HD audio file conversion
DSD player software and Digital Audio Player (DAP) devices are designed to playback Direct Stream Digital audio files (.dsf, .dff, sacd iso, DoP). Read how to play DSD files via free software (Windows, Mac, Linux,
WARNING: This page can contain errors. It is not an offer or advertising. We are not affiliated with the listed products. We guarantee nothing. If you found a wrong information, contact us, please. To get exact information, contact developers and/or vendors of the software and devices (digital audio players).
|
Au |
Ope |
Li |
Sup |
Sam |
DAC in |
Desc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSD players Windows, Mac, Linux | ||||||
|
Amar |
Win |
Com |
DSF | |||
|
Au |
Win |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
DAC li |
||
|
Au |
Mac |
Com |
DSF, DFF ( |
DoP, DSD to PCM | ||
|
Da |
Run as firm |
Free | DSF |
Mu |
||
|
Foo |
Win |
Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
up to DSD |
ASIO, DSD to PCM | |
|
Fos |
Win |
Free | DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
ASIO, DoP | |
|
JRi |
Win |
Com |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
ASIO, DoP, DSD over DLNA, DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD | ||
|
HQ Play |
Win |
Com |
DSF, DFF ( |
up to DSD |
DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD, ASIO, DoP | |
|
Hy |
Win |
Free | DSF |
up to DSD |
ASIO, DoP WASAPI |
To work on mu |
|
Lo |
Win |
DoP PCM files |
Bit-per |
Need addi |
||
|
Me |
Win |
Free | DSF, DFF | |||
|
moO |
To run on Rasp |
Free |
Here infor |
|||
|
Pine Play |
Mac | Free | DSD to PCM (up to 768 kHz) | Mac App Store | ||
|
Re |
Win |
Free, Com |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
||
| Roon |
Win server on Win |
Com |
Bit-perfect, DSD to PCM |
Ser |
||
|
TEAC HR Au |
Win |
Free | DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
ASIO, DoP | |
|
Tech |
Win |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
USB driver |
Read the soft |
|
|
Vo |
Run as firm |
UPNP \ DLNA, Air |
Mu |
|||
|
Wtfp |
Linux | Free | DSF |
up to DSD |
DoP | |
|
DSD players Android and iOS (mobile appli |
||||||
|
Hiby |
And |
Free |
DSF, DFF (inclu |
DXD/DoP | ||
|
Hi-Res mu |
iOS |
Com |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
DSD to PCM, DoP | Check DSD replay issues at online store page |
|
HY |
And |
Free |
Music ser |
|||
|
Neu |
And |
Com |
UPnP / DLNA, USB DAC, DoP, DSD to PCM |
There is evalu |
||
|
Onkyo HF Play |
And |
Free, Com |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
AOA 2.0, DoP, DSD to PCM |
Some li |
|
TEAC HR Au |
And |
DSF, DFF |
up to DSD |
DoP, DSD to PCM |
There are DSD limi |
|
|
USB Au |
And |
Com |
DoP, DSD to PCM, native DSD play |
|||
[See FREE audio players for hi-res] [See DSF audio samples]
|
Di |
File For |
Re |
Bu |
Blue |
Playback time |
Re |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
As |
DFF DSF WAV FLAC WMA MP3 OGG APE AAC ALAC AIFF MQA | up to native DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz | 256 GB / up to 1 TB | up to 12 hours | SNR 120 ... 122 dB, WiFi 2.4 GHz | |
|
As |
DSF DFF WAV FLAC WMA MP3 OGG APE AAC ALAC AIFF MQA | up to native DSD512, up to 32bit 384kHz | 256 GB / up to 1 TB | v 5.0 A2DP, AVRCP, aptX HD, LDAC [?] | up to 9 hours | SNR 121 ... 123 dB, WiFi 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Cowon Plenue D3 | DSF DFF SACD-ISO FLAC WAV AIFF ALAC APE WMA OGG DCF mp3 CUE | up to DSD128, 32 bit 192 kHz | 64 / up to 128 GB | v 3.0 A2DP AVRCP / SBC aptX [?] | up to 45 hours | SNR 126 ... 131 dB |
| Cowon Plenue R2 | DSF DFF SACD-ISO DXD FLAC WAV AIFF ALAC APE WMA OGG WV TTA DCF mp3 CUE | up to native DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz | 128 GB / ? | v 3.0 A2DP AVRCP / SBC aptX [?] | up to 20 hours | SNR 130 ... 136 dB |
| Cowon Plenue L | DSF DFF SACD-ISO DXD FLAC WAV AIFF ALAC APE WMA OGG WV TTA DCF mp3 CUE | up to native DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz | 256 / up to 256 GB | up to 9 hours | SNR 125 ... 128 dB | |
|
iBas |
DFF DSF DXD MQA APE FLAC WAV WMA AAC ALAC AIFF OGG MP3 | up to native DSD512,up to 32bit 768kHz | 64 GB / up to 2 TB | v 5.0 |
