DSD player software is designed to playback Direct Stream Digital audio files (.dsf, .dff, sacd iso, DoP). Look how to play DSD files via free software (Windows, Mac, Linux, id, iOS for iPhone, iPad), about sound quality, comparison list, F.A.Q. at this page - explanation by audio software developer Yuri Korzunov.
HD audio file conversion
Technics Audio Player for Windows. System Requirements. Windows Vista.1, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10.2. Free and commercial hi res audio player software apps on Windows, Mac. Technics Audio Player, Windows, Mac, DSF, DFF, WAV, FLAC, mp3, ALAC, AIFF.
DSD player list
WARNING: This table can contain errors. It is not an offer or advertising. We are not affiliated with listed products. We guarantee nothing. If you found wrong information, contact us, please. To get exact information, contact with the software developers and/or vendors.
DSD player audio software list [See FREE audio players for hi-res]
| Audio player | Operation system | License | Supported file types | Sample rate | DAC interface | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSD players Windows, Mac, Linux | ||||||
| Amarra Luxe | Windows, Mac | Commercial | DSF | |||
| Audiogate | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | DAC limitation for the software activation | ||
| Audirvana | Mac | Commercial | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | DoP, DSD to PCM | ||
| Daphile | Run as firmware (Linux based) from flash stick memory | Free | DSF | Music server. Stereo only | ||
| Foobar2000(with sacd input plugin) | Windows | Free | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | up to DSD512 | ASIO, DSD to PCM | |
| Fostex Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | ASIO, DoP | |
| JRiver | Windows, Mac, Linux | Commercial | DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO | ASIO, DoP, DSD over DLNA, DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD | ||
| HQ Player | Windows, Mac, Linux | Commercial | DSF, DFF (non-compressed DSDIFF) | up to DSD1024 | DSD to PCM, PCM to DSD, ASIO, DoP | |
| Hysolid | Windows | Free | DSF | up to DSD256 | ASIO, DoP WASAPI | To work on music server PC with smartphone app control |
| Logitech Media Server | Windows, Mac, Linux | DoP PCM files | Bit-perfect PCM output of DoP | Need additional hardware and pre-conversion DSD files to PCM DoP files. How to adjust and use the software. | ||
| Media Player Classic | Windows | Free | DSF, DFF | |||
| moOde audio player | To run on Raspberry Pi | Free | Here information about DSD settings | |||
| Pine Player | Mac | Free | DSD to PCM (up to 768 kHz) | Mac App Store | ||
| Resonic Player | Windows | Free, Commercial | DSF, DFF | up to DSD512 | ||
| Roon | Windows, Mac; server on Windows, Mac, Linux | Commercial | Bit-perfect, DSD to PCM | Server may be installed on network area storage (NAS) | ||
| TEAC HR Audio Player | Windows, Mac | Free | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | ASIO, DoP | |
| Technics Audio Player | Windows, Mac | DSF, DFF | up to DSD128 | USB driver | Read the software license agreement about using limitations | |
| Volumio | Run as firmware from flash stick memory on PC, Raspberry Pi, other | UPNP DLNA, Airplay, DoP | Music server | |||
| Wtfplay | Linux | Free | DSF | up to DSD128; DSD256, DSD512 are experimental | DoP | |
| DSD players Android and iOS (mobile applications) | ||||||
| HibyMusic | Android, iOS | Free | DSF, DFF (including DST), ISO | up to DSD256 | net driver (Dropbox / DLNA / LAN) native DSD, DoP, DSD to PCM | |
| Hi-Res music player-NePLAYER | iOS | Commercial | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | DSD to PCM, DoP | Check DSD replay issues at online store page |
| HYSOLID | Android, iOS | Free | Music server control application | |||
| Neutron Music Player | Android, iOS | Commercial | UPnP / DLNA, USB DAC, DoP, DSD to PCM | There is evaluation version 'Neutron Music Player (Eval)' on Android | ||
| Onkyo HF Player | Android, iOS | Free, Commercial | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | AOA 2.0, DoP, DSD to PCM | Some limitations of free version |
| TEAC HR Audio Player | Android, iOS | DSF, DFF | up to DSD256 | DoP, DSD to PCM | There are DSD limitations of free version | |
| USB Audio Player PRO | Android | Commercial | DoP, DSD to PCM, native DSD playback | |||
HD audio file conversion
Download FREE DSD converters >
Check FREE DSD music downloads >
Read about DSD DACs >
Read more about mobile device connections to DSD playback here.
