I wouldn't expect support for SACD files since they're considered a "niche" market. What I did was convert my SACD files to FLAC using Foobar. It's very fast and even works with multi-channel files. I also use MP3TAG to help with metadata.
I converted extracted DSD files (DFF) form my SACD and enjoy listening to my HiRez library using my DAP (just got the FiiO X3-ii and I love it) or on my Mac (Audirvana). I honestly believe I hear the difference when I convert to FLAC - I cannot put my finger on it but something is lost in translation. Many DAP (mine included) have started to support DSD natively and as Transatlantic has mentioned, more recent DAC also added DSD support. I would love to to see Plex managing all my Media, also my DSD files.
I converted extracted DSD files (DFF) form my SACD and enjoy listening to my HiRez library using my DAP (just got the FiiO X3-ii and I love it) or on my Mac (Audiorivana). I honestly believe I hear the difference when I convert to FLAC - I cannot put my finger on it but something is lost in translation. Many DAP (mine included) have started to support DSD natively and as Transatlantic has mentioned, more recent DAC also added DSD support. I would love to to see Plex managing all my Media, also my DSD files.
FLAC is lossless, so if you hear a difference after conversion, it may be in playback level or the path the FLAC goes through. My Sony BDP-S370 Blu Ray Player is used for my SACD discs and it's output is much higher than when playing an SACD ISO through Foobar. That difference in level fools some into thinking the higher output is better sounding.
I would appreciate hearing from one of the software developers on what would be required to repurpose the foobar DSD components (or other existing software) so that we could play DSD files with Plex?
Even so, by using something like this foobar plugin, you cannot use the DSD-part of the DAC. Because the data is converted into the traditional PCM format before it reaches the DA converter.
To support DSD, the internal architecture of plex (or any player - even foobar!) must be radically overhauled. A move, that'll never happen I think.
The closest you can get to a HiRes audio experience right now is by using Plex Home Theater as client and a high quality AD converter which you set to a fixed 192kHz samplerate.But even then almost all material will be mangled through the samplerate conversion. Switching the audio interface to the right SR automatically (as is possible in foobar with ASIO drivers) is not possible.
There are two ways to support DSD in Plex. Either convert all files to PCM (which is fairly CPU intensive but other programs do this now) or identify an available DAC connected to the computer via USB that supports DSD. There is an industry standard to support DSD file transmission over a normal PCM stream called DoP. It's an open standard and has wide industry support in high end audio. It would be nice to see DoP support through a DAC, eventually. This is even possible in some mobile applications. Portable DACs are a hot seller in high end audio right now (I have one) and I can play DSD through it from my iPhone right now through a iOS app written by Onkyo.
But I would really like to understand if the ALAC/FLAC support in Plex now only covers 16 bit/44.1 khz content or whether Plex properly handles 24 bit music up to 192 khz. Bonus points for 32 bit/384 khz support. And again, DAC support through USB would be a big deal in the audiophile community.
There are two ways to support DSD in Plex. Either convert all files to PCM (which is fairly CPU intensive but other programs do this now) or identify an available DAC connected to the computer via USB that supports DSD. There is an industry standard to support DSD file transmission over a normal PCM stream called DoP. It's an open standard and has wide industry support in high end audio. It would be nice to see DoP support through a DAC, eventually. This is even possible in some mobile applications. Portable DACs are a hot seller in high end audio right now (I have one) and I can play DSD through it from my iPhone right now through a iOS app written by Onkyo.
But I would really like to understand if the ALAC/FLAC support in Plex now only covers 16 bit/44.1 khz content or whether Plex properly handles 24 bit music up to 192 khz. Bonus points for 32 bit/384 khz support. And again, DAC support through USB would be a big deal in the audiophile community.
There is a bug in PHT which was introduced in XBMC 12.3 which hangs PHT if you try to play 24/192 FLAC files (at least when using OSX as operating system). The devs are aware of this limitation and hope to solve this in a future update. Hopefully when the next big upgrade of PHT comes along.
I would definitely vote for fixing the 24/192 FLAC bug before trying to implement DSD.
once you have a listen to Hi-Res using proper equipment and software you'll understand how I feel :)
That's funny. Kids these days have never heard of Hi-Res audio because it doesn't start with i. LOL. Yes, you are very right though... If they ever did hear Hi-Res it would be all over :)
Roon has announced that they are adding DSD and Meridian’s MQA support:
http://www.techhive.com/article/2923915/roon-is-must-have-software-for-hardcore-music-fans.html
Come on Plex devs, show some love for Hi-Res audio fans and repurpose those Foobar DSD plugins!!
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Sevenfeet has the gist of it with DoP. It’s what Roon is using in their player and it works quite well. I would love Plex to get DoP support though I feel like a beggar asking as I’m just a full stack guy and can’t really offer engineering implementation support :-/. 24/32 and +48 support is super too, but frankly I’d rather have DoP if I have to choose.
