12 FREE DSD [DSF DFF, SACD ISO] Player Software [2022]

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DSD player list. Which player can play DSD files?

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DSD player audio software list [See FREE audio players for hi-res]

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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, the conversion of DSD to PCM format is used.
DSD DAC may get an audio stream natively ("native DSD" stream via ASIO driver) of DoP (DSD over PCM).

Check out How to play DSD with foobar2000 >

Read more details below.

How do I get the best sound quality on my computer?

You can get the best sound quality on your computer / laptop on Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile device on Android, iOS, when you reduce weak places of the audio-signal path and your DAC works in optimal resolution.

What is 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 transmission of audio file content to DAC without altering.

What is 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 the album is converted from an audio format to another one 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 an audio file. Also, it saves electrical energy that is spent on processing.

Many digital audio players (DAP) capable of playback at stereo headphones. But some of your records may be multichannel.

When DAP plays a multichannel record, it downmixes to 2.0. Downmixing is a lossy operation and its sound quality depends on implementation.

Also, extra channels consume free space on the hard disk of the DAP. Offline pre-downmixed to stereo files allow saving more songs on hard disk.

If file played back on a mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processing, it allows:

1. saving battery charge;
2. getting a longer time of autonomous work;
3. 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 for resolution conversion and other processing.

Real-time playback conversion DSD to PCM on mobile devices consumes 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 a longer battery lifetime. Because a mobile device performs a lesser calculation number.

Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space at the hard disk of the mobile device.

Can computer and mobile phone play DSD? DAC interfaces

In the part the consider how to use computer or mobile phone hardware to playback DSD.

Mobile phones and many laptops contains ordinary PCM DAC.

Some player software are capable to convert DSD to PCM "on fly" (in real-time). Processing time may impact to sound quality. So real-time conversion may have lack of computing resources to implement more accurate algorithm.
Also, "heavy" algorithms extensively consume battery energy.

Alternatively, you can pre-convert DSD files to PCM (FLAC, WAV, etc.) offline.
If sound quality difference between inline and offline conversion is there, you can play pre-convenverted files back.
Pre-conversion allows to save battery energy.
If mobile phone is not capable multichannel playback in earphones,  it can downmix it to stereo in real-time. But, multichannel files waste the phone memory for all channels instead 2 channels that are actually need to physical listening. Such files may be pre-downmixed to stereo offline.

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 for coding DSD into a pseudo-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 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 a matter.

In general, the best DSD player with processing should cause minimal distortions.

Also kind of distortions may be matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DSD player? How do I listen to DSD files? How do I listen to DSD audio? How do I play .DSF files?

DSD player is a device or software, that capable to play audiophile format Direct Stream Digital. It may be suggested as SACD optical disks or computer files.

To convert DSD digital audio to analog form, native DSD DAC is used. Alternatively, DSD music may be pre-converted to PCM, to listening on more common PCM DAC.

Read also: How to improve sound quality...

Is DSD better than FLAC?

It is a matter of recording quality and playback tool implementation. Read about DSD and FLAC comparison...

Is DSD audio worth it? Is DSD any good?

DSD allows simplifying a playback system and solves some issues of an analog filter of ADC and DAC, theoretically. But implementation of the system makes actual result. See more...

Is DSD the best audio format?

DSD have as advantages as disadvantages comparing alternative audio formats. Read details...

Is DSD dead?

No. DSD music is produced and sold nows.

Listen to:

• DSF music samples...
• DSD music download site list...

What is the highest quality audio file?

As rule, it is lossless files in high resolution (WAV, FLAC, DSF, DFF, SACD, SACD ISO and others).

Read details...

Is DSD a SACD?

SACD is optical disk format that contains DSD audio. Read details...

Where can I download FLAC songs for free? Where can I download high-quality music for free?

You can download high-quality (high-resolution) files from the download resources into the list here...

Where can I get a DSD? Where can I listen to DSD audio? Where can I find DSD music?

You can download .dsf files here...

See the list of DSD download sites here...

Where can I download DSD for free?

You can download .dsf files for free...

Also, check out these download sites...

How do I listen to DSD?

You can listen DSD with audio player software.

Read about player settings and other...

Can you play DSD without a DAC?

To listen DSD files on computer or mobile device without DSD DAC, you can:

• use proper audio player, or
• convert DSD files to PCM ones.

What player can play DSD?

See the list of players that are capable to play DSD...

Can VLC play DSF?

Looks like, VLC can't play DSF. Follow the current state here...

