DSD or PCM, which format is really better?
High definition music exists in two main digital file formats, PCM and DSD. How are they alike, how are they different and which one should I prefer?
What is PCM
Let’s start with the fact that PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is initially older, the first mentions of its successful use date back to the middle of the last century and are associated, like many technological advances, with the defense industry, that is, with the Navy radars. As for home use, first of all, it is a well-known CD with a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz and a 16-bit quantization level.
What is DSD
DSD (Pulse Density Modulation) is a format developed by Sony and Philips at the end of the last century and intended for the digital archiving of analog phonograms. The physical medium of this format is SACD. In fact, there is only one similarity between these two formats, both are digital, which for the user means the possibility of making unlimited copies without loss. As for the difference, relative to the field of graphic design, it is roughly the same as raster and vector graphics. And if it is even more artistic, like cross stitch and watercolor. In both cases, an image is obtained, but the method of its creation and, as a result of perception, are completely different.
What is the difference?
PCM, even because of its age, is much more studied, it has much better compatibility with a large number of different devices, it implies the possibility of editing (equalization, division into frequency bands, transformations). DSD is actually a closed format, you can record to it, you can play it, that’s it. However, it is inherently much closer to the original analog signal.
Which is better?
The first and most important conclusion is that from a technical point of view, the formats are far apart in terms of implementation methods, but they are often practically indistinguishable in practical use, that is, in the sound of the final file. We are talking only about minor differences in the nuances of the musical presentation. So, all things being equal, when choosing the next file to download and play, it’s best to focus on the source material. If you are looking to digitize an analog then DSD will probably be preferable and will retain more nuances from the original. If this is a remastering of a digital recording previously made in PCM, then it would make more sense for it to stay in this domain.
