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Welcome

If you are tired of listening to low-quality or standard-quality music and want to play live and recording-studio grade, original quality sound instead, this is your one-stop shop. You will discover details in the music you were never able to hear before.

Get our free Starter Pack and listen to Native DSD

NativeDSD Music Starter Pack

Six tracks from five labels, plus a spoken introduction, to hear what DSD can do. Free in DSD 64, DSD 128 to 512 from €1, in stereo or multichannel.

Get the Starter PackWhich rate and channels?

1Spoken introduction by NativeDSD co-founder Jonas Sacks1:30
2Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 – Allegretto (excerpt)from Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5, Barber: Adagio for Strings1:17
3Barrios: La Catedral – Preludio (excerpt)from En Silencio (In Silence) [Pure DSD]2:50
4Skidmore: The Impossible Sum (excerpt)from The New York EP: TRPTK Sessions (DSD EP)2:16
5Newman: Short Peoplefrom 8 Ensembles In 1 Bit [Pure DSD]1:54
6Rodgers: The Sweetest Soundsfrom The Sweetest Sound [Pure DSD]5:00
7Vivaldi: The Four Seasons – Winter, II. Largofrom Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons)2:14

The full albums

Liked a track? Buy the full album in stereo or multichannel DSD, up to DSD 512.

How to Download

Choose your rate and channels, check out, then pick your route:

1 Choose rate & channels→2 Add to cart & check out→3 Download, two ways:
Recommended

A · NativeDSD Downloader app

Desktop and laptop only (Mac, Windows, Linux), not for phones or tablets

1

Install the NativeDSD Downloader on your Mac, Windows or Linux computer.

2

Sign in with the email address of your NativeDSD account (How).

3

Your albums appear in the app. Download them track by track, no unzipping needed.

4

Point your Music player to the download folder and hit play.

Hint: the app resumes where it left off and has no limit on download starts, so it’s the most reliable route for large albums.

Albums missing? Check that the app is signed in with the same email you ordered with (More).

B · In your browser (.zip)

Computer, phone or tablet, no install

1

Log in and open Your account.

2

Go to your orders and click download for the album: you get a .zip file.

3

Unzip it: 7-Zip on Windows, Decompressor on Mac, or the Files app on iPhone, iPad and Android (Tips).

4

Move the files to your Music player and hit play.

Hint: use a wired connection if you can, run one download at a time and keep plenty of free disk space: DSD albums are large, and unzipping needs room for both the .zip and the files.

On a phone or tablet? Use route B, then add the files to a DSD player app such as Onkyo HF Player, HiBy Music or USB Audio Player Pro (see the Players). Download stuck? See Downloading and troubleshooting.

Music players for DSD

To play DSD (.dsf) files you need a player that supports them, on a computer, a music server or a phone. A selection of popular players:

RoonWindows, Mac · remote app for iOS/AndroidUp to DSD 512 · multichannel$119/yearAudirvana StudioWindows, Mac, Linux · remote app for iOS/AndroidUp to DSD 512 · multichannel$69.99/yearJRiver Media CenterWindows, Mac, LinuxUp to DSD 512 · multichannel$70HQPlayer DesktopWindows, Mac, LinuxUp to DSD 1024 · multichannel$245foobar2000Windows · remote app for iOS/AndroidUp to DSD 256 · multichannelFree (with DSD add-on)VolumioLinux, AndroidUp to DSD 512FreeMinimServerWindows, Mac, Linux (UPnP server)Up to DSD 256FreeColibriMacUp to DSD 256$5DecaudMac, iOSUp to DSD 512FreeOnkyo HF PlayeriOS, AndroidUp to DSD 256$10USB Audio Player ProAndroidUp to DSD 256$8HiBy Music PlayerAndroidUp to DSD 256Free

Prices as listed by the makers.

All players in the DSD Database

DACs for DSD

A DAC (digital-to-analogue converter) turns the DSD data into an analogue signal. You usually connect it to your computer or phone with a USB cable, and plug in your headphones or send the signal on to your amplifier and speakers. Every DSD-capable DAC plays DSD 64; check which higher rates yours accepts before you buy. A selection, from pocket-sized to high end:

iFi GO LinkUSB-C dongle for phone or laptopUp to DSD 256$59Questyle M15iUSB-C dongle for phone or laptopUp to DSD 512$199iFi Zen DAC 3Desktop DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 512$229SMSL SU9nDesktop DACUp to DSD 512$399Chord Mojo 2Portable DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 256$699RME ADI-2 DAC FSDesktop DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 256$1,299iFi iDSD Diablo 2Portable DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 512$1,299Mytek Liberty DAC IIDesktop DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 512$1,295Denafrips Venus IIR-2R desktop DACUp to DSD 1024$2,499Chord Hugo 2Portable DAC and headphone ampUp to DSD 512$2,795T+A DAC 200DAC and preampUp to DSD 1024$6,900exaSound s88 Mk II8-channel streaming DACUp to DSD 512 · multichannel$7,599

List prices in USD.

