A different approach to digital audio, used in high-end and audiophile formats.
Unlike standard PCM audio, which stores audio as multi-bit samples, DSD uses a 1-bit stream sampled at a very high frequency. Instead of recording exact amplitude values, it records whether the signal is going up or down at each step.
Stores detailed values (e.g. 16-bit or 24-bit) at a given sample rate.
Stores a single-bit stream at extremely high frequency (e.g. 2.8 MHz or higher).
DSD trades precision per sample for a much higher sampling rate.
| Format | Sampling rate |
|---|---|
| DSD64 | 2.8 MHz |
| DSD128 | 5.6 MHz |
| DSD256 | 11.2 MHz |
DSD is the core format used on Super Audio CDs.
Some music stores offer DSD downloads for high-end playback systems.
Used in some niche recording and mastering environments.