DSD Playback Plug-in

Direct-Stream Digital (DSD) is a trademark utilized by Sony and Philips for their pulse-density modulation encoding system for recreating audible signals. Sony developed the DSD Disc format specification for the recording of high-definition 1-bit/2.8-MHz DSD audio files onto recordable DVD media (e.g. DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW) that can be played on compatible PCs and hardware. The audio quality of a DSD Disc is comparable to that of a 2-channel SACD audio disc, which is also mastered using 1-bit/2.8-MHz DSD audio files. It is important to note that DSD Disc is not intended to replace SACD. Presently, DSD Disc playback is primarily supported by Sony VAIO PCs/notebooks, non-VAIO PCs running Windows Media Player 10/11 (with DSD plug-in), PlayStation3, and Sony SCD-XA5400ES and SCD-XE800. In contrast, SACD audio discs have a wider range of hardware playback support. It is noteworthy that all PS3 models are capable of playing DSD Discs, even if they do not support SACD. The major advantage of DSD Disc is its accessibility to the average user, who can easily create a DSD Disc if they possess a 1-bit recorder, such as the Korg MR-1, and a DVD burner on their PC. For comparison, authoring and burning SACD audio discs require specialized software such as SACD Creator, which typically costs around $5,000, and the use of a duplication house capable of burning the SACD creation. Importantly, SACD discs cannot be created using standard PC DVD burners.