Since DSD is slightly better quality than existing PCM files, then there is a slight quality loss, but since 24/88.2 is really outstanding quality already, doing the conversion could be a practical way to go.
Yeah I agree and that's what I'm doing with all high-resolution audio files: convert to FLAC and edit tags freely and apply ReplayGain tags.
But there are some limitations with MB at the moment in terms of helping managing and organizing those files.
1. <Kind> and <Channels> properties display is wrong for DSF files: it shows them as "mp3" and "stereo" for multi-channel DSF files.
2. Support <Bit Depth> field as it already shows for FLAC 24-bit file in file properties tab of tag editor.
3. Show ISO files in the main panel to help managing and organizing SACD-ISO files (also to send them to external tools).
4. Writing tags to DSF files would be great (but unless it could do volume analysis for those, I will still convert to FLAC).
Update on this: I am no longer converting DSF files to FLAC as I found out foobar supports writing all tags including ReplayGain tags with volume analysis on these files.
- <Kind> tag is still wrong showing "mp3" for DSF files. Though it correctly shows "DFF" for DFF files what's expected to see for this tag would be "DSD64" or 'DSD128".
- <Channels> tag is working correctly showing multi-channels as 5 Channel or 5.1 properly.
- <Bit Depth> field is still missing.
- For SACD ISO files, a foobar component supports tagging and playback without splitting to individual files whereas MB can't even detect them as audio files.
- Foobar can play DFF files and show their tags (even though editing is not possible) while MB can't play them showing no tags.
- Still no support for writing tags and volume analysis for DSF files.