Can Plex play DSD files?

Looks like, Plex media server convert DSD to PCM "on fly" (discussion).

Alternatively, you can pre-convert DSD to FLAC and listen it on the server.

Can Windows 10 play DSD? How can I play DSD files on my PC? How do I play DSD files on Windows? How do I play DSF files on Windows 10? Does Windows 10 support Hi-Res Audio?

To play DSD files on PC with Windows 10 use audio players. Read details here...

Can Android play DSD?

Yes. There are Android player software that can play DSD files. See here...

Can Android play DSD?

Yes. There are Android player software that can play DSD files. See here...

Is there a DAC app for Android?

No. A DAC is hardware always. It can contains firmware (built-in) software.

However, an audio player can provide inline conversion to used DAC mode (DSD or PCM).

Alternatively, and audio file format may be converted offline via a audio converted software...

How do I listen to high resolution audio on Android?

You can play high-resolution audio on Android via phone's earbuds/headphone output ar connect portable DAC with amplifier.
See list of hi-res audio player software here...

Can Android play lossless?

You can play to lossless music file on Android music player software...

How do I play DSF files with foobar2000?

Yes, you can. Read foobar2000 DSD playback guide here...

Can Windows Media Player play DSD? Can Windows Media Player play DSF?

No. Windows Media Player can't play DSD. But, you can use other software...

What is DSD music file?

DSD audio files are files, capable to contains DSD audio content: DSF, DFF, SACD ISO and DoP FLAC, WAV, etc. Read details here...

What is DSF audio file? What is a .DSF audio file?

Read DSF file quick guide here...

How do I open a DSF file? What can open DSF files?

Read how to open DSF file...

How do I play a DSF file? How do I play DSF audio?

To play DSF files use one of DSD audio players...

Also, see guide how to play DSD...

What is DFF audio file?

DFF file is one of DSD files. Its audio data content is identical to DSF by sound quality. Read DFF file details here...

How do I open DFF file?

DFF file is supported by software...

How do I play DFF files?

DFF files are played back via audio player software...

How do I play SACD ISO file? How do I open a SACD file?

You can play SACD ISO at hardware and software players.

However, SACD ISO may contain stereo and multichannel album variants. And it consumes additional place at hardware player.

You can extract SACD ISO to DSD or PCM files. Your choice PCM vs DSD is a matter of your music player and hardware ability.

See more:

1. Software to playback SACD ISO files...
2. Play SACD ISO on foobar2000...
3. How to choose target format...

How do I convert DSF to FLAC?

Read about conversion DSF to FLAC here...

How do I convert DSF to mp3?

Read about conversion DSF to mp3 here...

What is native DSD support?

DSD files may be played back 3 ways:

1. on-fly conversion DSD to PCM, and playback on PCM DAC (in PCM mode of the DAC);
2. offline conversion DSD to PCM with conversion software, and playback on PCM DAC (in PCM mode of the DAC);
3. transmit DSD audio stuff to DSD DAC to playback.

Option #3 is called "native DSD support". DSD may be transmitted via ASIO driver or as DoP.

Is DSF better than FLAC?

DSF is DSD audio file format. Read more...

FLAC is PCM audio format. Read more...

Read about comparison DSF and FLAC...

Which is best format for audio?

Many audio formats intersect by features and can replace each another. Read more which format is the best..

What is a DSD player?

DSD player is computer software or device, that play DSD files or SACD optical disk.

Read more...

Do I need a DAC for DSD?

You can listen to DSD without DAC. Some player software is capable to convert DAC to PCM on fly.

Or, you can tentatively convert DSD files to PCM.

How do I play a DSD file?

You can play DSD files with one of DSD players.

Read more...

Does VLC play DSD files? Can VLC play DSF files? Does VLC support DSD? Can VLC play DFF files? Can VLC play DSD?

As the author know, VLC can't play DSD files. Read details...

Can Audirvana play ISO?

Audirvana software can play SACD ISO files.

Does Foobar play ISO?

Foobar2000 software can play SACD ISO files. Read more...

How do I play a SACD file on my PC?

To play SACD ISO file you can use DSD audio player software.

What is the best audio player for Mac?

Best audio player for Mac is individual choice. Here you can read general recommendations...

How can I listen to hi res music on my Mac?

To listen hi-res music on Mac use hifi audio players...

Does Qobuz have DSD?

No. Quobuz has not support streaming of DSD. Check out DSD streaming...

May 26, 2022 updated  | since May 01, 2018