Step-by-step guide
Native DSD playback
Frequently Asked Questions
Foobar2000 | How to play DSD: DSF DFF SACD ISO?
Read the step-by-step guide on how to play DSD files (.dsf, .dff, sacd iso) via foobar2000 player software with plugins. Author: audio software developer Yuri Korzunov.
How do I play DSD files [DSF, DFF, SACD ISO] on Foobar2000 - Quickstart
How to play DSF and SACD ISO
To play SACD ISO or DSF (DSD files) in foobar2000 audio player software:
- Install foobar2000.
-
Download foobar SACD plugin foo_input_sacd - xxxx.zip by link
Warning: SSF/DSF Decoder plugin doesn't relate to DSD playback. - Unpack foo_input_sacd - xxxx.zip to a folder.
- Launch the playback software and open Preferences (<Ctrl+P> key combination) > Components.
- Click Install button. In opened Install component window select foo_input_sacd.fb2k-component file (dsf component) from the folder.
- Click OK button into Preferences window. Restart foobar2000.
- Open .iso (be sure, that it is SACD ISO) or .dsf file into the player.
- Push Playback button.
How to play DFF files
To playback DFF files in foobar 2000 program:
- Download foobar plugin DSDIFF files (.DFF) by link
- Launch the playback software and open Preferences (<Ctrl+P> key combination) > Components.
- Click Install button. In opened Install component window select downloaded foo_input_dsdiff.fb2k-component file (DFF decoding component).
- Click OK button into Preferences window. Restart foobar 2000.
- Open .dff file into the player.
- Push Playback button.
Foobar playback via DSD DAC (native DSD audio):
To play DSD natively on foobar 2000:
- Download ASIOProxyInstall.
- Unpack and launch ASIOProxyInstall-xxx.exe
- Download foobar's ASIO plugin here
- Launch the foobar playback software and open Preferences (<Ctrl+P> key combination) > Components.
- Click Install button. In opened Install component window select foo_out_asio.fb2k-component file.
- Click OK button into Preferences window. Restart foobar2000.
- Open Preferences (<Ctrl+P> key combination) > Output > ASIO.
- Into ASIO drivers list double click on foo_dsd_asio driver to configure according to your DSD DAC device.
- Go to Preferences > Output. Into Device drop-down list select DSD : ASIO : foo_dsd_asio.
- Push OK button into Preferences window.
Remark: In this mode DSD audio is transmitted to the DAC as DoP.
Watch and share: Hi Res Audio [How it works. Sound quality. 7 Myths]
Read how to play at DSD DAC >
General sound quality matters of an audio playback
In this part, we discuss general audio playback issues without referring to certain software.
As initial point, we have digital-to-analog converter (DAC)'s supported audio format:
Some DACs support both audio formats.
DAC may be implemented as:
- a stand-alone device or
- inner electronic module inside a mobile phone or digital audio player.
Playing DSF, DFF SACD ISO (DSD files) on PCM DAC may be performed 2 ways:
- directly on an audio player (real-time conversion DSD to PCM), or
- PCM files, that pre-converted from DSD files offline.
If DSD files are played back at DSD DAC, offline or real-time resampling (at some playback software) may be applied.
When we use way #1, we no need to do something with files.
Way #2 may be preferable, if an offline conversion sound quality is better than a real-time one.
A backup of original audio files are recommended for offline conversion. Because:
- further player and/or offline conversion software may use more advanced DSD to PCM conversion by sound quality or
- a new equipment will be bought (read below).
Sample rate and bit depth of played back file may be a matter for a player software (except bit-perfect mode) and equipment (including DAC). Read details >
Sound quality may be compared via measurements or via hearing.
See the comparison of these ways (infographics) >
Watch and share: How to convert DSF to FLAC
Some SACD ISO files contain 2.0 and 5.1 channel variants of an album. If your audio system is stereo, you have options:
Downmixing is transformation multichannel audio to stereo.
In general case, there is not mathematically precise option. Downmixing is subject of art, primarily.
Dolby Atmos allows adapting music to channel number. But, it's other case.
The first option is preferable because we can suppose, that "human-mixed" stereo variant is better than an "auto-mixed" one.
