Qobuz continues to tempt audiophiles by offering DSD files for download

French music streaming platform Qobuz continues its efforts to appeal to high-resolution music lovers around the world by introducing Direct Stream Digital (DSD) and Digital eXtreme Definition (DXD) file formats to its download store. Qobuz is making a big push into the mainstream streaming market this year, earning us a new five-star review thanks to its extensive catalog of high-resolution tracks, and then turning its sights to younger listeners with the launch of a heavily discounted student tier earlier this month.

This push continued with the release of DSD and DXD formats in the platform’s download store. Listeners now have access to over 22,500 songs available in both formats. Some big names have already been added, including John Coltrane’s records Blue Train, Michael Jackson Jail, The Rolling Stones band Let it bleed and The Beach Boys USA ready for playback in DSD and/or DXD files.

DSD is essentially a high-resolution audio format (with a sampling rate approximately the same as 24-bit/88.2 kHz PCM) that initially acted as a different, more efficient way of storing and archiving music data than traditional formats using single-bit information. DSD is also often claimed to be around 120 dB in the audible frequency range – for context, CD measures around 96 dB, and 24-bit/192 kHz recordings have a theoretical maximum of around 144 dB, so the audible frequency range is usually higher.

Meanwhile, DXD is simply PMC with a sampling rate of 24 bits/352.8 kHz or 32 bits/252.8 kHz. From what we know, however, Qobuz has placed many more of its new files in the DSD format than in DXD.