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DSD converted to PCM vs Original PCM

Hello, I am adding to my digital high res music collection. My current DAC does not decode DSD. I bought a handful of DSD downloads, and I converted them with an app made for Mac called DSD Master.  I also have a copy of JRiver which can handle this.

The idea is that if the DSD to PCM conversion is as good as an original PCM file, buying a DSD file may be more future proof.  I may be changing DACs eventually.

Can anyone comment on the quality of an original PCM high res file versus a DSD file, converted to PCM?

thanks!
marktomaras
melm
1,084 posts
 
I don't think the Oppo 105 (or even later) will do that either.

The 105 manual says:
Input:
USB Audio: up to 2ch/192kHz PCM.
Coaxial/Optical Audio: up to 2ch/96kHz PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS, AAC.

That’s one of the reasons I added a separate DAC to my system, to play SACD rips and .dsf files, as well as for better SQ generally.

Re: the OP. That may very well depend on how the original recording was made. Some were made in PCM and converted to DSD for download or to transfer to SACD. Others, often from an analog source, are pure DSD. Generally DSD files cannot be edited.
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,988 posts
 
OPPO does convert DSD from SACD discs to 24/88.2k and it sounds pretty good through my NAD M51.   I don't think it can read a DSD file on a hard drive and output DSD to PCM though....only from SACD disc
taheeti's avatar
taheeti
51 posts
 
My Oppo 205 allows me to switch from DSD to PCM on the fly.  I think DSD is smoother more vinyl like, just as DSD was advertised when it was introduced years ago.
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