DSD-Guide - Are you ready for better audio? Does your DAC plays DSD? Let's find out!
DSD is one bit audio - giant files, giant sound - are you ready to be an audiophile?
We get a lot of questions as to whether this or that device plays DSD. Here are some simple tricks you can do at home.
Some of you might be thinking… what is DSD? Direct Stream Digital or one-bit recording. Subscribe to get updates and more information on DSD audio.
At the bottom of the article you’ll find a link to a DSD / High resolution audio file to consider for your collection.
3 Simple ways to find out if you can play DSD files with my system
Understand what a DAC or soundcard is and look it up on google.
Yes, that’s right… do a search for your DAC online and read the manufacturer’s spec sheet. That’s what we’re going to do when you write to us with a question about it. With thousands of playback systems coming on the market, it’s hard to keep track of them all.
Here’s a tip - if you can hear audio, voices, music, etc then your computer or cellphone has a DAC… most commonly called a soundcard.
Playback varies by device so check your device specs. Some phones can be equipped with DSD playback (like some Samsung phones) but otherwise you’ll need an external DAC to hear larger audio files of better quality. If your DAC says it plays up to DSD128, then it won’t play DSD256. If it only lists WAV, FLAC or PCM, then it won’t play DSD.Understand what “sampling rate” means. Don’t beat yourself up… it’s confusing for pros, too.
Here’s a wonderful article posted at DSD-Guide.com that leads to a Paul McGowan article on the different sampling rates.
https://dsd-guide.com/basic-guide-sampling-rates-what-it-and-how-does-affect-sound-your-music
Understand that if you can play streaming files that doesn’t mean you can play HD or DSD files. There are as many variations of compressed audio (like MP3) as there are uncompressed audio. If you’re equipment or ears aren’t up to some people’s hearing, don’t worry.
Consider yourself lucky you won’t be spending oodles of money for the best sound. The difference between a DSD256 file and an mp3 can be very small to some and dramatically different to others.Test out these free files that offer 10 different formats.
Blue Coast Music offers one song in 10 formats that include DSD, WAV, FLAC and MQA. It’s free. Download it and see if you can get any of the files to play. That’s a good start!
https://bluecoastmusic.com/hifilife/test-your-music-systems-for-high-resolution-audio-dsd-wav-flac-and-mqa-with-free-downloads
See what you learn and write to us!
Support@dsd-guide.com and tell your friends!
Cheers and enjoy your music!
Cookie Marenco and
The DSD-Guide Crew
Music for your consideration
https://bluecoastmusic.com/blue-coast-collection
I played the free tracks. I have a Fiio R7, it supports DSD 256., though my amp doesn't. I play the few DSD tracks I have direct to some 'vintage' AGK headphones. I'm not sure my old ears can detect the difference of the enhanced hi res output though.