Step into the world of high-fidelity audio with Foobar2000. Explore how this powerful audio player can elevate your music experience by unlocking the secrets of SACD-quality sound on your computer. Get ready to be intrigued and informed as we delve into the capabilities of Foobar2000 for audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike. Keep reading.
If you buy "AuI ConverteR PROduce-RD" (2023/12.x version) from 24 August 2023 to 24 October 2023, you will get free update to version 2024 (13.x) after its release.
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What is SACD?
Super Audio CD (SACD) is an optical disc format designed for audio storage, which provides a higher fidelity than standard CDs. Unlike regular CDs that use Pulse Code Modulation (PCM), SACDs employ Direct Stream Digital (DSD) encoding, which offers a different approach to capturing and reproducing sound.
Read more what is DSD >
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Can Foobar2000 Play SACD?
While it's true that a computer's optical drive cannot read SACD discs due to their unique format, Foobar2000 can play digital files extracted from SACDs. This is achieved by ripping the SACD using suitable hardware and software to create digital copies in formats such as ISO, DSF, or DSDIFF, which can then be played on a computer.
Read how to rip SACD to ISO file...
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Setting Up Foobar2000 for Playback
To play these SACD-derived digital files, Foobar2000 requires the installation of third-party components.
Required Components
- ASIO ASIOProxyInstall: This component is necessary for high-quality audio streaming to native DSD DAC.
- Super Audio CD Decoder: This allows Foobar2000 to handle SACD ISO images, DSDIFF, and DSF files.
Read the step-by-step guide...
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Playback of Digital SACD Files
Once the necessary components are installed, Foobar2000 can play back the digital files, provided the user has a compatible DAC that supports DSD-over-PCM (DoP) for the best audio quality.
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Conclusion
Foobar2000 cannot play physical SACD discs directly, but it can play digital files that originate from SACDs. This process involves ripping the SACD to obtain digital audio files compatible with Foobar2000, thus allowing audiophiles to enjoy high-resolution audio playback on their computers.
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