DXD

DXd is a term used in professional audio to denote a high-resolution PCM format, most commonly associated with the acronym Digital eXtreme Definition (DXD). In practice, the descriptor is used to refer to 24-bit PCM audio at a high sampling rate, typically 352.8 kHz, which is four times 88.2 kHz. This format is commonly wrapped in standard PCM containers such as WAV or AIFF for editing, processing, and archiving rather than for consumer listening.

Origins and uses

DXd originated in the context of professional SACD workflows during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It provides a PCM domain suitable for precise DSP-based editing and mastering, which is more cumbersome in native DSD environments. Studios use DXd as an intermediate master format to preserve high-resolution detail during editing before final output, which may be converted to DSD for SACD production or delivered as PCM masters for other high-resolution distributions. It is not typically distributed as a consumer download; instead, it functions as a mastering and archival tool in professional settings.

Relationship to other formats

DXd sits in the ecosystem alongside DSD and other PCM formats. It stands for a PCM-based approach that contrasts with DSD’s single-bit delta-sigma encoding. While DXd is valued for editability and precision in the mastering stage, consumers more commonly encounter SACD releases or PCM files at standard sampling rates. See also Direct Stream Digital (DSD), SACD, and high-resolution audio.

Note: In some contexts, the terms DXd and DXD are used interchangeably, though DXD more precisely refers to the PCM format described above.