computing resources to resolution conversion and other processing.
Real-time playback conversion DSD to PCM on mobile devices consume additional battery charge and part of the device CPU performance. It can cause a lesser time of autonomous work and reduce the response of other (non-player) applications.
Inline (real-time) vs offline conversion
of audio files on mobile devices
Offline conversion of audio files gives longer battery lifetime. Because a mobile device performs lesser calculation number.
Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space at the hard disk of the mobile device.
DAC interfaces
To DSD playback (including bit-perfect) under Windows, DAC may be connected to an audio player via ASIO driver or DoP protocol.
Also, WASAPI (with DoP) interface may be used to playback (including bit-perfect).
DoP is the special open protocol to coding DSD into PCM audio stream. The stream cannot be played back as PCM.
To DSD playback under Mac, DAC may be connected to an audio player via DoP protocol.
Read more about:
What is the best DSD player
In audiophile application, the players are compared by the sound quality.
If the player has bit perfect mode and used DAC support played file resolution, sound quality is the same for such players.
But, if an audio resolution is altered or EQ is used, then applied processing quality is matter.
In general, the best DSD player with processing should cause minimal distortions.
Also kind of distortions may be matter.
![DSD Player Software List [Comparison, Features]](/sites/default/files/u1/dsd-player.png "DSD Player Software List [Comparison, Features]")
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