DSD seems to be all the rage among the headphone community as it is becoming easier to stream the uber high resolution format. As of late, I’ve been asked quite a few times either what are DSD files and for the more advanced audiophiles, where to download them. If one or the other applies to you, you’ve come to the right place. “DSD Files and Where to Download Them.”
DSD Files and Where to Download Them
What are DSD Files?
In order to fully understand DSD, you’ll need to understand a more common audio file, PCM.
PCM stands for pulse-code modulation and it is used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. It is the standard form of digital audio in computers, compact discs, digital telephony and other digital audio applications. PCM is both an uncompressed and lossless audio format, quite often acting as the source data for creating other audio file types. PCM, in regards to CD playback, is measured as 16-bit resolution at a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz. DSD, on the other hand, has 64 times the CD sampling rate.
DSD was actually developed by Sony and Philips in 1999 and was intended to supersede the standard CD format. At that time it was called Super Audio CD playback or SACD. Today, this format is stored in DSD.
You may have also seen DXD from time to time and no, it’s not a typo. It is in fact another type of file. DXD stands for Digital eXtreme Definition and it is where the original DSD signal has been converted to 24-bit/352kHz PCM and processed in that form throughout a recording. Basically, a very high resolution PCM.
Back to DSD, so how high-res is DSS? What Hi-Fi was gracious enough to break that down saying, “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.”
DSD Files and Where to Download Them (Where can you download DSD Files)?
So, now comes information many have requested, where to find them. DSD files can be purchased. They are all linked down below.
Do you still have any burning questions about DSD files and where to download them? If so, give us a shout down below.
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