DSD player is software that designed to playback Direct Stream Digital audio files (.dsf, .dff, sacd iso, DoP). Look at DSD software player (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS) comparison list at this page.
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DSD files may be played back in bit-perfect modes:
Bit-perfect mean transmitting of audio file content to DAC without altering.
With bit-perfect mode you can playback offline pre-converted audio files (including PCM to DSD). This mode don't consume additional computing resources for altering of audio file. Also it save electrical energy that is spent to the processing.
Many of digital audio players (DAP) capable to playback at stereo headphones. But some your records may be multichannel.
When DAP play multichannel record it downmix it to 2.0. Downmixing is lossy operation and it sound quality depend on implementation.
Also extra channels consume free space on hard disk of the DAP. Offline pre-downmixed to stereo files allow to put more songs at hard disk.
If file played back on mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processings, it allow:
DSD and PCM files may be played back with inline (real-time, "on-fly") altering of audio content:
This mode allow to save 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 processings.
Real-time playback conversion DSD to PCM on a mobile devices consume additional battery charge and part of the device CPU performance. It can cause lesser time of autonomous work and reduce response of other (non-player) applications.
Inline (real-time) vs offline conversion
of audio files on mobile devices
Offline conversion of audio files give longer battery life time because a mobile device perform lesser calculation number.
Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space at hard disk of the mobile device.
To DSD playback (including bit-perfect) under Windows, DAC may be connected to audio player via ASIO driver or DoP protocol.
Also WASAPI (with DoP) interface may be used to playback (including bit-perfect).
DoP is special open protocol to coding DSD into PCM audio stream. The stream can not be played back as PCM.
To DSD playback under Mac, DAC may be connected to audio player via DoP protocol.
WARNING: This table can contains errors. It is not offer or advertizing. 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 2018
| Audio player | Operation system | License | Supported file types | Sample rate | DAC interface | Description |
| DSD players Windows, Mac, Linux | ||||||
| Amarra Luxe | Windows, Mac | Commercial | DSF | |||
| Audiogate | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | DAC limitation for the software activation | ||
| Audirvana | Mac | Commercial | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | DoP, DSD to PCM | ||
| Daphile | Run as firmware (Linux based) from flash stick memory | Free | DSF | Music server. Stereo only | ||
| Foobar2000 (with sacd input plugin) | Windows | Free | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | up to DSD512 | ASIO, DSD to PCM | |
| Fostex Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | ASIO, DoP | |
| JRiver | Windows, Mac, Linux | Commercial | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | ASIO, DoP, DSD over DLNA, DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD | ||
| HQ Player | Windows, Mac, Linux | Commercial | DSF, DFF (non-compressed DSDIFF) | 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 smartphone app control |
| Logitech Media Server | Windows, Mac, Linux | DoP PCM files | Bit-perfect PCM output of DoP | Need additional hardware and pre-conversion DSD files to PCM DoP files. How to adjust and use the software. | ||
| Media Player Classic | Windows | Free | DSF, DFF | |||
| moOde audio player | To run on Raspberry Pi | Free | Here information about DSD settings | |||
| Resonic Player | Windows | Free, Commercial | DSF, DFF | up to DSD512 | ||
| Roon |
Windows, Mac; server on Windows, Mac, Linux |
Commercial | Bit-perfect, DSD to PCM | Sevrer may be installed on network area storage (NAS) | ||
| 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 software license agreement about using limitations | |
| Volumio |
Run as firmware from flash stick memory on PC, Raspberry Pi, other |
UPNP\DLNA, Airplay, DoP | Music server | |||
| Wtfplay | Linux | Free | DSF | up to DSD128; DSD256, DSD512 are experimental | DoP | |
| DSD players Android and iOS (mobile applications) | ||||||
| HibyMusic | Android, iOS | Free | DSF, DFF (including DST), ISO | up to DSD256 | net driver (Dropbox/DLNA/LAN) native DSD, DoP, DSD to PCM | |
| Hi-Res music player-NePLAYER | iOS | Commercial | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | DSD to PCM, DoP | Check DSD replay issues at online store page |
| HYSOLID | Android, iOS | Free | Music server control application | |||
| Neutron Music Player | Android, iOS | Commercial | UPnP/DLNA, USB DAC, DoP, DSD to PCM | There is evaluation version "Neutron Music Player (Eval)" on Android | ||
| Onkyo HF Player | Android, iOS | Free, Commercial | 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 limitations of free version | |
| USB Audio Player PRO | Android | Commercial | DoP, DSD to PCM, native DSD playback | |||
Check DSD music site download list (also FREE downloads there) >
Read about DSD DACs >
Read more about mobile device connections to DSD playback here.
![DSD Player Software List [Comparison, Features]](/sites/default/files/u1/dsd-player.png "DSD Player Software List [Comparison, Features]")
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