All DACs in the DSD Database

Play

  1. Use a Player that accepts the .dsf file format.
  2. Add the downloaded files to the player or server.
  3. Make sure the output is set to your DSD-capable DAC.
  4. Sit back and enjoy!

More help on getting started is in our Getting started article.

Frequently asked questions

What is DSD?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is the high-resolution format Sony and Philips developed for the Super Audio CD. Instead of PCM’s multi-bit samples, it stores sound as a very fast stream of single bits: 2.8 MHz for DSD 64, 64 times the CD sample rate, and up to 22.4 MHz for DSD 512. Many listeners hear it as closer to analog. On NativeDSD you download the files (.dsf) instead of buying a disc. Read all about it on our About DSD page. More in the help center: What is DSD · DSD and PCM

Where does the music come from? (provenance)

The “native” in NativeDSD: we get the edit masters directly from the labels, as early in the production as possible, not files ripped from SACDs or other discs. The master is turned into tagged .dsf files without changing the music data.

Every album page shows where the recording came from: the original recording resolution and, in the tech specs, the producer, engineer, venue and converters used. When an album is offered at a higher rate than it was recorded in, the page says what it was converted from. More: The ‘native’ in NativeDSD · Provenance and production paths

Is every album recorded and produced in DSD?

Not every album, and we always tell you which is which. There are several paths to a download:

  • Analog to DSD: analog tapes transferred straight to DSD, without PCM in between.
  • Pure DSD: recorded in DSD and mixed in DSD or on an analog desk, never processed in PCM.
  • DSD recorded, DXD edited: recorded in DSD, with edits or mixing done in DXD (352.8 kHz PCM), the standard for post-production of larger ensembles.
  • DXD or PCM recordings: recorded in DXD, or since 2022 also in 96 or 192 kHz PCM.

The original recording resolution is on every album page. More: Is all music recorded in DSD?

What does “Pure DSD” mean?

A Pure DSD album was recorded from an analog signal to DSD and never processed in PCM: mixed in DSD, mixed on an analog desk and then converted to DSD, or transferred straight from analog tape. More: What we mean by Pure DSD

Which quality (sample rate) should I choose?

Most listeners choose the highest rate their DAC accepts. Every DSD DAC plays DSD 64; check the higher rates in our DSD Database.

  • DSD 64 (aka DSD) = 2.8 MHz .dsf, 64 × 44.1 kHz
  • DSD 128 (aka Double DSD) = 5.6 MHz .dsf
  • DSD 256 (aka Quad DSD) = 11.2 MHz .dsf
  • DSD 512 (aka Octa DSD) = 22.4 MHz .dsf
  • DXD = 352.8 kHz 24/32 bit PCM (.flac), 8 × Red Book

“Analog to DSD” in an album’s tech specs means the original analog tapes were transferred straight to that DSD rate. More: Choosing quality and channels · DSD 512 · DXD

Stereo, multichannel or binaural: which channels should I choose?

2ch Stereo is for a two-speaker system or headphones; this is what most people want.

5ch Surround (multichannel) only if your system plays file-based DSD surround, for example an exaSound or Merging NADAC with a multichannel player like JRiver, Audirvana or HQPlayer. Most of our 5ch albums are 5.0, channel order L-R-C-SL-SR.

2ch Binaural is recorded with a microphone head and sounds best on headphones. 2ch Spatial is a headphone version made in post-production.

The Stereo & Surround combination gives you both at once for less. More: Choosing quality and channels · Multichannel listening

Do I need a special DAC to play DSD?

For native DSD playback, yes: a DSD-capable DAC (see the Selection above). Without one, players such as JRiver, foobar2000 or Audirvana can convert DSD to PCM on the fly so you can still listen on a regular DAC. More: Playing DSD, DXD and high-rate PCM

Can I download my albums again later?

Yes. Albums you buy stay available for download forever, in the Downloader app and under your orders in your account.

More answers in our Help Center, or Contact us.