Super Audio CD Decoder

Super Audio CD Decoder for Windows is an input plugin for foobar2000, an audio player that, on its own, is a must-have for audiophiles since it supports a wide range of audio formats, including the popular lossless compressed audio format FLAC. What Super Audio CD Decoder does for foobar2000 is taking it to the next level, making it capable of playing back ISO images, DSDIFF and DSF files, which are audio formats that offer the highest possible audio fidelity, due to the fact that none of these formats compress audio files.

When it comes to audio, most media players tend to rely too much on the popular, yet mid-to-low fidelity of the mp3 format, which has its own pros and cons:

• Pros: It offers small file sizes. It works well with headphones and inexpensive speakers, and it's supported by virtually every media player.
• Cons: Greater sound systems will expose the low quality of the mp3 format, clipping may appear, and everything will sound very compressed overall.

Lossless audio formats like the ones from ISO images, DSDIFF, and DSF files won't compress audio, leaving its information unaltered. Of course, that offers its range of pros and cons:

Is capable of playing back Super Audio CD ISO images, DSDIFF and DSF files.

• Pros: You will be able to playback audio at its highest fidelity, which is essential for good sound systems.
• Cons: File sizes are considerably bigger, most media players won't be able to play these audio formats, and their quality won't make a lot of difference on headphones or inexpensive speakers.

Taking all of the above into consideration, if you have a good PA system or a home theater and want to make it sound as good as it gets: Super Audio CD Decoder, along with foobar2000, is a handy plugin as it doesn't compress audio files, guaranteeing the highest-fidelity there is.