DSD

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Direct Stream Digital (DSD) is the format used for Super Audio CD's, which differs from the conventional PCM used by the compact disc or conventional computer audio systems. Please see the article on DSD at Wikpedia more information. DSD support was added in JRiver Media Center 17.0.

Playback

By default, DSD sources will be converted to PCM for playback and handled by the Media Center audio engine like any other file type. The DSD to PCM conversion process converts from 1-bit DSD to 64-bit PCM at 1/8th of the DSD sample rate. The total amount of data from this conversion grows by 8x, so the process is effectively lossless / perfect. Once you have PCM, it will be 64bit @ 352.8 kHz for DSD, and 64bit @ 705.6 kHz for 2×DSD.

Not all hardware devices support these high sample rates, so downsampling is normally required. To enable downsampling, set '352,800 Hz' (1×DSD) or 'Greater than 384,000 Hz' (2×DSD) in Player > DSP Studio > Output Format to the highest sample rate supported by your hardware. All DSD rates higher than 1× are handled by the 'Greater than 384,000 Hz' setting.

DSD contains high frequency noise that could potentially degrade sound quality or even damage equipment. Therefore, a low-pass filter is used to remove this ultrasonic noise at playback time. The default low-pass filter is at 24kHz using a 48dB/octave slope. The low-pass filter can be selected via Tools > Options > Audio > Advanced > Configure input plug-in > JRiver DSD Plugin. It is not recommended to change the filter from the default, since the other options will not completely remove all ultrasonic noise from the output. There's a little more detail on our default low-pass in this ComputerAudiophile thread.

Bitstreaming

Enabling DSD Bitstreaming.

With a DAC that supports native DSD playback, it is possible to bitstream DSD and bypass MC's audio engine (and, therefore, the DSD to PCM conversion). There are multiple DSD bitstreaming technologies:

  • ASIO 2.2
  • DSD over PCM (DoP)
  • DSD over DLNA (DoPE)

ASIO 2.2

This uses the native DSD bitstreaming support built into ASIO 2.2. The ASIO driver for your DAC must support it.

To bitstream using this method:

  • Select ASIO as your Audio Output Mode in Options > Audio > Audio Device.
  • Select Tools > Options > Audio > Bitstreaming and select DSD. (In earlier versions, Bitstreaming is under Tools > Options > Video instead and you may need to select Custom and choose DSD).

DSD over PCM (DoP)

DSD over PCM packs DSD into a PCM-like signal for bitstreaming. This is not a conversion to PCM, but a native DSD signal packed into a PCM container. JRiver was part of the formation of the DoP standard. DSD over PCM requires Media Center 17.0.106 or newer.

To bitstream using this method:

  • You must have your Audio Output Mode set to WASAPI Event Style, ASIO, or Core Audio.
  • Select Tools > Options > Audio > Bitstreaming and select DSD. (In earlier versions, Bitstreaming is under Tools > Options > Video instead and you may need to select Custom and choose DSD over DOP).
  • Customize the 'DoP Format' if you have an older device that does not support the DoP standard
  • For ASIO Devices, you need to enable DSD bitstream in DoP Format in Tools > Options > Audio > Audio Device > Device Settings, otherwise native ASIO DSD bitstreaming will be used.
Enabling DSD over DOP in ASIO Device Settings.

DSD Over DLNA

Media Center also includes a full-featured DLNA Server which can be used to serve content to many professional-grade network-connected receivers and DACs, and can also act as a Digital Media Controller to remotely control your audio device. If you have a DAC that supports DoPE (the DLNA version of the DoP standard), Media Center can control the device and bitstream native DSD content directly to it over the network.

For more information on setting up your DAC with Media Center, visit these articles:

Then, once you have PCM audio working well, you can enable DSD Bitstreaming for your DLNA Server setup via the following option:

Tools > Options > Media Network > Add or configure DLNA Servers, and then enable Bitstream DSD under Advanced in the setup for your DLNA Server.
Enable this in the Audiophile DAC DLNA Preset to enable DSD Bitstreaming to compliant devices.

Converting PCM to DSD on Output

Media Center's Output Format DSP can also be used to re-encode all PCM audio output to DSD "on the fly". This is not generally recommended unless your audio hardware does not handle standard PCM audio well. To access this feature, open Player > DSP Studio > Output Format and set the Output Encoding setting to the DSD type appropriate for your hardware.

Notes

  • With DoP, you can pick the marker format. New hardware will use DoP 1.0 (0xFA/0x05). Older hardware may use the 0xAA marker format.
  • You can learn more about Audio Output Modes here: Audio Output Modes

Obtaining DSD Sources

A few online retailers specialize in selling DSD encoded audio files:

Ripping from SACD

This can't be done with a normal PC. It is possible using an original Sony PS3. Here's a thread at ComputerAudiophile.

Certain Oppo and Pioneer players can also be used for ripping. Computeraudiophile topic

Converting DSD to and from PCM

JRiver Media Center can convert DSD files to and from PCM.

To convert PCM to DSD:

  1. Pick PCM files
  2. Right-click > Library Tools > Convert Format
  3. Pick 'DSD' as the encoder
  4. Click '...' to set 1x or 2x DSD
  5. Click 'Convert'

To convert DSD to PCM:

  1. Pick files
  2. Right-click > Library Tools > Convert Format
  3. Pick a PCM encoder (WAV, APE, FLAC, AIFF, MP3, etc.)
  4. Click 'Options'
  5. Check 'Apply DSP (volume levelling, equalization, etc.)'
  6. Click 'DSP settings...' and use Output Format to pick the target sample rate (or else you'll get 352.8kHz)
  7. Click 'Convert'

Hardware

Thanks to Andreas Koch for this list, current as of February, 2013.

  • Playback Designs MPS-5 w/USB-X interface
  • Playback Designs MPD-3 DAC
  • Mytek Stereo 192-DSD DAC
  • Lynx Studio
  • dCS Debussy USB DAC with DSD streaming support
  • Benchmark DAC2 HGC
  • EMM Labs DAC2x
  • Meitner Audio MA-1 and MA-2 DACs
  • Simple Design Sonore exD DAC
  • Chord Electronics Chordette QuteHD DAC and QBD76 HDSD
  • exaSound Audio Design e20 DAC
  • Fostex HP-A8C DAC
  • MSB Technology DAC IV
  • McAUDI DSD DAC (first production set debuted at RMAF 2012)
  • Korg DS-DAC-10 (to be released in the near future)
  • Resonessence Invicta DAC
  • Teac UD-501 DSD/Double DSD DAC
  • Luxman DA-06 DSD DAC
  • Wadia Intuition 01 integrated with DSD-capable DAC
  • S.o.T.M. sDP-1000 DSD-capable DAC/preamp
  • Light Harmonic Davinci Dual DAC (DSD-capable)
  • Auralic Vega DSD-capable DAC
  • Oppo Digital will be updating their BDP-105 for DSD from USB devices, and their next universal player will support DSD via USB (DoP)
  • RATOC Systems -- RAL-DSDHA1 and RAL-DSDHA2.
  • Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 DSD versions

More

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