DSD - where to buy?

[sir sanders zingmore]

So I have a DAC that is capable of playing DSD and I'm interested in seeing what all the fuss is about.

 

Can someone point me in the right direction for some good sites?

 

Apologies if this has been asked before

 

cheerio

[Andrew S.]

NativeDSD, HighResAudio & High Definition Tape Transfer are my favourite purchase sites. 

 

The best quality DSD recordings are those recorded in DSD, or made from the master tape direct to DSD without conversion to PCM for editing in eg Pro Tools. You almost always have to edit in surround mixes, less so in stereo. The trend in recording is to move to eg Merging Pyramix, which allows DAW editing in DSD 256 or DXD 384.

 

or as Merging says:

 

"Ever since the advent of DAW technology, people have been balancing the loss of analogue dynamic range, resolution and sonic perception with that of the ease and convenience of non-linear DAW based production. But, a select few have started to realize that this compromise no longer needs to be considered. Using DSD256 and DXD with Pyramix MassCore means that you can get all of the convenience of a digital workflow along with the impact of the analogue reproduction of DSD and DXD."http://www.merging.com/solutions/dsd256-dxd-music

 

 

The PCM native recordings that have been converted to DSD are not, to my ears, any different to their PCM counterparts. For example Linn. They only record in PCM and their hi rez downloads in eg 24/88 are IMHO superb, and to my ears their SACD's sound no different to their PCM files. SA-CD Reference will tell you if something is native DSD or not.

 

NativeDSD is, as the name suggests, those recorded in native DSD.

 

Then there is your converter, and how it handles the DSD file - many convert to PCM before playback, which gives you the benefit of how carefully the file has been handled in the first place, but somewhat misses the point of DSD. Very few converters actually handle the DSD natively in format. Most involve a conversion at some point.

 

Lastly, outside of specific drivers for ASIO 2.2 and Ethernet (DLNA), most applications on OSX, Linux and Windows use the DoP transfer protocol which transfers DSD to a PCM like data stream to send over eg USB. Some purists think that it degrades the signal, but this appear not to have foundation.

 

Most DSD is DSD64, some is DSD 128 and fewer still DSD 256. Only hardware with specific drivers support Quad - or 256 - DSD. The sweet spot is generally regarded to be DSD 128. File size is more manageable as well. Most of my DSD is in 64, and the file sizes around 1.5-2.2 GB in 2.0 Stereo. File sizes double as sample rate increases. DSD 64 is a sequence of single-bit values at a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz (64 times the CD Audio sampling rate of 44.1 kHz, but only at 1â„32768 of its 16-bit resolution). 

 

Great wiki is here: https://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/DSD

[Newman]

Blue Coast Music Group: link

[sir sanders zingmore]

not a great selection

[Hydrology]

DSD Download|Acoustic Sounds

 

Some samples;

http://www.2l.no/hires/index.html

Edited December 1, 2015 by Hydrology

[Happy]

@ what do you think of converting PCM into DSD 'on the fly'? Any benefit over the usual PCM playback?

[Andrew S.]

@ what do you think of converting PCM into DSD 'on the fly'? Any benefit over the usual PCM playback?

 

Ummm, depends on your converter, and what you are trying to achieve. Upon my current understanding I would suggest that changing the wrapper  the data is packaged in does not by itself offer intrinsic advantage, although it may depending on how that data is handled by your converter.

 

Or, in other words, if you have a high end DSD converter, and the purpose of the conversion to DSD to take advantage of its algorithms, and so process in a  form in which teh converter performs optimally, then there may be advantage. 

 

Personally I feel that any converter is the sum of the parts, and the mechanism of transfer of the data, and the control of that by the converter, is at least as important as the chips used, the analogue stages out and the conversion math. 

 

But that is just my humble opinion, as it currently exists. 

[Scratcher]

http://shop.dsdfile.com/

 

http://www.davidelias.com/

 

Pick up a sacd ripping ps3 and start buying sacd's

Edited December 2, 2015 by Conch Blowa

[PKay]

Prostudiomasters have some. They are currently having a sale with some titles up to 45% off.

 

http://www.prostudiomasters.com/topsellers?r=hpb

[wis97non]

turtle records as well. Google it.

 

For a list of SACDs that are categorized into native or Tape or PCM sourced, scout around www.sa-cd.net

 

Many people buy SACDs and rip to DSD via specially selected and modded PS3s. There are free ripping services offered on many forums.

[Andrew S.]

FWIW I found the dCS converters used with Turtle Records a tad on the dry side.

 

Thanks Concha Blowa - dsdfile.com has some nice titles there.

[wis97non]

Hi Andrew...fancy meeting you here. LoL

 

Link to a similar thread:

http://www.audioshark.org/computer-digital-audio-11/dsd-downloads-8711.html

[Beacon]

HDTracks now has a limited selection of DSD recordings. All seem to be available to Aust residents.

You'll need a VPN to access Acoustic Sounds' DSD downloads as it is only available to US and Canadian residents.