HDtracks.

com Converting DSD to LPCM Some of the masters we receive at HDtracks have been recorded in DSD (Direct Stream Digital). Since the current state of the computer audio playback does not support DSD (SACD as it is known in the consumer world) playback we must have the files digitally converted to Linear Pulse Code Modulation, better known as LPCM. It is this conversion stage that we apply the terms 88/24, 96/24, 176/24, and 192/24. We and our label partners use mastering houses and engineers to convert the files. Now lets look at the DSD format: When recording in DSD, noise-shaped 1-bit quantization and dither results in substantial ultrasonic noise which is fundamental to all DSD mastered recordings. This noise starts to increase in level at around 25 kHz and continues to rise rapidly reaching a maximum at one half the DSD sampling rate of 64 times 44.06 kHz. Consequently, when down converting to 88.24 or 176.24 kHz (we do an evenmultiple conversion for DSD), much of this high frequency noise must be filtered out of the new LPCM files. Why do we do this? Well, if we left high-frequency noise in the signal, it might just take out a tweeter or a nice expensive tube amp. Please look at the two graphs to appreciate the level of ultrasonic noise and how it rapidly increases with frequency.

SDM (red) spectrum and 16-bit/44.1 kHz noise reference (blue) 0

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Courtesy of Professor Malcolm Hawksford, Essex University, UK The first graph (1) shows that even with some analog filtering the level of DSD quantization noise above 50 kHz remains orders of magnitude higher than any possible natural signal above that frequency. So in converting the signal to LPCM it is necessary to filter out much of this highfrequency noise. However, for 176.24 kHz this can be a more relaxed process than for 88.12 kHz where the latter typically uses a near-brick-wall filter at around 42 kHz. Consequently choosing the higher LPCM sampling rate can reduce dispersion with a performance much closer to the filtered analog output of a DSD player.

Graph number (2, red trace) shows the level of DSD quantization noise (before down conversion) for a DSD sampling rate of 64 times 44.06 kHz where for comparison the flat noise floor of 16/44.06 CD audio (blue trace) is shown with its spectrum extending to 22.03 kHz. The two spectra were computed over 220 samples with the LPCM up-sampled to 64 times 44.06 kHz in order to achieve identical frequency resolution and to facilitate direct comparison of the noise floors. In both DSD and LPCM cases the input was a 5 kHz sine wave of 0.5 amplitude (i.e. -6.02 dB). So what needs to be done when converting the DSD to LPCM? So a gentle low-pass filter around 42 kHz is put in. Some mastering engineers may choose to put the low-pass filter in lower or higher frequency depending on the musical content and the hardware and software they prefer. A very important point is this, all SACD players have these low-pass ultrasonic filters built into them to take out DSD quantization noise so even using a pure SACD player, ultrasonic filtering is present which is a requirement set by the SACD Scarlet Book standard. Since LPCM DACs do not have these filters built into them, we must do the filtering for you. So for those who like to look at waveforms and are puzzled, this is the simple reason why. Just think SACD player. Some engineers may choose to leave more the noise in and mask any sonic content that is up that high,

while others will choose to filter it out more aggressively and make it sound as nice as they can with the device they choose to do the DSD-to-LPCM conversions. There is artistic licence here. In any case, filtering is a fundamental necessity when converting from DSD to hi-res PCM. The cut-off frequency and filter shape is determined by the level of ultra-sonic noise in DSD, not so much by the bandwidth of the target PCM sampling frequency, although we emphasize that when converting to 176.24 kHz LPCM the filtering can be more relaxed than when converting to 88.12kHz LPCM so we maintain there is advantage in choosing the higher sampling rate. Finally for DSD conversion it should be noted that 88.12 and 176 kHz are preferable to 96 and 192 kHz as they have an integer relationship to 44.06 kHz which leads to more straightforward sampling rate conversion.