Play native DSD through a compatible DAC.
playDesk can use a trusted ASIO driver for native stereo DSD playback, bypassing PCM conversion, digital volume, DSP, dither, and resampling.
Direct native DSD through compatible, trusted ASIO DACs.
Audiophile music playback and serving for Windows
Turn your Windows PC into an audiophile music streamer and server.
Play local music, USB drives, and CDs through your DAC with native DSD, ASIO, and bit-perfect PCM controls. Add playDesk+ to share your library with compatible UPnP/DLNA players.
Spotify ConnectplayDesk+ beta
Native DSDASIO output
Bit-perfect PCMFixed output
ASIO playbackDriver direct
High-resolution PCMDevice dependent
UPnP / DLNARenderer + server
Lossless audioLocal + network
Parametric DSPplayDesk+
iPhone + iPadRemote coming soon
What you can do with playDesk
Build a complete audiophile music streamer and server system.
Install playDesk on a Windows computer connected to your audio system. It brings local music, USB drives, CDs, DAC output, network playback, and remote control together in one place. With playDesk+, the same computer can also index and share selected library folders as a UPnP/DLNA music server.
- A dedicated audiophile music streamer built from a Windows PC, mini PC, NUC, or laptop
- Local music from Windows Music and other selected folders
- Albums played directly from connected USB drives
- Audio CD playback through a connected optical drive
- USB DACs, digital interfaces, and standard Windows audio outputs
- PCM playback through installed ASIO DAC and interface drivers
- FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC/M4A, DSF, and DFF file support
- High-resolution PCM when supported by the selected output
- Native DSD through compatible, trusted ASIO DACs
- Safe DSD-to-PCM conversion when native DSD is unavailable
- Fixed output for bit-transparent PCM playback
- Original sample-rate preference when the output supports it
- Clear reporting of device, format, sample rate, and signal path
- A playback queue with simple track management
- Play, pause, stop, seek, skip, shuffle, and repeat controls
- Browser control from phones, tablets, Macs, and PCs
- Browser remote control from phones, tablets, Macs, and PCs
- Music playback that stays on the Windows computer—not the phone
- UPnP / DLNA renderer support for compatible control-point apps
- Automatic playDesk startup with Windows
- Automatic playback-computer discovery on the home network
- Eight-band parametric EQ and custom DSP profiles with playDesk+
- A UPnP / DLNA music server for sharing selected library folders with playDesk+
- Spotify Connect with playDesk+ (beta)
Built for audiophiles
Native DSD, ASIO, and bit-perfect PCM playback.
Choose how playDesk sends music to your DAC. See the actual output device, sample rate, format, conversion, and processing used during playback.
Play PCM through your DAC's ASIO driver.
Select an installed ASIO DAC or interface for PCM playback. playDesk validates the rate, sample format, channels, and route when playback begins.
Direct PCM playback through installed ASIO drivers.
Keep PCM playback bit-perfect when supported.
Fixed output, native sample-rate preference, and bypassed processing let playDesk preserve source samples when the selected output accepts the format.
Fixed output, native rate, and processing bypass controls.
21 playback details that matter
Built into the playback engine and reported clearly while you listen.
DSD64 to DSD512
Route stereo DSF through native ASIO DSD when the driver and DAC accept the rate.
Safe DSD fallback
Convert DSF or DFF to carefully filtered PCM when native DSD is unavailable.
High-resolution PCM
Play FLAC and WAV through rates up to 768 kHz when the output supports them.
Native-rate preference
Ask the selected output to open at the music's original sample rate first.
Fixed output
Bypass playDesk software volume and mute for a bit-transparent PCM stream.
Format-aware routing
Use a dedicated path for PCM, DSD, CD audio, and renderer playback.
Precision resampling
Use windowed-sinc conversion only when source and output rates differ.
Smart dither
Leave untouched PCM undithered and add TPDF dither only when processing requires it.
True-peak headroom
Apply optional safety margin for inter-sample peaks before they reach downstream gear.
Click and pop protection
Smooth starts, stops, pauses, seeks, and output recovery without hiding the signal path.
Progressive local playback
Begin FLAC and other PCM files after a short bounded prefill instead of loading the whole track.
Progressive network playback
Decode compatible UPnP streams as they arrive, even when output-rate conversion is needed.
RAM-prepared DSD
Prepare stable DSD playback data in memory before opening the output stream.
Memory locking
Keep eligible prepared DSD buffers resident in RAM when Windows allows it.
Output fallback
Recover to a safe device or format when a preferred driver rejects a stream.
Real signal-path reporting
See the actual backend, device, sample rate, format, and fallback reason in use.
Wide format support
Play FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC/M4A, DSF, and DFF from supported sources.
