Thread: DSD Output On or Off?

Posts: 4

Post by Pianist718 March 21, 2015 (1 of 4)
My Sony bdb-s370 has an option for DSD output On or Off.

When I have it OFF, my receiver shows signal 176hz ... once I select ON receiver doesn't show 176 anymore. Just multi channel.

In terms of sound difference, I feel like when DSD is ON sound is definitely louder and thus more pronounced? Not sure.

What should I have it set on?

thank you

Post by windhoek March 21, 2015 (2 of 4)
The one that sounds best to you :)

Post by Epsilon March 22, 2015 (3 of 4)
It is up to you to decide whichever alternative sounds better to you. When DSD is off, your player converts the DSD code to 176 kHz PCM and allows you to set up speaker and bass management.
When DSD is on, it means that your player bitstreams the original DSD signal from the disc to your receiver without any conversion. In that case check the manual of your receiver to set your AVR up regarding what it should do with that signal. For example I myself let my AVR convert the DSD stream into analog directly for purest reproduction of the music on the SACD.

Post by Iain March 22, 2015 (4 of 4)
Pianist718 said:

My Sony bdb-s370 has an option for DSD output On or Off.

When I have it OFF, my receiver shows signal 176hz ... once I select ON receiver doesn't show 176 anymore. Just multi channel.

In terms of sound difference, I feel like when DSD is ON sound is definitely louder and thus more pronounced? Not sure.

What should I have it set on?

thank you

I agree with windhoek. Use the process that sounds best to you and also allows for the use of bass management and room correction product, if needed.

FWIW, I can't tell a significant difference between either on my system. I use DSD bitstream because it's a single data stream v multiple datastreams for PCM on the HDMI data bus. Less chance of data corruption with the former.

The Sony SA-CD GUI shows "DSD/multi" on my secondary monitor, which also corrects for missing track information on BDP front panel. Missing BDP front panel track numbers is the only annoying issue of Sony BDP, as I'm sure you're aware of.

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