How to play DSD files
To play DSD files, audio player software should be configured properly. DAC may be either DSD or PCM.
There is no general rule, that is the best sound quality for every case.
When PCM DAC is used, conversion of DSD to PCM format is used.
DSD DAC may get audio stream natively (Native DSD via ASIO driver) of DoP (DSD over PCM).
Check out How to play DSD with foobar2000 >
Read more details below.
Sound quality
Bit-perfect mode
DSD files may be played back in bit-perfect modes:
- DSD file (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO);
- DoP (DSD over PCM) file (FLAC, WAV, AIFF, other lossless PCM files).
Bit-perfect means transmitting of audio file content to DAC without altering.
Gapless playback
When uninterrupted albums (operas, concerts) listen, non-gapless playback can cause clicks at track borders.
Gapless playback means playback album as a solid (uninterrupted) stream without re-initialization of DAC.
If album converted from one audio format to other with resampling, it can cause artifacts at track borders. To avoid the track-border artifacts, True Gapless conversion may be used.
Offline conversion mode
With bit-perfect mode, you can playback offline pre-converted audio files (including PCM to DSD). This mode doesn't consume additional computing resources for altering of an audio file. Also, it saves electrical energy that is spent to the processing.
Many of digital audio players (DAP) capable of playback at stereo headphones. But some your records may be multichannel.
When DAP play multichannel record, it downmixes to 2.0. Downmixing is lossy operation and its sound quality depend on implementation.
Also, extra channels consume free space on the hard disk of the DAP. Offline pre-downmixed to stereo files allow putting more songs at hard disk.
If file played back on a mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processing, it allows:
- saving battery charge;
- getting a longer time of autonomous work;
- getting more computing resources for other (not audio player) applications.
Inline conversion mode
DSD and PCM files may be played back with inline (real-time, 'on-fly') altering of audio content:
- with DSD resampling;
- with room correction;
- with conversion DSD to PCM on PCM DAC.
This mode allows saving time for pre-converting of various audio files to the best sounding mode of DAC. But each playback can consume big computing resources to resolution conversion and other processing.
Real-time playback conversion DSD to PCM on mobile devices consume additional battery charge and part of the device CPU performance. It can cause a lesser time of autonomous work and reduce the response of other (non-player) applications.
Inline (real-time) vs offline conversion
of audio files on mobile devices
Offline conversion of audio files gives longer battery lifetime. Because a mobile device performs lesser calculation number.
Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space at the hard disk of the mobile device.
DAC interfaces
To DSD playback (including bit-perfect) under Windows, DAC may be connected to an audio player via ASIO driver or DoP protocol.
Also, WASAPI (with DoP) interface may be used to playback (including bit-perfect).
DoP is the special open protocol to coding DSD into PCM audio stream. The stream cannot be played back as PCM.
To DSD playback under Mac, DAC may be connected to an audio player via DoP protocol.
It's around the same level as PCSX 2 and open source. 
Read more about:
What is the best DSD player
In audiophile application, the players are compared by the sound quality.
If the player has bit perfect mode and used DAC support played file resolution, sound quality is the same for such players.
But, if an audio resolution is altered or EQ is used, then applied processing quality is matter.
In general, the best DSD player with processing should cause minimal distortions.
Also kind of distortions may be matter.
Fequently Asked Questions
Where can I download FLAC songs for free? Where can I download high quality music for free?
You can download high quality (high resolution) files from download resource list here..
Can VLC play DSF?
Looks like, VLC can't play DSF. See here..
How do I play DSF files in foobar2000?
Read foobar2000 DSD playback guide here..
What is DSD music file?
DSD audio files are files, that capable to contains DSD audio content: DSF, DFF, SACD ISO and DoP FLAC, WAV, etc. Read details here..
What is DSF audio file?
Read DSF file quick guide here..
What is DFF audio file?
DFF file is one of DSD files. Its audio data content is identical to DSF by sound quality. Read DFF file details here..
How do I open DFF file?
DFF file is supported by software..
Is DSD better than FLAC?
Read about comparison DSD vs FLAC..
How do I convert DSF to mp3?
Read about conversion DSF to mp3 here..
What is native DSD support?