ap |
SNR 125 dB, WiFi 2.4 / 5 GHz |
|
iBas |
DFF DSF DXD MQA APE FLAC WAV WMA AAC ALAC AIFF OGG MP3 | up to native DSD512,up to 32bit 768kHz | 128 GB / SDXC and SDHC Micro SD | v 5.0 |
ap |
Du |
| FiiO M11 Plus | DSD DST-ISO DXD APE ALAC FLAC WAV WMA mp3 OGG AAC |
up to DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz |
64 GB / up to 2 TB | v 5.0 SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, LDAC [?] | up to 14 hours | SNR ≥121 dB, WiFi 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| FiiO M17 | DSD DST-ISO DXD APE ALAC FLAC WAV WMA mp3 OGG AAC |
up to DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz external USB DAC: up to DSD512, up to 32bit 768kHz |
64 GB / the |
v 5.0 SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Low Latency, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC [?] | up to 10 hours | SNR ≥121 dB, WiFi 2.4 / 5 GHz |
| Sony NW-A105 | DSF DFF MP3 WMA FLAC WAV AAC HE-AAC ALAC AIFF APE MQA | up to DSD256, up to 32bit 384kHz |
? / Micro SD Mic |
v 5.0 | up to 26 hours | WiFi |
| Sony NW-WM1A | DSD MP3 WMA AAC HE-AAC FLAC ALAC AIFF | native DSD, DSD to PCM, up to 32bit 384kHz |
128 GB / Mic |
aptX HD af |
up to 30 hours |
[See FREE audio players for hi-res] [See DSF audio samples]
Read more about mobile device connections to DSD playback here.
To play DSD files, it's necessary to use a playback device or software player that is installed on a computer or mobile phone.
All these devices contain built-in digital-to-analog converters (DAC). But, different types of digital audio interfaces allow connecting external DAC or AV-receiver or other audio units with DAC.
Audio player software should be configured properly. DAC may be either DSD or PCM.
There is no general rule, that guarantees the best sound quality for every case.
When PCM DAC is used, the conversion of DSD to PCM format is required.
DSD DAC may get an audio stream natively ("native DSD" stream via ASIO driver) via DoP (DSD over PCM) protocol.
Check out How to play DSD with foobar2000 >
Read more details below.
You can get the best sound quality on your computer / laptop on Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile device on Android, iOS, when you:
Bit-perfect means the transmission of audio file content to DAC without altering.
DSD files (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO) and DoP files (FLAC, WAV, AIFF, other lossless PCM files)
may be played back in bit-perfect mode on DSD DAC.
The DAC should support the file's sampling rate.
Example: bit-perfect playback of DSD1024 file is impossible on DAC that supports up to DSD256 sampling rate.
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 track-border artifacts, True Gapless conversion may be used.
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.
Let's imagine a big puzzle (music sound) consists the smallest elements.
Our hands can assemble the puzzle in 2 hours. It's available computing resources.
But there is a requirement to assemble the puzzle in 1 hour 30 minutes.
We can skip some puzzle elements to meet the time limit requirements. It's like easier audio processing.
However, the image on the puzzle will lose quality (degraded sound quality).
Many digital audio players (DAP) are capable of playback with 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 music file is played back on a mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processing, it allows:
DSD and PCM files may be played back with inline (real-time, "on-fly") altering of audio content:
What is "real-time", "on-fly"?
An audio player should send a fixed timepiece of xmusic to a DAC.
If the piece has 1-second length, it should be sent 1 piece per second.
If we have a sending delay, DAC plays silence. And we can listen to pauses or pops.
Before being sent, the portion of music may be processed: resampled , gain altering, EQ, etc.
We put on hold the time that the portion is played.
If the piece is played for 1 second, processing time should be lesser 1 second.
Higher sampling rates contain more samples in 1 second. Thus, it requires more processing time.
