DSD-Ready DACs (a short list)

Following up on the Native DSD - Is It The Future? post, here's a list of DSD-ready DACs (I have not included any of the DIY solutions which I'll save for another time):
dCS Debussy USB DAC with DSD Streaming Support ($11,000)

Mytek Digital Stereo 192-DSD DAC ($1,695)

Playback Designs MPD-3 DAC ($6,500)

Another option on the hardware side is the Korg MR-2000S ($1,799). The Korg has an 80GB internal drive so you can send a DSD file from your computer to your Korg MR-2000S via USB and then play it through your hi-fi (Korg > RCA/Balanced > hi-fi). While this isn't an ideal setup, it works and also explains why so many DSD fans are so excited about the $1,695 Mytek DAC.

It's also worth noting that you'll need software that can handle the DSD task. As of today, the software that I'm aware of that will play DSD natively includes Channel D's Pure Music 1.8 ($129 Mac-only) and on the PC side Signalyst's HQPlayer ($142) will play native DSD and according to Jussi Laako of Signalyst is currently the only Windows-based software that will play native DSD files with the Mytek and dCS Debussy DSD DACs. In addition Foobar2000 (free, requires installation of the DSDIFF Decoder plugin) and Korg Audiogate (free) will play native DSD. J River Media Center ($49.98) and Sonic Studio's Amarra ($695 Full Version) next official releases will also reportedly support native DSD playback.

And finally where do you get DSD that isn't a SACD disc to play on your computer audio-based hi-fi? Beyond ripping your SACDs (see sacd-ripper), here are a few more sources:

2L

Blue Coast Records

HighResAudio

For more on DSD as it relates to computer audio, check out The Well-Tempered Computer. For more on converting DSD to PCM, here's a PDF from HD Tracks outlining their conversion procedures.
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Comments
Esprit's picture
Photo...

You are using wrong/old Mytek 192 DSD pictures...wink

Michael Lavorgna's picture
Fixed.

Thanks for pointing that out (and I even saw and photographed the actual Mytek DAC at RMAF)! 

Mike Gillespie's picture
Price of Playback Designs Music Playback System 3

Isn't the price of the Playback Designs Music Playback System 3 $6,500?  That's a figure Jonathan Tinn gave me just a couple weeks ago.  The 5 is about $13,000.

Dark's picture
DSD DAC's

The DAC's on the list are capable of DSD playback over USB.

What about the EmmLabs/Meitner gear ? I know that they are not capable of DSD over USB, but they accept DSD over coax (BNC) or optical (ST) .

Michael Lavorgna's picture
Playback Designs...

I had included the Music Playback System 3 (MPS-3) which is $8,500 but it makes more sense to list the MPD-3 DAC here. Thanks!

I'll check into the Meitner/EMM labs gear.