All AudioDefine Records and Same Great Sound releases available from the NativeDSD store are sourced from Direct Stream Digital (DSD) masters. These releases are identified by catalog numbers suffixed with “DSD,” indicating their higher quality and dynamic range. Compared to versions intended for streaming and other stores, these DSD masters often feature an increased dynamic range, providing superior audio quality.

About Direct Stream Digital (DSD)

Understanding DSD (Direct Stream Digital): A High-Resolution Audio Format

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a high-resolution audio format that offers an alternative to the widely used PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) format, commonly encountered in Hi-Res audio downloads. Here’s a breakdown of how DSD operates, its unique features, and its benefits and limitations.

DSD vs PCM: The Essentials of Digital Audio Storage

PCM and DSD are two primary formats for digitally storing music, each transforming analogue sound into a digital format for CDs, downloads, or streaming. Unlike compressed formats like MP3, AAC, and FLAC, which reduce file sizes by sacrificing some audio data, both PCM and DSD are raw, uncompressed formats. The goal of each format is the same: to digitise analogue audio signals as accurately as possible. This process of digitisation, called “sampling,” encodes audio as a series of 0s and 1s, resulting in a digital file that can be edited, stored, and shared.

Key Differences Between DSD and PCM

PCM, the foundation of standard audio CDs, stores music with a resolution determined by two factors: bit depth and sampling rate, typically set at 16-bit/44.1 kHz on CDs. For higher fidelity, PCM resolutions can go up to 24-bit/192 kHz, providing greater audio detail in Hi-Res PCM files.

DSD, introduced in 1999 with the Super Audio CD (SACD), took a different approach to audio quality. Instead of using 16 or 24 bits, DSD uses just one bit with a sampling rate of 2.8 MHz per second, which delivers a resolution four times greater than standard CDs. Rather than sampling 44,100 times per second, DSD takes one-bit samples 2.8 million times per second, capturing exceptionally detailed audio.

Advanced DSD Formats for Studio-Grade Audio

Like PCM, DSD is available in several quality tiers. Standard DSD, known as DSD64, is based on a frequency of 2.8 MHz, equivalent to 64 times the 44.1 kHz of a CD. Higher-tier formats, DSD128 and DSD256, increase sampling frequencies to 5.6 MHz and 11.2 MHz, respectively, enhancing audio precision. Ultra-high resolutions like DSD512 and DSD1024 are also available, though not all audio devices support these formats.

DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) is an intermediate format that enables DSD files to be converted to 24-bit PCM at 384 kHz for in-studio processing and mastering, saved as .dxd files. DSD files themselves often come with .dsf or .dff extensions: .dsf files include metadata, while .dff files contain only the audio. The equivalent for PCM files are .wav and .aiff extensions.

Pros and Cons

DSD’s primary advantage is its capacity for exceptionally high-definition audio storage, which is why it’s preferred for top-quality recordings. Although DSD files are larger than PCM files, modern storage solutions mitigate this issue. However, DSD’s appeal is mostly limited to Hi-Fi enthusiasts, as its broader adoption remains relatively low.

Compatible Devices

Today, most wireless audio players can handle DSD files up to DSD256, while high-end models may support DSD512, although this is less common. Many DACs (Digital-to-Analog Converters) also support native DSD playback via USB, while others use DoP (DSD-over-PCM) for playback through coaxial, optical SPDIF, or AES (XLR) ports. This versatility allows listeners to enjoy DSD audio in various ways, depending on the playback setup.