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How to play DSF and DFF (DSD) files on Android
High-resolution music in DSD format
DSF and DFF are DSD files, the high-resolution music format from the world of SACD. Android’s stock player cannot play them. The free XanderFiles app plays DSD in its audio player — on the phone’s headphones, over Bluetooth and through an external USB DAC.
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What is this file
DSD stores sound not as multi-bit samples like ordinary formats, but as a one-bit stream at a very high rate (2.8 MHz and up). SACD discs work this way, and high-resolution music stores sell albums in DSD.
DSF (Sony) and DFF (DSDIFF, Philips) are the two containers for DSD. Android does not know them, so the files do not open.
How to open it
- Install XanderFiles from Google Play. It is free, with no ads and no sign-up.
- Tap the .dsf file wherever you have it: on a memory card, in Downloads or in your music folder.
- When Android asks which app to use, choose XanderFiles. Or the other way round: open XanderFiles, tap “Open file” and pick the file in Downloads or Google Drive.
- The audio player opens and the music starts, with the title, artist and cover art if the file has them.
What you can do
- Play DSF and DFF: DSD64, DSD128 and up
- Playlist, equalizer, volume leveling, sleep timer
- Background playback: controls in the notification and on the lock screen
- Also APE, FLAC, ALAC, WavPack and other lossless formats
Good to know
- DSD is played by converting it to high-quality 88.2 kHz PCM, like most Android players do. The app cannot send “pure” DSD (DoP or native) to an external DAC.
- DFF files compressed with DST (found in SACD images) do not play.
Questions
Do I need an external DAC?
No, DSD plays through the phone’s headphones and over Bluetooth too. You can connect an external USB DAC for better sound.
Why is DSD quieter than other files?
DSD is recorded with extra headroom. Turn on “Volume leveling” in the XF menu and the levels even out.
Is it free?
Yes. No ads, no sign-up, and it works offline.
Other formats
Free · no ads · no sign-up · offline