But there is no guarantee, that it is so for any case.
Also, the quality of an automatical downmix depends on implementation.
Downmix may be done inline, during playback.
Check now:
Watch and share: How to convert ISO to FLAC
Playback issues
Message: "Unable to open item for playback (Unsupported file format)"
Need to install foo_input_sacd plugin and restart the software.
Supported DSD sample rates
In the version 1.3.16 with the DSD input plugin v. 1.0.10 DSD512 is supported to playback at PCM DAC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Foobar play DSD? Does Foobar2000 play DSD? How do I play DSD files with Foobar2000? How do you play DSD on Foobar2000? Can Foobar play DSD files?
Yes. It can play DSD files: .dsf, .dff, .iso with SACD content. Read how to play DSD with Foobar...
Can phones play DSD?
Yes. Phones can play DSD with compatible audio player software. DSD layback may be applied several ways...
Can VLC play DSF? Can VLC play DSF files?
As far as the author know, VLC software still don't play DSF audio files. See discussion...
How do I open a SACD file?
You can open SACD ISO file via foobar2000 or other compatible DSD player...
Also, SACD ISO file may be extracted to DSD or PCM files...
How do you read a SACD?
SACD optical disk can be opened via SACD player device.
There is no common-available SACD optical drives for computers.
Except, some SONY's laptops.
How to rip SACD optical disk read here...
How do I play DSF files? How do you play DSF files? How do I play a DSF file?
To play DSF files you are need DSD players software...
How do you play DSF in foobar2000?
Read how to play DSF via foobar2000...
Can Foobar play DSF? Can Foobar play DSF files? Can Foobar2000 play DSF? Does Foobar2000 play DSF?
Foobar2000 can play DSF files. Read guide...
Does foobar2000 support DSF?
Yes, Foobar2000 supports DSF audio files. Read guide...
What is DSF file? What is a DSF audio file?
DSF file one of DSD file types. Read details...
What is DFF audio file?
DFF file one of DSD file types. Read details...
What is SACD ISO?
SACD ISO is one of DSD file types. It is image of SACD optical disk.
Read how to rip SACD to SACD ISO...
Does VLC play DSF files?
As the author know, VLC don't play DSF. Read about details and current state...
Can foobar2000 play DSD? Can Foobar play ISO file? How do you play DSD files with Foobar2000?
Yes. Foobar can play DSD files (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO). Read quick start guide...
How do I play DSF files with foobar2000?
Read quick start guide...
How do I play DFF files with Foobar2000?
Read guide how to play DFF files with foobar2000...
How do you play DFF? How do I play DFF audio files?
Read:
How do you play a SACD ISO file?
Read:
How do you play SACD on Foobar? How do you play SACD ISO on Foobar?
SACD may not be played on ordinary optical disk drive. As the author know, some SONY VAIO computers can to do it with special program. Only SACD ISO image file may be played on Foobar2000.
Read:
How do I play DSF audio?
You can play DSF at a DSD player or convert it to PCM format and play at any player.
How do you play DSD music? How can I play DSD files on my PC?
Read:
How do I convert DSF to FLAC?
Read guide how to convert DSF to FLAC files...
How Rip SACD ISO to FLAC?
Read guide how to convert SACD ISO to FLAC files...
How do you convert SACD to DSD?
Read how to rip SACD optical disk to DSD files...
Is FLAC better than SACD?
FLAC or SACD (DSD) gives no guaranteed final result by sound quality. If we compare DSD and PCM units or such modes for single device we can get difference. Winner in the difference may vary from unit model to unit model.
Read more...
Can Foobar2000 play CD?
Foobar2000 is capable to play CD-audio.
Read also
- What is DSF >
- How open DSF files audio [Converters, Players] >
- DSD vs DSF vs DFF Files Audio >
- DSF to FLAC converter audio >
- DSF to PCM converter >
- DSF File Converter >
- DSF oversampling. D64 vs. D128 >
- Audio Converter DSF to FLAC >
- How Impact to Audio Quality of PCM to DSF Conversion. 1-bit DSF vs. PCM >
Additional information
foobar2000 dsf decoder comparison
May 16, 2022 updated | since November 01, 2018