As to the “it’s all lossless” argument, while factual, even PCM lossless files have different sound qualities when comparing FLAC, AIF, and WAV despite science claiming otherwise. The difference between them is fractually small but there. The difference between PCM and DSD, however, is astounding. They are completely different file types and processed very differently as DSD is a 1 bit file structure. They are almost identical to analog in their sound reproduction which is what makes them so appealing. Blind “test” done by PS Audio at January’s CES had people thinking they were spinning vinyl when in face it was vinyl DSD rips into DSF. It’s remarkable stuff.
Surprise! I was just adding new albums to plex and it picked up a load of duplicates albums as added.
Upon investigation its now detecting the DSD’s I had in my music folder along side the FLAC converted versions. So it looks like DSD / DSF support got added on the sly.
@steven.hartland said:
Surprise! I was just adding new albums to plex and it picked up a load of duplicates albums as added.Upon investigation its now detecting the DSD’s I had in my music folder along side the FLAC converted versions. So it looks like DSD / DSF support got added on the sly.
Cool! Thanks for sharing this. Now, is the DSD file being transcoded to PCM?
It’s not detecting my DSD copy of THRILLER that I just purchased from HD Tracks and tried adding to my Plex music library 
So I’m totally new to the whole HiFi/HiRes scene, but I’m looking at getting the Chord Electronics Mojo portable DAC/AMP. It would run on a Samsung Note 5 via USB OTG cable. From what I understand, Android is smart enough to bypass the inbuilt DAC and use the USB connected DAC instead. I’m reaching here, I know, but if Plex ever did start to support HiRes file formats, would the Plex App also have to support the external DAC, or is all of that abstracted via libraries and APIs? How much of a wrench would that throw into the already nearly hopeless effort to cajole the devs into supporting HiRes?
This is an older thread but I am now on the journey of adding hi-res to my library and playing back as the studio intended. I now have all me DSF files after ripping the SACD through the well-known technique thanks to Ted’s Ripping Guide. Plex picks all the DSF files up correctly but, from I understand, transcodes to FLAC. As sevenfeet has stated, the open standard adopted appears to be dCS’ DoP technique which is nothing more than using the 1st 8 bits of the PCM to tell the DAC that we have a DoP stream. My DAC (through the USB) input will then auto-switch to DoP and play hi-res DSD output which is sublime as others have said. I use the excellent dbPowerAmp for conversion and am awaiting for their DSF to DoP Decoder plugin for Mac but it is already available for their Windows version. What I need now is for Plex to direct stream without transcode out to the USB. Using Asynchronous mode, the DAC controls the computer on clock which is the best way to do this. From what I can see JRiver and Foobar actually will play DSF and do DoP transcode on the fly. Can we have the same from Plex please? As far as I am concerned, Plex is the best media organiser and method for playback on all devices but I would dearly love to see the development team move it to the point where I can set up Plex installations for the audiophile in addition to Home Cinema applications. This is the last thread I have read on the subject so can a Plex Ninja please weigh in here and give us all some guidance on their thoughts.
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Sorry to revive an older thread, but there just isn’t as large an audience for audiophile grade sound as i would liek to think. I’m quite new to it myself. The knowledge requirement and immense cost are considerable barriers to most. Bose has done the best job of dumbing down and bringing HiRes audio to the masses.
Back on topic… where do things stand in Version 1.3.2.3112 in December, 2016? Is it at all possible to direct stream DSD and DSF files directly to, say an Oppo?
My PMS is running on Linux Mint 18, finally got frustrated with Windows and took the plunge. So far, so good. I’d be very curious what types of options are available. Discovering how to play SACD ripped DSF files without the Oppo converting them to PCM was a heavenly experience. Yes, FLAC is lossless, as well, but these SACDs, wow. Just wow. The depth they offer is something that’s got to be experienced to appreciate. If you listen to a FLAC, then play a DSF, the differences jump out at you within seconds. It’s difficult to appreciate, let alone explain.
Thanks to all who contribute to this wonderful community!
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For all DSD and multichannel sound enthusiasts 
out there, please take a look onto the following feature request:
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/73956275
The goal is to enable android set top boxes 
(maybe even chromecast hardware) to output native DSD via HDMI.
If you like the idea 
, feel free to comment and upvote (hit the star button 
).
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So, now that Plex and TIDAL have a level of integration. Are there any plans to now support hi-res audio and MQA and DSD? I only saw a mention of FLAC and ALAC as part of the TIDAL announcement.
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I would love to be able to play SACD ISOs… actually I noticed just today that FLAC 5.1 @ 96kHz is working in emby and PlexForKodi but not vanilla Plex (with the latest shield 7.2 update)
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