Pure DSD

Brief History of DSD

1. Origins:

   • Developed by Sony and Philips in the late 1990s as the encoding format for SACD (Super Audio CD), designed to replace CD with higher-resolution audio while maintaining backward compatibility.

   • First SACDs were released in 1999, aiming to deliver “analog-like” sound with digital durability.

2. Technical Concept:

   • Unlike PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) used in CDs, DSD uses 1-bit delta-sigma modulation at very high sampling rates (2.8224 MHz for DSD64, 5.6448 MHz for DSD128, etc.).

   • Instead of capturing absolute values, DSD captures changes in amplitude, resulting in a simpler signal path and a noise-shaped high-frequency noise floor that is pushed above the audible range.

3. Beyond SACD:

   • Initially limited to physical SACDs, but in the 2010s, downloadable DSD files and Native DSD recording workflows (bypassing PCM conversion) emerged through platforms like NativeDSD, Channel Classics, Blue Coast Records, and 2L, as audiophile demand grew.

   • Modern DACs and software now support native DSD playback, enabling high-fidelity listening beyond physical discs.

Benefits in Recording

1. Simplified Recording Path:

   • Pure DSD recordings can bypass PCM-based mixing, avoiding potential degradation from digital processing.

   • When mixed and mastered in analog or DSD domains, the recording chain becomes closer to a straight-wire approach, retaining microdynamics and spatial cues.

2. High Temporal Resolution:

   • With 2.8 MHz or higher sampling rates, DSD captures transient details, instrumental textures, and ambiance with greater naturalness.

3. Natural Decay and Air:

   • Musicians and engineers often note DSD’s ability to capture the decay of notes and the “air” around instruments in acoustic recordings, enhancing realism in classical and jazz productions.

4. Analog-like presentation:

   • Many analog enthusiasts appreciate that DSD recordings retain a smooth, continuous sound without the “edge” sometimes perceived in PCM recordings.

Benefits in Playback

1. High Resolution:

   • DSD offers up to DSD1024 (45 MHz) playback capabilities, preserving extreme detail and dynamic range (theoretically ~120 dB for DSD64, even higher with higher rates).

2. Low Processing Requirements During Playback:

   • Since DSD streams are 1-bit data streams, certain DAC architectures (e.g., those using delta-sigma modulators) can convert DSD with minimal processing.

3. Better for Acoustic and Classical Music:

   • Playback of well-recorded DSD files provides improved localization of instruments and depth, particularly noticeable in live or acoustic recordings.

4. Flexible Quality Options:

   • Listeners can choose DSD rates (DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512) based on system capability and storage, experiencing incremental benefits in transparency and smoothness.

DSD vs. PCM Summary:

What is “Pure DSD” by NativeDSD?

• Direct-to-DSD sourcing
  These albums are typically recorded live (often in studio or acoustic settings), digitally mastered directly in DSD, ensuring no intermediate PCM conversion or edits. Mixing and balancing are done in analog or DSD domains first.
  

• DSD sampling rates
  Pure DSD typically comes in several quality tiers: DSD64 (2.8 MHz), DSD128, DSD256, up to DSD512 and even DSD1024, depending on the source. Higher rates offer increased detail and depth (help.nativedsd.com).

Why Choose Pure DSD?

• Audiophile-grade fidelity: With ultra-high sampling and no PCM intermediaries, Pure DSD offers unmatched transparency and depth for resolving systems.

• True-to-performance: Ideal for acoustic, jazz, classical—any genre that benefits from preserving space, breath, and nuance.

• Flexible quality options: Choose DSD rates compatible with your DAC and storage capacity; higher rates typically reveal more detail.

Is it Right for You?

If you're running a DSD-capable DAC and crave high-resolution, performance-driven recordings, Pure DSD is among the best digital formats you can buy. Playback requires software/hardware that supports native DSD—but many modern DACs and players (via DoP or native) handle up to DSD512 with ease.

We would like to thank the team at NativeDSD for challenging us to produce in the Pure DSD format. This approach opens up new insights and ways to achieve an even higher level of recording quality, bringing us, and the listener, closer to the original source: the musicians in the studio.

Frans & Peter