Direct Stream Digital (DSD)
DSD (
Direct Stream Digital) is a digital format that stores audio as a sequence of single-bit values at a very high sampling rate.
MPD understands the file formats
dff and
dsf. There are three ways to play back DSD:
- Native DSD playback. Requires ALSA 1.0.27.1 or later, a sound driver/chip that supports DSD and of course a DAC that supports DSD.
- DoP (DSD over PCM) playback. This wraps DSD inside fake 24 bit PCM according to the DoP standard. Requires a DAC that supports DSD. No support from ALSA and the sound chip required (except for bit-perfect 24 bit PCM support).
- Convert DSD to PCM on-the-fly.
Native DSD playback is used automatically if available. DoP is only used if enabled explicitly using the
dop option, because there is no way for MPDto find out whether the DAC supports it. DSD to PCM conversion is the fallback if DSD cannot be used directly.