The purpose of this thread is to gain interest in DSD/DSF audio formats and find out if playability can be implemented in future MediaPortal versions.
I have been using MePo for years as my main mediacenter software, mainly for its excellent Live-TV support. I also have a digital collection of Redbook 5.1 DTS-Audio CD's, which play without errors in MePo. My mediacenter PC was connected through Optical to a 12-year old Sony STR-DB780 ES receiver with a Sony DVP-905V SACD player.
I have several SACD's of which the audio quality is unprecedented. However, both lack modern HDMI connections and the SACD signal was sent to the Sony receiver by means of 5.1 analog interconnects. Future SACD players had HDMI output, but only a Sony PlayStation3 with the correct firmware was able to read and rip SACD content to a PC as .dsd or .dsf files.
Recently, I bought an Onkyo TS-NR636 receiver, which is capable of playing downloaded Direct Stream Digital (DSD) files. DSD is, more or less, the digital equivalent of the physical SACD. SACD was introduced in 1999 and, although superior in audio quality, never became mainstream. Mainly because it required costly special equipment and because content was and is still scarce and expensive. The majority of released albums are classical and jazz based.
With the introduction of DSD capable receivers, I expect this audio format will become more popular and more downloadable DSD content is to be expected in the coming years. Currectly, only JRiver Media Center and Foobar with SACD plugin are able to play these files. I have not tried this yet.
Some info about DSD as introduction:
DSD-guide.com.
What is DSD audio - A Simple Explanation.
DSD - The New Addiction by Andreas Koch.
Downloadable DSD tracks.
I could not find info about DSD in the MePo portal, other than this old thread:
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/better-sound-quality-with-wasapi.51650/
I'm able to play DSD files by accessing my PC's HDD from the Onkyo's wifi connection and through it's own on-screen menu structure. The DSD signal is sent to the receiver thru HDMI. It would be cool if playing of these files could be done in MePo itself. Has anyone looked into this, if this is possible?
I have been using MePo for years as my main mediacenter software, mainly for its excellent Live-TV support. I also have a digital collection of Redbook 5.1 DTS-Audio CD's, which play without errors in MePo. My mediacenter PC was connected through Optical to a 12-year old Sony STR-DB780 ES receiver with a Sony DVP-905V SACD player.
I have several SACD's of which the audio quality is unprecedented. However, both lack modern HDMI connections and the SACD signal was sent to the Sony receiver by means of 5.1 analog interconnects. Future SACD players had HDMI output, but only a Sony PlayStation3 with the correct firmware was able to read and rip SACD content to a PC as .dsd or .dsf files.
Recently, I bought an Onkyo TS-NR636 receiver, which is capable of playing downloaded Direct Stream Digital (DSD) files. DSD is, more or less, the digital equivalent of the physical SACD. SACD was introduced in 1999 and, although superior in audio quality, never became mainstream. Mainly because it required costly special equipment and because content was and is still scarce and expensive. The majority of released albums are classical and jazz based.
With the introduction of DSD capable receivers, I expect this audio format will become more popular and more downloadable DSD content is to be expected in the coming years. Currectly, only JRiver Media Center and Foobar with SACD plugin are able to play these files. I have not tried this yet.
Some info about DSD as introduction:
DSD-guide.com.
What is DSD audio - A Simple Explanation.
DSD - The New Addiction by Andreas Koch.
Downloadable DSD tracks.
I could not find info about DSD in the MePo portal, other than this old thread:
https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/better-sound-quality-with-wasapi.51650/
I'm able to play DSD files by accessing my PC's HDD from the Onkyo's wifi connection and through it's own on-screen menu structure. The DSD signal is sent to the receiver thru HDMI. It would be cool if playing of these files could be done in MePo itself. Has anyone looked into this, if this is possible?
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