Guaranteed Native DSD and DXD files
NativeDSD.com is closely policing the origins of recordings and we only allow the DSD original files, and analogue direct transfers to DSD and DXD to the platform.
Dsd Software For Mac Software
What you will need to play DSD and DXD files on a computer
You will need a computer, stand-alone music server, or a portable device to play DSD files. We will start off with computer based options:
Includes Mastering Quality File Converter / Downsampler for PCM, FLAC, DSD, DXD Files; Our own proven, optimized algorithms for sample rate and DSD to PCM conversion - not built from a patchwork of 'open source' software Supports both PowerPC (G4, G5) and Intel Mac Computers running Mac OS X 10.5 or later.
Desktop Software Players:
- With Audirvana your computer becomes a true high fidelity audio source. The audio playback becomes a priority on your computer, and your system (DAC) is fed with a ready-to-play audio data stream using the shortest possible path.
- DSD Master is a professional-grade tool for producing PCM versions of music files encoded in the DSD format. DSD Master also produces BitPerfect Hybrid-DSD files required for playing DSD using BitPerfect and iTunes. DSD Master produces the highest quality PCM transcodes on the market - better than those produced by professional studios.
- The latest release of Colibri, which is available in the Apple App store (desktop, not iOS yet), plays all the DSD files I have gotten from you and auto-switches the Midi automatically for WAV-FLAC-DSD to match the recording rate of the music being played.
- Roon: Stereo and Multichannel (www.roonlabs.com)
- JRiver: Stereo and Multichannel (www.jriver.com)
- Audirvana Plus 2: Stereo and Multichannel (www.audirvana.com)
- In iTunes you can play DSD files when using BitPerfect and DSD Master (Read more in our Quick Guide) [MAC only]
- There are many more applications that can play DSD files, find them here
iPhone, iPad and Android DSD playback apps
- More mobile appscan be found here
Digital to Analogue (D/A) Conversion: Output Hardware
When using computer (and portable) based playback, you will need a device that converts the digital (DSD Data) information to an Analogue signal, in other words, a DAC. There are literally hundreds of DAC's on the market, and they are available in a wide variety of prices. By the way, NativeDSD also sells DAC's in the Gear store.
You connect the DAC to your computer or portable device commonly with a USB-cable. From the DAC you plug in your Headphones or send the signal to your amplifier and speaker system.
We created the DSD Database to give you a full overview of what is available in both Hardware and Software. It is updated weekly and contains a list of DACs with their list price, performance and link to manufacturer's website as well as playback Software / Conversion software lists.
Here is a cool tip: when you select the letter above the 'price' column in our database, you can sort the DACs for pricing. It looks like this. 👍
If you already own a PCM-only DAC
If you already own a DAC, but is does not support (native)DSD playback:
- You can still play DSD files if you:
- Use a software player that understands a DSD bitstream and:
- can down-convert the music as it is playing the file.
This way you are investing in original quality audiofiles; great for when the time comes you are upgrading your DAC and don't want to re-purchase the same music in a higher resolution!
Different Types of DSD files
Now, we'll take a look at what kind of files are available and what they mean. Just like any other audio format, DSD files also use a three character extension. DSD files come in either a .dff or .dsf extension.
The .dff file extension (Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format (DSDIFF)) is a data format used to store audio data and was developed by Sony and Philips and used for its Super Audio CD (SACD) technology.
The .dsf file stores audio data with ID3v2.2 (or higher version) tags. A .dff file is the same thing, but without the possibility to store tags within the file.
Files at NativeDSD are in .dsf only
At NativeDSD.com we only sell DSD files in the .dsf format, and carefully tag the files to make sure they show up in your screen with the correct artist and album information.
Differences between DSD and PCM
There's no relationship between any DSD bit rate, and any PCM sample rate. Any DSD bit rate can be converted (remodulated) to any PCM sample rate, and visa versa. DXD (352.8kHz) is the highest professional PCM rate employed today, which is based on 44.1 kHz (44.1 kHz times 8, or more commonly referred to as 8fs).
DSD and PCM are completely different digital encoding standards. PCM is a series of completely independent binary coded samples representing actual numerical arithmetic values of signal level at the time of the sample. DSD is a modulated bit stream comprised of a population of (clock) bits whose density is proportional to signal level, and unlike PCM, DSD contains no numerical values. Recording in DSD256 does not imply any PCM derivative of any sample rate.
