Playing DSD files

@o_holter , Fidelizer has nothing to do with DSD. It optimizes playback by shutting down unwanted services and daemons running in the background. There is something more that it might be doin. You can go to their website and lookup.

Like I said, Foobar2000 is not for everyone. I can set it up and configure it in under 30 minutes due to the sheer amount of time I have spent on understanding and setting it up on 2 previous laptops before I installed and set it up on my server. On Audiophilestyle.com website they have a thread on T+A DAC 200 and how to use HQPlayer with that DAC. It is far too complex than Foobar2000, but is supposed to provide the best possible DSD listening experience. Seems like you can convert even Tidal and Qobuz to DSD 512 or 1024. I am thinking of going that route, some years from now.

Yes, thanks.

For now I will mainly lean back and explore Audirvana. With single or dual speed DSD, especially the latter, further tweaks may not be so much needed perhaps? Dont know. But the way direct DSD presents the music is really impressive. 

Like I’ve said, it is not much you can do to your DSD files, once recorded (or downloaded), unless you want to compromise them by converting to PCM. One thing that you can do, however, is to cut them up. So, for example, if you have recorded one side of an LP, to one DSD file, you can cut it to separate the tracks, with no harm to the DSD format. Each track will be as good as the original.

I use VinylStudio from Alpinesoft to save my original full LP side recording into individual tracks. This is "enthusiast software" (even more than Audirvana Origin). The process takes time. Vinylstudio can do some things on auto (preliminary division of tracks) but so far I have had to adjust manually to get it right. It works very well, however, if you are willing to spend some time with it.

Audirvana problem: I cannot start a DSD file from Explorer, I have to start Audirvana itself, and then, make sure the DSD file is in the library (the folders that the program scans). It is not a dealbreaker but irritating. I would like to click my file and be done with it, so that .dff and .dsf files are started with Audirvana (easy to do with Foobar).

@o_holter Did you get DSD working in Foobar?  I've used it for many years and it hasn't failed me and it sounds wonderful.  I also have a DSD Direct capable DAC, the SMSL D-6, and I believe that mode offers the highest sound quality.  You might have to check the output device.  Mine has to be on DSD+ASIO: USB DAC ASIO.