# Plexamp headless : Play dsf (sacd) files without converting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Labs\ **Tags:** plexamp\ **Created:** [January 14, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792 "2023-01-14T13:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrpink200](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mrpink200/32/111127_2.png) [@Mrpink200](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mrpink200)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 1:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/1 "2023-01-14T13:14:06Z")
Hello. I use plexamp on RPI with digi+ card connected with coax cable to a topping dac compatible with dsf / dsd files. I was happily surprised to discover that plex and plexamp were supporting dsf files but when i play them , my topping dac indcates they are converting to PCM 176 and not plyed directly on dsf format ? I do not see any option in plexamp to force playing them without concerting ? Is there any option i ve missed ? Many thx ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 1:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/2 "2023-01-14T13:35:43Z")
DSD cannot be transferred over SPDIF. That link does neither provide the necessary bandwidth, nor the protocol support to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Mrpink200](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mrpink200/32/111127_2.png) [@Mrpink200](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mrpink200)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/3 "2023-01-14T14:39:06Z")
so, only usb ? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/4 "2023-01-14T14:40:11Z")
If Plexamp were able to passthrough DSD, yes (and HDMI, of course). But it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mrpink200](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mrpink200/32/111127_2.png) [@Mrpink200](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mrpink200)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/5 "2023-01-14T14:41:49Z")
thx for your answers but i do not understand if i plug my dac using its usb input, it will not work either ? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/6 "2023-01-14T14:42:49Z")
You will ever only get PCM out of Plexamp. It cannot pass through the raw DSD data to any DAC. ---
**Author:** ![Mrpink200](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mrpink200/32/111127_2.png) [@Mrpink200](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mrpink200)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 2:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/7 "2023-01-14T14:43:24Z")
Many thx Ottokerner ---
**Author:** ![Crystalgipsy01](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/crystalgipsy01/32/321100_2.png) [@Crystalgipsy01](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Crystalgipsy01)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/8 "2023-01-15T22:48:01Z")
That is so wrong that’s what DoP is for. Plex might not support DSD but spdif can and does. ---
**Author:** ![elan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/elan/32/5_2.png) [@elan](https://forums.plex.tv/u/elan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/9 "2023-01-25T21:12:37Z")
We’re not interested in passthrough because it breaks a lot of the features we consider important (sweet fades, loudness leveling). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plexamp-headless-play-dsf-sacd-files-without-converting/826792/10 "2023-04-25T21:13:33Z")
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