More $$$.what is the value in a DSD file
It's another means of encoding signals. DSD is the marketing name, while the technique is called pulse density modulation ("PDM"). PDM is a stream of single bits processed at a much higher sampling rate. The advantages of PDM over pulse code modulation ("PCM") are to do with ease of implementation in the electrical domain and lower noise and distortion, while multibit PCM signals allow for ease of processing into complex operations like summing or filtering at the cost of higher noise (e.g., quantization noise).I would like to ask,if we send a DSD file to a DAC and we want to control the volume at the DAC,
it has to be converted to PCM.
So what is the point,we may just as well send a Hi Res PCM file to the DAC,
what is the value in a DSD file
Are the same recordings available in PCM?It's value is simple: There are many outstanding recordings in DSD.
Sometimes, I guess. Of course, you can convert them if you wish but that would not resolve the objections of those who believe it is a flawed medium.Are the same recordings available in PCM?
It's another means of encoding signals. DSD is the marketing name, while the technique is called pulse density modulation ("PDM"). PDM is a stream of single bits processed at a much higher sampling rate. The advantages of PDM over pulse code modulation ("PCM") are to do with ease of implementation in the electrical domain and lower noise and distortion, while multibit PCM signals allow for ease of processing into complex operations like summing or filtering at the cost of higher noise (e.g., quantization noise).
This divide was relevant when the CD was invented and the trade-offs between techniques large. It is not relevant today. Note that every single DSD release out there (unless it's some kind of single-take affair like direct-to-disc vinyl recordings were once hyped) will have massive noise-shaped ultrasonic noise due to the fact that the bitstream needs to be converted to PCM for editing, mixing and mastering, and then reconverted to DSD.
PDM is still used commonly used in low cost/limited purpose ADCs such as cellphone microphones.
That would be awesome if it were true, at least it can make you feel good to think it though.I have come to think of hi-res and DSD as like David Lee Roth's brown M&Ms - Unnecessary, probably, but it signals that the other quality measures might have also been prioritized in the recording process, and it is less likely to be another entry in the loudness wars.
DSD was originally invented by Sony to archive crumbling analog tape libraries, because it preserved the analog pulse character of the sound. Sony was on it's one bit missionary zeal at that time, too. Commercializing DSD was an afterthought.
DSD needs quite a bit of noise shaping and proprietary algorithms as a playback medium. Sony made these sort of syrupy and nice sounding to accentuate the 'analog' character of DSD on playback. It works for some people, but I never found it completely convincing.
Standard SACD has increasingly lower bit playback above 8 khz, so standard CD Redbook has better high frequency reproduction. The claims of extended frequency response for SACD never explained this heavy bit drop off as the frequency went up. I found that I prefer PCM because the SACD playback is a bit strange to my ear for some reason.
Also, claimed DSD disks often had a lot of undisclosed cross contamination from PCM and non-analog sources. It was very difficult to edit DSD, so often editors would convert to PCM for editing, then back to DSD for masters. What was 'pure DSD' or not hasn't always been clear, and it seems consumers were often just paying for the syrupy sound of the playback noise shaping and algorithms.
Maybe all that has changed since with higher bitrate DSD, but SACD is mostly a specialty niche. I think the ultra hi rez PCM and improved digital in general have made DSD and SACD a bit redundant.
"syrupy sounding" = high levels of 2nd order harmonic distortion? So maybe see if there are differences in that slice of data points.I would like to see some validated, generally repeatable, tests that confirm the syrupy sound statement.
"syrupy sounding" = high levels of 2nd order harmonic distortion? So maybe see if there are differences in that slice of data points.
can I start laughing? many? OMG! define many!It's value is simple: There are many outstanding recordings in DSD.
I would like to ask,if we send a DSD file to a DAC and we want to control the volume at the DAC,
it has to be converted to PCM.
So what is the point,we may just as well send a Hi Res PCM file to the DAC,
what is the value in a DSD file
Note that every single DSD release out there (unless it's some kind of single-take affair like direct-to-disc vinyl recordings were once hyped) will have massive noise-shaped ultrasonic noise due to the fact that the bitstream needs to be converted to PCM for editing, mixing and mastering, and then reconverted to DSD.