DSD in Archiving

"DSD is a superlative solution for music companies desperate to transfer archival recordings before they disintegrate forever. The unprecedented frequency response and dynamic range means that DSD will precisely capture every nuance of the original, down to the noise floor and below. 

Archiving benefits from another important difference between DSD and multibit PCM. In the multibit PCM world, significant improvement means changing the digital word length or changing the sampling frequency. And that means “breaking” established formats and creating new ones. DSD is quite different. By changing the characteristics of the loop filter in the analog-to-digital converter, you can actually change the audio specifications of DSD. Some filters can be optimized for bandwidth. Others can be optimized for low noise. Future designs with higher-order filters and greater sophistication can yield performance beyond the grasp of today’s technology. And this can all happen without losing compatibility. Older archived DSD recordings will be compatible with the new machines. And newly archived material will be compatible with existing hardware! In this way, DSD archives become “future-proof.” They retain their currency, even as filter technology makes significant strides."

Super Audio Compact Disc: A Technical Proposal