If you don't know anything about DSD then overall it is a rather "large" topic.
The most common format used for digital audio data is PCM.
PCM is the format used on CDs.
The PCM format is also supported by virtually all DACs (there may be a few that do not... but I honestly couldn't name them).
Even when you use other lossless formats like FLAC they are usually used in conjunction with PCM.
(When you play back a lossless FLAC file it is generally uncompressed to PCM which is then sent to the DAC.)
DSD is an alternative digital file and storage format that was developed by Sony.
DSD was originally intended to be used for "digital audio archiving" (saving digital master copies of stuff in the vault).
However Sony also quickly started promoting it as an "audiophile home format" - used on SACD discs.
It is quite widely agreed in the engineering end of town that DSD is roughly equivalent to PCM... in terms of both technical capabilities and sound quality.
However the DSD format is encoded differently than PCM and there is no exact one-to-one correlation between them.
This means that you cannot do a "perfect lossless conversion" in either direction.
Technically an audio CD contains audio data at 16/44k PCM whereas the data on a "regular SACD" is roughly equivalent to 24/88k PCM - so slightly better.
This means that the DSD audio on an SACD is technically slightly "better" than the audio on a regular CD...
SACDs also have the advantage of being able to carry multi-channel audio while CDs are limited to two-channel PCM.
NEITHER OF THESE DIFFERENCES MATTER WITH DOWNLOAD FILES.
(CD DISCS were limited to 24/44 two-channel PCM; but PCM and FLAC FILES can be found at sample rates up to 24/768k and up to eight channels.)
Beyond all of the technical details... some audiophiles insist that "DSD files just sound better"... (but many don't hear any difference).
As far as players and discs...
Audio CDs only contain PCM 16/44k audio data.
Hybrid SACDs contain BOTH PCM 16/44k "CD audio data" and a layer that is recorded in DSD.
Non-hybrid SACDs ONLY have the DSD layer.
And you can now download audio files in a variety of formats - including both PCM and DSD (and DSD files at higher bit rates than SACD discs use).
Here's a VERY BRIEF summary of what you can play...
"Regular CD players" and "regular Blu-Ray players" can ONLY play regular audio CDs and regular Blu-Ray discs... and NOT SACD discs or DSD files.
However some "universal" disc players can play the DSD layer of SACD discs...
And, in addition to this, in the last few years, DSD files have become available for download....
(It's worth noting that you can always convert back and forth between DSD and PCM using software - including many popular player programs.)
MOST AVRs and preamp/processors cannot play the DSD format (although some can).
In most cases, if you have a disc player that can play DSD, and you connect it to an AVR or pre/pro that cannot, most players will recognize this fact.
And, when they do, they will simply convert the output to PCM (with their internal software).
SOME preamp/processors, including our XMC-1, XMC-2, and RMC-1 CAN play DSD directly.
However,
they can only accept DSD inputs via HDMI, and are also limited to being able to play DSD at "single rate" (the sample rate used for SACD discs).
Note that DISC PLAYERS almost never offer the option of a USB digital audio output.
(It is just not customary for "disc players" to include the sort of encoding necessary to support a USB digital audio output.)
There are also other limitations that are common to almost all devices that accept DSD...
For example, on our processors, with a DSD input, "processing" features like room correction and EQ will NOT be available.
(This is because this sort of processing CANNOT be applied directly to audio in the DSD format.)
(The alternative is to have the player convert DSD to PCM... and send it as PCM... which can be used with all of the normal sorts of processing.)
NOW, quite separate from this, we now have the availability of DSD audio FILES.
If you have a "universal disc player" that can also play files from a USB stick then it can probably also play DSD files and output the resulting DSD audio via HDMI.
However, in most cases, people play DSD audio FILES using some sort of computer or "computer type audio player"...
And, while many of these may support playback via HDMI (see above), many computer players also support DSD audio playback via USB.
(As I mentioned... this is something that most "universal DISC players" DO NOT do.)
Sending DSD audio via USB required special firmware support by both the sending and receiving device.
Your player or player program must support one of the two currently used USB/DSD formats: "DoP" or "native DSD"...
And your preamp/processor or DAC must also support at least one of these options.
(The two formats are audibly the same; the only difference is that, for given hardware, "direct DSD" CAN support a slightly higher sample rate.)
I didn't look very closely at the player you have... however... as a "universal player"...
- it can PROBABLY play DSD via HDMI from SACD discs
- it MAY be able to play DSD files, as DSD, from something like a USB stick
- it PROBABLY DOES NOT support DSD via USB as DoP or native DSD (you could check)
BACK TO YOUR INITIAL QUESTION...Our XMC-1 WILL ACCEPT AND PLAY DSD VIA HDMI IF THE SOURCE DEVICE IS SENDING IT.
And, if it is receiving DSD via HDMI, it will show up as "DSD" on the display.
So, if you play an SACD discs, or a DSD file on a stick, on your player, connected to the XMC-1 via HDMI, and it is configured properly, the XMC-1 should display and play it as "DSD".
(There is no setting on the XMC-1 to enable or disable this.)
The XMC-1 will not play DSD via USB.
(However most sources that support USB digital audio will automatically convert DSD to PCM and output it as PCM.)
(That's something we had planned but it was never successfully implemented.)
Don’t know much about my gear or this forum, learning a little every day. The topic was DSD vs PCM quote from Kieth: can’t find it now.
DSD vs PCM
Administrator:
“ PCM is the audio industry standard format and virtually all audio gear supports PCM.
Only a small minority of audio gear supports DSD and only a small minority of disc players can play SACDs.
DSD is a relatively obscure format which was originally developed specifically for SACDs - but is now also used for a few download files.
(The XMC-1 and the RMC-1 and family can play both PCM and DSD... although we're currently working…..,”
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New to the Forum, just looking for some direction.
And Simple Question.
Simple System: 5.0 - no subwoofer.
King Cobra XLR throughout
Magnetar UDP 900 set for DSD
All I see:
Track type: SACD PCM
Channel Type: Multi CH 2.8M hz
Googled how many bits DSD:
“DSD takes a different approach to the creation of a high resolution audio-signal. Instead of using many bits of information in the signal, DSD uses a single bit.
However, instead of sampling the information several thousand times a second, this single bit samples 2.8 million times a second to generate the audio signal”
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Hence. 2.8M hz 🤔🤔🤔
XCM 1
All I see:
5.1 PCM
88..2kHz 24 bits
Main zone > Surround Mode > Surround
Front end: Emotiva 3 Channel Amp ~ 320 watts.
Vienna Acoustic Baby Grands
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Frequency response: 28-23000Hz
Back end: Arcam P1 mono blocks ~ 270 watts
Vienna Acoustic Waltz
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Frequency response: 70-22000Hz
Simple question:
How do I get the XCM 1 to read/play DSD 1 bit?
I know all da gurus say you can’t tell the difference, but it
would be nice to listen with your own ears in your own listening
environment.
Thanks In Advance.
I know nothing 😂
Bayderll
