DSD, bit for bit
Direct Stream Digital stores sound as a 1-bit stream sampled millions of times per second: 2.8 MHz for DSD64, and two, four or eight times that for DSD128, DSD256 and DSD512. Densa plays DSF and DFF files at all four rates, from mono to eight channels.
The DSD stream goes to your DAC over DoP 1.1 (DSD over PCM), unchanged. When playback pauses or the buffer runs short, Densa keeps sending DoP idle frames, so the DAC stays in DSD mode and nothing clicks. If your DAC does not accept DoP, Densa converts DSD to high-rate PCM (88.2 to 352.8 kHz) with a linear-phase filter instead.
SACD ISO and DST
SACD ISO images (2048-byte sectors, the usual rip format) play directly, with album and track titles, frame-accurate track boundaries, gapless track changes and fast seeking. The stereo area plays first; when there is none, the multichannel one. DST-compressed SACD images and DFF files are decoded by Densa’s own DST decoder, checked bit for bit against an independent decoder.
Bit-perfect PCM too
FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF and CAF play bit-perfect: the device sample rate follows the file and the output format is set to integer 24 or 32 bits. Exclusive access keeps other apps and system sounds out of the signal, and albums play gapless.
A signal-path display shows what happens to the music at every moment: green while it is bit-perfect, orange when anything processes it.
Optional upsampling
If you prefer your Mac to do the reconstruction filtering instead of your DAC, Densa can upsample PCM by powers of two (up to 705.6 or 768 kHz) or convert it to DSD64, DSD128 or DSD256 with a 7th-order sigma-delta modulator, with linear-phase or minimum-phase filters. In our tests the DSD64 conversion reaches 121 dB SNR+THD (20 Hz to 20 kHz). Upsampling adds no information, and the signal path turns orange while it is on.
Analysis window
A colour waveform, a live spectrum with Hz and dB readouts (up to 70 kHz for DSD, with the ultrasonic noise shaping marked), a spectrogram of the whole track, LUFS, loudness range, true peak, PLR, DR value and a goniometer. A source check tells you whether a DSD file looks like genuine wideband DSD or like a CD transfer.
The analysis reads the file in the background with its own reader. Nothing is added to the DoP or bit-perfect output.
Your library
Add your music folders and Densa keeps the library up to date as albums arrive, including on external disks and network drives. Cover art, search, an album view, a queue and saved playlists are included.
What you need
- macOS 13 Ventura or later, Apple silicon or Intel
- For DSD: a USB DAC that accepts DSD over DoP (any DAC plays PCM)
- Your music as DSF, DFF, SACD ISO, FLAC, ALAC, WAV or AIFF files
Part of the Densa audio line, with Densa Mix Analyzer and Densa Studio. All three share one measurement engine.