DSD files may be played back 3 ways:
- on-fly conversionDSD to PCM, and playback on PCM DAC (in PCM mode of the DAC);
- offline conversion DSD to PCM with conversion software, and playback on PCM DAC (in PCM mode of the DAC);
- transmit DSD audio stuff to DSD DAC to playback.
Option #3 is called 'native DSD support'. DSD may be transmitted via ASIO driver or as DoP.
Owners manual for technics tape deck RS-M224. Free pdf format for Mac OSX compatible version of owners manual of above mentioned Technic tape deck Posted by Anonymous on Jan 19, 2014. Are you a Technics Audio Player and Recorder Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others. DoP is special open protocol to coding DSD into PCM audio stream. The stream can not be played back as PCM. To DSD playback under Mac, DAC may be connected to audio player via DoP protocol. Read more about: PCM and DSD DACs > NOS DACs > What is the best DSD player. In audiophile application the players are compared by sound quality.
Bit-perfect mode DSD files may be played back in bit-perfect modes: • DSD file (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO); • DoP (DSD over PCM) file (FLAC, WAV, AIFF, other lossless PCM files). Bit-perfect mean transmitting of audio file content to DAC without altering. Gapless playback When uninterrupted albums (operas, concerts) are listened, non-gapless playback can cause clicks at track borders. Gapless playback mean playback album as solid stream without re-initialization of DAC. If album converted from one audio format to other with resampling, it can cause artefacts at track borders. To avoid the artefacts, may be used. Offline conversion mode With bit-perfect mode you can playback offline pre-converted audio files (including PCM to DSD).
This mode don't consume additional computing resources for altering of audio file. Also it save electrical energy that is spent to the processing. Many of digital audio players (DAP) capable to playback at stereo headphones.
But some your records may be multichannel. When DAP play multichannel record it downmix it to 2.0. Downmixing is lossy operation and it sound quality depend on implementation. Also extra channels consume free space on hard disk of the DAP. Offline pre-downmixed to stereo files allow to put more songs at hard disk. If file played back on mobile device in bit-perfect mode or with minimal processings, it allow: • to save battery charge; • to get longer time of autonomous work; • to get more computing resources for other (not audio player) applications.
Inline conversion mode DSD and PCM files may be played back with inline (real-time, 'on-fly') altering of audio content: • with DSD resampling; • with room correction; • with conversion DSD to PCM on PCM DAC. This mode allow to save time for pre-converting of various audio files to of DAC. But each playback can consume big computing resources to resolution conversion and other processings. Real-time playback conversion DSD to PCM on a mobile devices consume additional battery charge and part of the device CPU performance. It can cause lesser time of autonomous work and reduce response of other (non-player) applications.
Inline (real-time) vs offline conversion of audio files on mobile devices Offline conversion of audio files give longer battery life time because a mobile device perform lesser calculation number. Also pre-downmix, pre-conversion DSD to PCM, pre-downsampling save free space at hard disk of the mobile device. DAC interfaces To DSD playback (including bit-perfect) under Windows, DAC may be connected to audio player via ASIO driver or DoP protocol. Also WASAPI (with DoP) interface may be used to playback (including bit-perfect).
DoP is special open protocol to coding DSD into PCM audio stream. The stream can not be played back as PCM. To DSD playback under Mac, DAC may be connected to audio player via DoP protocol. Read more about: What is the best DSD player In audiophile application the players are compared by sound quality. If the player have bit perfect mode and used DAC support played file resolution, sound quality is the same for such players.
Technics 5 Disc Cd Player
But, if audio resolution is altered or EQ is used, then applied processing quality is matter. In general, the best DSD player with processing should cause minimal distortions. Also kind of distortions may be matter. DSD player list 2018 WARNING: This table can contains errors. It is not offer or advertizing.
Technics Audio Player For Mac Pro
We are not affiliated with listed products. We guarantee nothing. If you found wrong information, please. To get exact information, contact with the software developers and/or vendors. DSD player audio software list 2018 Audio player Operation system License Supported file types Sample rate DAC interface Description DSD players Windows, Mac, Linux Windows, Mac Commercial DSF Windows, Mac DSF, DFF up to DSD128 DAC limitation for the software activation Mac Commercial DSF, DFF (including DST), SACD ISO DoP, DSD to PCM Run as firmware (Linux based) from flash stick memory Free DSF Music server.