- With PCM, think of movie film made of individual stand alone frames, each containing a separate picture (or signal value) in a sequence of separate pictures.
- With DSD, think of a picket fence with more or less pickets present, proportional to the original signal level.
The word 'Upsampling' applies only to PCM to (another form of) PCM, which contains samples to be rate multiplied. Converting any DSD rate to another involves remodulation, not just simple multiplication and interpolation as with PCM to PCM.
DXD Files
DXD is something else than DSD. DXD is always only offered in 1 rate. We see DXD files as a separate product. Some people prefer DXD files over DSD because they sound slightly better/different, and vice versa. These will sound different on any setup and is completely taste-specific.
If you end up with a DSD version of an album that you'd rather like to hear in DXD, we are always willing to accommodate that. Shoot us a message.
DXD is another name for 32/352.8k PCM and we ship all tracks tagged, so FLAC is the PCM container we use (as do most online music stores). DXD is the only PCM sample rate we sell, and ONLY when the recordings are native to DXD (in this case, DXD was used to edit the DSD recording so we were able to get the DXD version... (a purist would say it is even more direct than the edited DSD). Sometimes, DXD files come in a .wav container too.
Additional Reading
- The subtle differences between PCM and DSD
If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with us via chat or email!
DSD stands for Direct Stream Digital and it is a high-definition lossless audio format with a twist. PCM signal solutions (like FLAC, TTA or APE) measure a set of bits multiple times per second to capture the audio data, hence the 16/24-bit parameter. On the other hand, DSD uses only one bit but samples it 2.8 million times a second to capture the audio signal.
SACD and DST are not supported
Colibridoes not support DST encoded DSDfiles and
Colibridoes not support SuperAudio CD (SACD) ISOreading!
This is because of licensing issues that I’ve tried to resolve, albeit without any success: all my requests have been rejected with the reason being there is no way to answer my request. I tried getting in touch with both Sony and Philips and will try again in the future.On the off-chance that You who is reading this can somehow help me reach out to them, please let me know via e-mail.
Is my DAC supported?
If you are not sure how your DAC would work with Colibri then you can download the free Colibri DAC/DSD Test app from the Mac AppStore and try it for yourself!
As Colibri does not collect usage data, statistics or anything from the user, the compatibility below is based solely on user feedback. Please let me know if your DAC is supported so I can add it to the list. I would also like to know if your DAC isn’t supported – that way, I can add a warning here to let users know before buying Colibri. Your feedback is much appreciated!
The following DACs are known to work with Colibri:
DACs that work with some caveats:
Results could vary even if you have the same hardware! A different circuit board revision or firmware version is enough to make the difference – this is why Colibri DAC/DSD Test was born and why it is free. Download it from the Mac AppStore link above to see whether your DAC works with Colibri’s audio core. If your DAC works and it isn’t on the list, please contact me so I can add it for others to find as well, thank you!
What’s so good about DSD?
Dsd Software For Mac
It is a completely different approach to capture and store high-definition audio than the other, more widely used consumer formats.It is a bit harder to compare these formats, not to mention the real difference is only heard by using really high-end audio gear. However, many say that most records have a more natural, warmer tone when played from a DSD source.
Dsd Software Download
Is it popular?
To some extent, yes – mainly among audiophiles, so to speak. OSX (now macOS) does not offer built-in DSD playback possibility, although there are various audio players to choose from.
How to play DSD on Mac?
A fresh install of macOS currently does not have a convenient way of playing such files, as DSD/DSF files need special decoding hardware or a software signal processing solution to render the audio stream. A good DSD player for the Mac is one of those audio apps that support DoP (DSD over PCM) stream packing along RAW and Native modes – which brings us to…
Colibri – Native Lossless Audio & Music for your Mac
Colibriis a DSD player for Mac (among other things) that represents a simple playback solution while hiding the required complex machinery under the hood. A Mac DSD audio and music player with Native DoP/RAW data sending methods that supports gapless playback with or without a Cue Sheet. Bit-perfect audio playback, accurate stereo-balance. If the song contains an embedded cover art then Colibri will happily display it as well – visit the Gallery to see more.
Currently the BASS engine does not support DST encoding, which means: Colibri can not play DST encoded DSD files or SACD ISO files! If you attempt to load one, it will show an error message saying: ‘Unsupported Codec: DST’.
Dsd Software Mac
Get Colibri from the Mac AppStore or visit the FAQ if you have any further questions.