Educate me about DSD

I joined in to learn a bit more about DSD. Somewhere along the way I tried some… DSD files, they sounded fine (on a previous system). I fiddled with buying downloads… of different resolution, my ripped CDs,… all my vinyl… etc. since buying downloads and storing them was a phase of technological progress that only lasted a few years and mostly disappeared with the advent of streaming I did not follow it.

I have done a lot of upgrades of my system over the last seven years. What has struck me is that the overall quality of your basic components is +99% of what you get sound quality wise. My ripped CDs, CDs, and streamed with the same mastere d albums sound exactly the same on my system. High resolution streamed albums sound a little better… but, it depends on the recording… late 50’s - early 60’s recordings are just jaw droppingingly good on CD, ripped CD, high resolution digital or vinyl. Basically, the format of a great sounding system is far less important than the recording and system that it is reproduced with. Basically you system is the most important aspect.

So, my point is that, if your goal is great sound quality, the order of optimizing your system is (assuming all digital) speakers, preamp, DAC, streamer, amp, cables, room treatments, power cords, then the digital formats.

Please do not misinterpret what I am trying to say. If you want to play around with comparing different digital formats… I am not discouraging it. But if you are still trying to build a fantastic system… this is something to discuss, once you have one… not a means to this end.

So enjoy 256 vs 512 or whatever. Great conversation.

‘If a title was actually recorded in DSD, then it’s DSD but if it was converted to DSD, then it’s only a shell’, so a recording engineer told me. He also explained that a DSD recording must play straight through from the beginning to end because you cannot have a DSD recording stop during recording. All that being said, I prefer DSD files to anything else where it pertains to sound quality. The only issue is that a DSD 64 cycle recording is twice as large as a PCM file. And, a DSD 128 cycle file is twice as large as a DSD 64 cycle and so on. So if you want to download a lot of DSD files, you better own a large hard drive! But yeah, DSD is my favorite.

+1@fastfrieght haha. Actually there's a fine and fun video of Buggles doing Video killed the Radio Star (Live 2004) on YouTube. Maybe all you need...

For anyone wanting some help in finding well-recorded (mostly acoustic) music I recommend the Tidal playlists Audiophile Really Really Good. There are 85 of them times about 100 songs.

Yesterday we had only a few supergroups to keep track on. Today we have millions of artists out there doing fine and well-recorded music.

David Chesky is offering a FREE album, HiFi Collective, at his Audiophile Society page via Steve Guttenberg. It has mixes that are specifically done for headphones or speakers in 24-bit/192KHz PCM in ALAC, and the one for speakers also in DSF (DSD).

Regardless of format, this is an entertaining album. Link here:

Welcome Audiophiliac Listeners! | The Audiophile Society

I'm unapologetic for liking the Buggles, they also collaborated with Yes on the Magnification album and tour. They are also credited with forming the worst ever Yes lineup...LOL...nevermind still a few gems in there.

All SACDs known to man are listed here https://www.sa-cd.net/home

There are links on the same page for Hi-Rez recordings, not necessary to sign in....enjoy