I own the DirectStream MK1 and have a WooAudio WA7 Fireflies tube DAC/Amp for headphones… and with both, I like hi-sample PCM over DSD. Why? I actually stopped downloading DSD files. I am done with them.
To me, DSD sounds a bit… um … dead. Technically, I can’t find anything wrong with it other than it is just a bit… morte. If I had to describe DSD, it would be raves… yet over time, I prefer hi-sample PCM. Yea, really. You?
Full disclosure, I love tubes… so maybe I like distortion? Hmmm…
I don’t have a lot of DSD material, but I think I agree with you. And it’s not that DSD intrinsically sounds worse (everything coming out of the DirectStream DAC is, after all, DSD in the end). I suspect that high-res PCM workflows are more flexible for everything that needs to happen in between recording and playback.
For me the native DSD source material being pulled from my hardrive on my ROON core comes across much more lively, dynamic, and detailed vs switching to Qobuz or Tidal. I seem to get a much better sense of air and top end extension with the DSD 256 source material. Although the standard 24/96 or 192 PCM is really really good too…. I guess my experience is a little different.
Source -
PSA regenerator, Roon core, Air Lens, DS MKII, La Dolce Audio UA2.5 Pre amp, Classe’ Delta Stereo, La Dolce Audio ABX open baffles.
I have purchased a number of files in both DSD256 and PCM 192/24, and consistently DSD256 sounded fuller and smoother to me. It is as close to analog as analog to me😆
192/24 still sound digital to me.
I’m using Audirvana Origen to play my downloads and ripped files. If I’m playing a PCM file, I can use an EQ plug-in to tweak things to my liking (moderate bass boost, slight treble boost, smooth out the roughness in the tweeter response). Not so for DSD files. That alone makes me prefer PCM.
