DSD (again)

Alex

• August 11, 2024 10:12

I wish Lenbrook companies would stop ignoring DSD. Requests for DSD support go back years in these forums and yet there's still no movement (no, the conversion workaround doesn't count). There have been a few new products announced by NAD in recent times and still no DSD support. Same with Bluesound. Virtually every other brand/platform supports this. I don't get why the anti DSD stance?! Understand you wouldn't want to stream it at scale due to greater bandwidth requirements but for local playback it's a must feature.

 

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  Seppi Evans

  Hi-Res

  • August 11, 2024 10:37

  NAD did release a DSD module in the MDC format which fits several of their players.

  https://nadelectronics.com/product/mdc-usb-dsd/

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  Alex

  • August 11, 2024 11:01

  From the product description:

  "the MDC USB DSD enables the playback of DSD files up to DSD256 by converting to 24-bit/192kHz hi-resolution PCM audio."

  So pretty much the same as running the conversion utility in BluOS.

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  Seppi Evans

  Hi-Res

  • August 11, 2024 11:21

  I suppose at some point the DSD file has to be converted into an analogue signal so you can hear it but at least this is done on the fly whereas the conversation utility left you with tracks to store on your NAS etc.

  Must admit DSD is not something I know or worry about.

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  Invenio

  • August 11, 2024 20:21

  I would not be so dismissive of DSD.  The format has merit on its own and there is a reason why many high end DACs support it.  Also, simply having a DSD to PCM converter is not the same as having actual native support for the format.  For example, some DACs, including my Holo Audio May DAC, will run DSD native on a discreate resistor ladder DAC.  So really handled completely separately from PCM audio streams.

  It's a requested feature.  Hopefully bluesound listens to their users.  If they can put resources into supporting that garbage MQA, perhaps they can consider supporting an actual audiophile format.

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  woodie

  • August 11, 2024 22:49
  • Edited

  It's a requested feature.  Hopefully bluesound listens to their users.  If they can put resources into supporting that garbage MQA, perhaps they can consider supporting an actual audiophile format.

  All available resources are currently applying lipstick to the aforementioned porcine.

  It's why the cadence of new SW releases has slowed.

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  Matt S.

  Brand Manager

  • August 12, 2024 03:23

  Hi Alex and all,

  Stay tuned, there should be some news on this front before the end of August.

  Thanks,
  Matt

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