Setting up Foobar2000 for ASIO DSD / DXD  Playback with exaSound DACs is straightforward. Experienced users probably won't need all the details below. We've included detailed step by step screenshots in case you experience difficulties.

1. If you haven't done so, download and install the exaSound G3 Windows ASIO driver. You will find the step by step instructions in the Owner's Manual for your exaSound DAC.

2. Download the latest version of Foobar2000 Setup from the official developer’s website -  http://www.foobar2000.org/download. Save the downloaded file foobar2000_v1.1.15.exe. 

3. Download the official ASIO output plug-in for Foobar2000 from http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio.  Save the file foo_out_asio.fb2k-component. 

4. Download the Super Audio CD Decoder plug-in for Foobar2000 from http://sourceforge.net/projects/sacddecoder/files/.  Create an empty folder to unzip the downloaded file foo_input_sacd-0.6.0.zip into. Open the folder with the unziped files.

 

6. Double-click ASIOProxyInstall.exe. Complete the installation of the ASIO Proxy for Foobar2000. You can accept the default settings.

 

 

 

7. Double-click the foobar2000_v1.1.15.exe file downloaded in step 2. This will start the Foobar2000 setup. Complete the default installation. We've included screen shots of the intermediate screens for your convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

11. When Foobar2000 is launched, chose a screen layout.

 

12. From the Foobar2000 menu select File -> Preferences

 

13. In the Preferences window select Components.

 

14. Click the Install... button. Navigate to the foo_out_asio.fb2k-component file downloaded in Step 3 and click the Open button.

 

 

15. You'll see a new line in the Components screen, at the end of the installed components list titled foo_out_asio.

 

16.  Click again the Install button. Navigate to the foo_input_sacd-0.6.0.zip file downloaded in Step 4 and click the Open button. A second new line will be added to the end of the components list - foo_input_sacd.  

 

Note: this time you are pointing to the compressed file, not to the unzipped files in the folder you created.

 

 

17. Click on the Apply button. When prompted click OK to restart Foobar2000.

 

18. From the Foobar2000 menu select File -> Preferences. Select Components. You should see listed in bold the ASIO support and the Super Audio CD Decoder components.

 

19. Under the Output node select ASIO. You should see the exaSound ASIO (2ch) driver and the foo_dsd_asio driver listed in the ASIO drivers box. Double-click foo_dsd_asio.

 

20. Select the exaSound ASIO (2ch) driver; Select the ASIO Native DSD Playback Method.

 

21. Click on the Output node. In the Device dropdown select foo_dsd_asio.

 

22. Click on the Tools node and select SACD.  Click on the ASIO Driver Mode dropdown and select DSD.

 

23. Go to the Media Library node an add some folders with DSD files to the Foobar2000 media library.

 

24. Drag and drop some DSD tracks to a playlist and click the Play button. 

 

25. Click on the exaSound Icon next to the system clock. The exaSound G3 dashboard should display the DSD icon and the current sampling rate. This will confirm that Foobar2000 is successfully configured for native DSD playback.