Seekable local playback
Move through local and USB PCM tracks without giving up progressive decoding.
CD read confidence
Use the playDesk-owned CD path with optional reread behavior for unstable sectors.
DSP stays explicit
Know when EQ or other processing is active—and keep native DSD outside the PCM DSP path.
Runtime validation
Confirm driver capabilities at playback time instead of trusting a label or device name.
Native DSD requires a compatible ASIO driver, a trusted output, and a supported stereo DSF file. If validation fails, playDesk reports the reason and uses safe PCM conversion.
Remote control
Control playDesk from any browser. Native iOS control is coming soon.
Use the browser remote today from a phone, tablet, Mac, or PC on your home network. The Windows computer continues playing through your audio system.
- Find playDesk automatically on your home network
- Browse local, USB, and CD sources
- See what is playing and manage the queue
- Control volume, transport, repeat, and shuffle
- Choose playback outputs and manage supported DSP settings
- Your music stays on the playDesk computer
Coming next: the native playDesk Remote app for iPhone and iPad is not yet released.
Coming sooniPhone + iPadDesigned for your home network
Simple pricing
Choose free playDesk or add playDesk+.
Your music stays local. One playDesk+ subscription covers one Windows playback installation.
- 01
Install
Get playDesk from the Microsoft Store on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer.
- 02
Connect
Add your music folders, USB drives, CD drive, and the audio output you want to use.
- 03
Listen
Play on the Windows computer, then control the system from a browser on your home network.
playDesk
Free
The complete foundation for local music playback.
- CD playback
- USB drive playback
- Local music library
- Browser remote on your home network
- UPnP / DLNA renderer
- PCM and DSD file support
- Playback queue and transport controls
- Windows startup and automatic LAN discovery
playDesk+
$4.99 USD / month
Advanced sound control, music-server sharing, and connected services.
- Everything in playDesk Free
- Eight-band parametric EQ
- Built-in and custom DSP profiles
- Preamp and safety limiter
- UPnP / DLNA music server
- Library sharing to compatible devices
- Spotify Connect integration (beta)
Future roadmapSee what we are exploring next.Optional ideas for future playDesk and playDesk+ releases
Deeper sound personalization
Room and headphone correction, crossfeed, dynamic EQ, convolution, and more playDesk+ DSP tools.
Radio and soundscapes
Curated jazz radio, ambient focus soundscapes, sleep timers, and timed listening sessions.
Smarter playlists and profiles
Music organized around mood and activity, plus profiles that combine output, DSP, and playback settings.
Library backup and recovery
Incremental music and settings backup to local drives or a NAS, with guided restore and recovery.
Optional cloud library
Original-quality storage and streaming for your owned music, with offline cache and profile sync.
More streaming partners
Bring more of your favorite music services into the playDesk listening experience.
Spotify and secure remote access
More dependable Spotify sessions, richer remote controls, and trusted-device pairing.
Future ideas may change and are not included in today’s subscription.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about playDesk.
What is playDesk?
playDesk turns a Windows PC, mini PC, NUC, or laptop into a dedicated audiophile music streamer for local music, USB drives, CDs, UPnP sources, DACs, and remote control. With playDesk+, it can also serve a selected music library to compatible UPnP/DLNA players on your home network.
Does playDesk support bit-perfect playback?
playDesk provides fixed-output, native-sample-rate, and processing-bypass controls designed to preserve PCM source samples when the selected output and driver accept the original format. The app reports the actual signal path in use.
Can playDesk play native DSD?
Yes. playDesk can send compatible stereo DSF files through native ASIO DSD when the selected DAC driver passes runtime validation and the output is explicitly trusted. If native playback cannot start safely, playDesk reports the reason and converts DSD to PCM.
Does playDesk support ASIO DACs?
Yes. playDesk supports PCM playback through installed ASIO drivers and offers an advanced native ASIO DSD path for compatible DACs. Driver capabilities are validated when playback begins.
Can I control playDesk from my phone?
Yes. The Windows playback computer can be controlled today through a browser on the same home network. A native playDesk Remote app for iPhone and iPad is planned but has not yet been released. Music continues playing from the Windows computer to the selected audio output.
Can playDesk work as a music server?
Yes. playDesk+ can index selected library folders and serve them to compatible UPnP/DLNA players on your home network. This music-server role is separate from playDesk's renderer role, which receives music from another server or control-point app.
How much does playDesk cost?
Core playDesk local playback and remote features are free. playDesk+ costs $4.99 USD per month after a 15-day introductory trial and adds advanced DSP, UPnP music-server features, and supported connected services. The trial is available once per PayPal account.
Ready when you are
Download playDesk for Windows.
Start with free local playback and remote control. Add playDesk+ when you want its advanced features.
Get playDesk free