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's CPU performance. It can cause a lesser time for 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 life. Because a mobile device performs a lesser calculation number.
Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space on the hard disk of the mobile device.
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.
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.
DSD player is a device or software, that capable to play audiophile format Direct Stream Digital. It may be provides as SACD optical disks or computer files.
Look at DSD player list...
DSD audio files are files, capable to contains DSD audio content: DSF, DFF, SACD ISO and DoP FLAC, WAV, etc. Read details here...
DFF file is one of DSD files. Its audio data content is identical to DSF by sound quality. Read DFF file details here...
DFF file is supported by software...
SACD ISO is audio file ripped from SACD optical disk.
Read more...
Read DSF file quick guide here...
Read how to open DSF file...
It is a matter of recording quality and playback tool implementation. Read about DSD and FLAC comparison...
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...
DSD have as advantages as disadvantages comparing alternative audio formats. Read details...
Many audio formats intersect by features and can replace each another. Read more which format is the best..
As rule, it is lossless files in high resolution (WAV, FLAC, DSF, DFF, SACD, SACD ISO and others).
Read details...
No. DSD music is produced and sold nows.
Listen to:
SACD is optical disk format that contains DSD audio. Read details...
You can download high-quality (high-resolution) files from the download resources into the list here...
You can download .dsf files here...
See the list of DSD download sites here...
You can download .dsf files for free...
Also, check out these download sites...
You can listen DSD with audio player software.
Read about player settings and other...
DSD player is computer software or device, that play DSD files or SACD optical disk.
Read more...
See the list of players that are capable to play DSD...
To listen DSD files on computer or mobile device without DSD DAC, you can:
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.
DSD files may be played back 3 ways:
Option #3 is called "native DSD support". DSD may be transmitted via ASIO driver or as DoP.
DSD files may be natively listened to with DSD DAC and compatible player software or DAP.
To playback at PCM DAC, DSD files and be previously converted to FLAC, WAV, AIFF and other PCM formats.
Also, you can play with sound quality...
DSD audio may be purchased on SACD disks or music files.
There are many media players that allows listening to DSD audio in all these formats.
Computer allows playing DSD files only.
Also, you can pre-convert DSD to PCM audio formats, and listen to it om more common PCM DAC.
Read also: How to improve sound quality...
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 to the music on widespread PCM Digital-to-Analog Converters.
Read about way of sound-quality improvement...
You can play DSD files with one of DSD players.
Read more...
Looks like, VLC can't play DSF. Current state is here...
Anyway, you can use conversion DSF files to FLAC ones instead.
Read more...
Looks like, the Plex media server converts DSD to PCM "on fly" (discussion).
Alternatively, you can pre-convert DSD to FLAC and listen to converted files on this server software.
To play DSD audio files on Windows 10, use audio players. Read details here...
Audio files in DSD format can be played on Windows 10 with music software player. Read more...
You can play DSD files on your PC with audio player software.
Also, DSD DAC may required.
Read more...
Yes. There are Android player software that can play DSD files. See here...
Yes. There are Android player software that can play DSD files. See here...
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...
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...
You can play to lossless music file on Android music player software...
Yes, you can. Read foobar2000 DSD playback guide here...
No. Windows Media Player can't play DSD. But, you can use other software...
To play DSF files use one of DSD audio players...
Also, see guide how to play DSD...
You can play DSF file on Foobar with this guide...
DFF files are played back via audio player software...
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:
To play .dsf files on Mac, use DSD players...
As the author know, VLC can't play DSD files. Read details...
Audirvana software can play SACD ISO files.
Yes. Audirvana is capable to play SACD ISO files [discussion].
Foobar2000 software can play SACD ISO files. Read more...
As it's written in this source, MusicBee software can play DSD files.
However, you can use DSD to PCM (FLAC, WAV, mp3) offline conversion instead. Read more...
To play SACD ISO file you can use DSD audio player software.
Best audio player for Mac is individual choice. Here you can read general recommendations...
To listen hi-res music on Mac use hifi audio players...
Read about conversion DSF to FLAC here...
Read about conversion DSF to mp3 here...
DSF is DSD audio file format. Read more...
FLAC is PCM audio format. Read more...
Read about comparison DSF and FLAC...
No. Tidal doesn't stream DSD, on moment the aswer the question. Read about DSD streaming...
No. Quobuz has not support streaming of DSD. Check out DSD streaming...
Audio Basis - articles about audio
January 11, 2023 updated | since May 1, 2018
