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Bharadia, K. (2025, Febuary 11). What is DSD audio? How the format works, where to download files, and more. What Hi-Fi?https://www.whathifi.com/advice/what-dsd-audio-how-it-works-where-to-download-files-and-more

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The DSD audio format seems to be back in fashion again. Most new digital products boast DSD compatibility, and the music catalogue is now big enough to command respect, especially if you're into jazz and classical music.

But what is DSD? And how is it different from the digital signals used in CDs and every other hi-res music format? Let us explain.

First, PCM explained...

Digital signals take the form of two states that can be represented by 0s and 1s, but this information needs to be arranged in a specific way to be of any use. In just about every case, the system to organise the digits is known as PCM (Pulse Code Modulation).

Let's have a quick recap of how PCM works before we continue.

With PCM, the original analogue music waveform is described in two parts. The first is its amplitude (size). In CD this is represented by 16-bits of digital data, which gives us the ability to define 65,536 different signal levels.

The original music waveform has to be measured at regular intervals in order for it to be represented properly. The measurement is done 44,100 times a second. While that looks like an arbitrarily large number, it's chosen quite carefully to ensure that the full frequency range of human hearing (20Hz to 20kHz) is covered.

So, what is DSD audio?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) takes a different approach. Back in the mid-1990s, it was originally conceived as a way of archiving old analogue recordings.

It was designed to be a simpler, more space-efficient way of storing digital music data than PCM. Importantly, DSD was also designed to be easy to convert to PCM files with sampling rates based on multiples of 44.1kHz.

Around the same time, Sony and Philips were developing a replacement for CD, something that ultimately became the SACD disc. DSD seemed an ideal system to build the new format around, particularly as it has great copy protection.

The main attraction of DSD is its simplicity and, with that, cheapness of implementation. It needs less processing than PCM and can use simpler, far less expensive DAC s.

How does DSD work?

DSD uses a single bit of information, and all this information tells us is whether the current sample of the analogue waveform is higher or lower than in the previous one. Compared with the over 65,000 different values 16-bit PCM has, the two values (0 if the new sample if the signal is lower or 1 if it's higher) of DSD appear mighty limiting.

That resolution shortfall is made up by the very high sampling rate of over 2.8 million times a second - that's 64 times the speed of CD. Standard DSD is sometimes called DSD64 for this reason, with double and quadruple speed versions called DSD128 and DSD256 respectively. There's even a DSD512 spec, though we've never heard any material encoded in it.

Standard DSD recordings are still relatively rare compared with the PCM alternatives, and those higher speed versions are extremely niche. DSD fans claim the format is as close to analogue as digital gets.

If you could look at a DSD digital stream, it's possible to draw the analogue waveform simply by looking at the density of 0s and 1s. The more 0s there are, the lower the waveform goes, and it's the opposite for ones. Where there is a balance of the two values, we're at, or close to, the zero signal point.

What are the downsides to DSD?

That all looks good, but there are also issues with DSD. It's not very practical to manipulate a DSD recording.

All the things that are required post-recording such as equalisation, editing, dynamic range control and adding reverb usually involve the DSD stream being converted to PCM to do the processing and then switched back.

That's hardly a pure way of doing things, right? Just about every studio recording made with DSD goes through this process. It's down to a lack of suitable equipment and processing software.

You may come across the term DXD on a recording. This is where the original DSD signal has been converted to 24-bit/352kHz PCM and processed in that form throughout. While the name (intentionally or not) sounds like DSD, it is simply very high-resolution PCM.

When it comes to measurement, DSD also has issues with high levels of noise compared with PCM. Clever processing techniques allow the engineers to shift the noise above our hearing, and optimise the performance and dynamic range in the audible region. The high-frequency noise is generally filtered out.

Is DSD hi-res?

So how high resolution is a DSD recording? There's no exact way of striking equivalence between PCM and DSD but it's around the same as 24-bit/88.2kHz PCM.

In terms of dynamic range, DSD is claimed to be around 120dB in the audible frequency range. In comparison, CD measures around 96dB, and 24-bit/192kHz recordings have a theoretical maximum of around 144dB.

Although the bigger numbers are more impressive, even the range of CD is considered more than enough to cope with any recording.

How do you play DSD?

DSD playback has become far more common in digital equipment over recent years and that's down to the greater availability of downloadable music files. Just make sure your portable music player, music streamer and/or DAC are compatible with the format.

Most recent mid-to-high-end digital playback equipment tends to be compatible, so if you have something suitable there's no reason to treat it any different from FLAC or WAV files. Some flagship smartphones support DSD natively. You can even play DSD audio files on an iPhone using additional equipment.

On a download site, you may occasionally come across the terms DSF and DFF. These are two kinds of DSD files, but the only thing you need to know about them is that you should always choose the DSF version if your player is compatible - it's better at holding a track's metadata information (artist/song name, album art etc).

Where can you buy DSD audio files?

While hi-res download sites are far and few between these days, those audiophile music sites that are still around mostly sell DSD downloads. The likes of HDtracks, and Native DSD are good places to start.

Alternatively, if you prefer physical formats and have a compatible disc player, then SACDs are still fairly widely available.
MORE: Where can you buy hi-res music? Our pick of 15 hi-res album downloads to test your hi-fi system Here are the top download sites

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What is DSD audio? How the format works, where to download files, and more

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The DSD audio format seems to be back in fashion again. Most new digital products boast DSD compatibility, and the music catalogue is now big enough to command respect, especially if you're into jazz and classical music. But what is DSD? And how is it different from the digital signals used in CDs and every other hi-res music format?

