Step-by-step guide
Native DSD playback
Frequently Asked Questions
Step-by-step guide
Native DSD playback
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
To play SACD ISO or DSF (DSD files) in foobar2000 audio player software:
To playback DFF files in foobar 2000 program:
To play DSD natively on foobar 2000:
Remark: In this mode DSD audio is transmitted to the DAC as DoP.
Read how to play at DSD DAC >
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:
Playing DSF, DFF SACD ISO (DSD files) on PCM DAC may be performed 2 ways:
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:
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) >
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:
Need to install foo_input_sacd plugin and restart the software.
In the version 1.3.16 with the DSD input plugin v. 1.0.10 DSD512 is supported to playback at PCM DAC.
Yes. It can play DSD files: .dsf, .dff, .iso with SACD content. Read how to play DSD with Foobar...
Yes. Phones can play DSD with compatible audio player software. DSD layback may be applied several ways...
As far as the author know, VLC software still don't play DSF audio files. See discussion...
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...
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...
To play DSF files you are need DSD players software...
Read how to play DSF via foobar2000...
Foobar2000 can play DSF files. Read guide...
Yes, Foobar2000 supports DSF audio files. Read guide...
DSF file one of DSD file types. Read details...
DFF file one of DSD file types. Read details...
SACD ISO is one of DSD file types. It is image of SACD optical disk.
Read how to rip SACD to SACD ISO...
As the author know, VLC don't play DSF. Read about details and current state...
Yes. Foobar can play DSD files (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO). Read quick start guide...
Read quick start guide...
Read guide how to play DFF files with foobar2000...
Read:
Read:
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:
You can play DSF at a DSD player or convert it to PCM format and play at any player.
Read:
Read guide how to convert DSF to FLAC files...
Read guide how to convert SACD ISO to FLAC files...
Read how to rip SACD optical disk to DSD files...
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...
Foobar2000 is capable to play CD-audio.
Read also
Additional information
foobar2000 dsf decoder comparison
May 16, 2022 updated | since November 01, 2018
Copyright © Yuri Korzunov
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Read about supported formats and third-party codecs