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What does PCM actually mean? Find out inside PCMag’s comprehensive tech and computer-related encyclopedia.

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DSD is an uncompressed audio format that stands for (Direct Stream Digital).

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Cambridge Audio US. (n. d.). What is DSD? https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/usa/en/blog/what-dsd

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You might have heard of DSD audio, but what exactly is it? Here’s everything you need to know.

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#004 ¿Como reproducir archivos de música de alta calidad? Formatos MQA, FLAC, DSD DSF. Audirvana

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It was created in the 90s by Sony and Phillips. It was intended to replace the CD, but was later used to encode high-resolution audio on Super Audio CDs (SACDs).

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DSD files uses only 1 bit of information in the signal. However, this single bit samples around 2.8 million times a second to generate the audio signal. As a result, the "standard" DSD file (DSD64) is roughly equivalent to 24/88.2hz.

DSD files can be stereo, binaural or multichannel.

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-High quality audio: Because it is not compressed, the audio that it stores remains the same from its origin to its destination

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Larger files: Because it is not compressed, the file size stays larger than other compressed audio files.

It's not very practical to handle DSD files: to do all post-recording related things, such as equalization, reverb and editing, usually require to change the DSD file into a PCM file and then change it back.

It has high levels of noise.

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PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) is the raw digital representation of sound. It's the basis upon which much of our digital audio world is built.

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In 1937, British engineer Alec Reeves is credited with conceiving the theoretical basis of PCM for voice communication while working for International Telephone and Telegraph in France.

He described the principles and potential advantages of PCM, but the technology of the time hindered practical implementation.

Later on, contributions from figures like Bernard M. Oliver, Claude Shannon, and John R. Pierce further advanced PCM technology.

These individuals played significant roles in developing and refining the practical applications of PCM, particularly in communication systems.

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Sampling Rate:

This determines how often the analog signal is sampled. A higher sampling rate captures more of the original signal, resulting in higher fidelity.

Bit Depth:

This determines the precision with which each sample is represented. A higher bit depth provides a wider dynamic range and greater detail.

Uncompressed Nature:

Because it's uncompressed, PCM audio files tend to be relatively large.

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Pulse-code modulation (PCM) is a method used to digitally represent analog signals. It is the standard form of digital audio in computers, compact discs, digital telephony and other digital audio applications. In a PCM stream, the amplitude of the analog signal is sampled at uniform intervals, and each sample is quantized to the nearest value within a range of digital steps. Alec Reeves, Claude Shannon, Barney Oliver and John R. Pierce are credited with its invention.[6][7][8]

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High Fidelity:

PCM, in its uncompressed form, offers the highest possible fidelity, this makes it ideal for applications where sound quality is paramount, such as professional audio recording and mastering.

Ease of Digital Processing:

Once an audio signal is in digital form (PCM), it can be easily processed, edited, and manipulated using digital signal processing (DSP) techniques.

Standardization:

PCM is a widely standardized format, which ensures compatibility across different devices and platforms. This makes it easy to exchange and share audio files.

Foundation for other formats:

Many other audio encoding methods use PCM as their base.

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Large File Sizes:

Uncompressed PCM files can be very large, which requires significant storage space.

Bandwidth Requirements:

The high data rate of PCM audio can also be a limitation for transmission over certain networks.

Complexity:

While now very common, the systems required to convert analog to PCM, and PCM back to analog, add complexity to audio systems.

Quantization Noise:

During the analog-to-digital conversion process, quantization noise can be introduced. This is a form of distortion that occurs when the analog signal is approximated by discrete digital values.

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NativeDSD. (n. d.). About DSD. https://www.nativedsd.com/about-dsd-files/

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If you are tired of standard quality music and your desire is to instead play live and recording studio grade original recording quality sound, NativeDSD is your one stop shop. Listening to DSD files will allow you to discover details in the music you were never able to hear before. Testimonials regarding sound quality Trustpilot […]

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In conclusion, i think these formats are great for the digital audio world, they help us reproduce the sound much better and create a more accurate sound experience and quality in this whole process

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In conclusion, these formats are very different in the way they are created and manipulated, but they have very similar characteristics and uses. It's up to the user to decide which format to use depending on the action it wants to realize.

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Audio Digital DSD Explicado: Modulación PDM / Delta-Sigma

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In conclusion DSD is a high-quality audio format that keeps the sound as close as possible to the original recording. Unlike MP3s, which lose some quality, DSD preserves every detail. Although it needs special equipment and creates larger files, it's great for audiophiles who want the best sound experience.

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In conclusion DSD is a high-quality audio format that keeps the sound as close as possible to the original recording. Unlike MP3s, which lose some quality, DSD preserves every detail. Although it needs special equipment and creates larger files, it's great for audiophiles who want the best sound experience.

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These formats might be made and used differently, but they pretty much do the same job. It all comes down to what you need, editing, streaming, or saving audio. They help make sound clearer and better, keeping digital audio sharp and cool.

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To conclude, it is necessary to talk about the relation these both files have with each other, and also include the revolution in the communications industry and its development, which has leaded the world to a new way of connection through the ages.