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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2013 23:50:43 GMT
Has anybody compared audio from a USB DAC or USB memory stick with both Windows 7 and Windows 8 ? I have found since changing to a new PC with Windows 8 /64, that .wav files played from the Corsair Voyager and it's JLH PSU from System Memory. are "harder" sounding and less subtle. I was using a USB 3 port , but this morning changed over to a USB 2.0 port, and they sounded a little less "hard" sounding, although still not as good as with the previous W7/32 setup. cPlay is using the same settings as previously too. The PC itself is audibly considerably quieter though. Alex.
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 13, 2013 6:38:40 GMT
Time for a Mac Mini then.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 6:51:20 GMT
Time for a Mac Mini then. Check out some of the Mac forums and you may be surprised just how many problems they have. At least with a PC you have a much better chance of fixing it yourself rather than paying for an expensive Apple Service Centre repair. Anyway, Macs now use Intel designed stuff too. Can you fit high performance Video cards, high performance Audio cards, or DTV tuners inside a Mac Mini? Alex
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 13, 2013 7:54:31 GMT
Err, most interested in Mac Mini only for computer audio standalone, what? So high end video card out, highend audio card out. In is high end DAC (Stereo or Surround) and high end Media Player (which the best and critically acclaimed are all here) and a nice small and slim but sauve form factor unlike a PC. Include a remote too. Ya, like the figures our Signor is looking at all the time.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 8:05:12 GMT
And most likely fed by mediocre USB.
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 13, 2013 8:30:48 GMT
And most likely fed by mediocre USB. Thunderbolt good enough for the future as well as future proof? Now USB 3 or HDMI 1.4 good enough after PS mode? Anyway, it's always and still always about moding and finding some crazy solutions in this hobby. Else, it woiuldn't be a hobby.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 8:42:15 GMT
And most likely fed by mediocre USB. Thunderbolt good enough for the future as well as future proof? Now USB 3 or HDMI 1.4 good enough after PS mode? Anyway, it's always and still always about moding and finding some crazy solutions in this hobby. Else, it woiuldn't be a hobby. And what if you also want to record in high resolution audio, or rip vinyl to 24 /192 ? Faster doesn't necessarily mean better either. Many media PCs are low powered , and quite often use Linear PSUs. There are now even linear PSUs for Mac Mini from the likes of Paul Hynes. Then it's no longer an inexpensive option, is it ?
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 13, 2013 10:16:08 GMT
And what if you also want to record in high resolution audio, or rip vinyl to 24 /192 ? In fact, Apple system is the defacto recording system in the pro world. Ask Ian. Also, vinyl ripping need a good external ADC to rip. Those pesky internal ones or even bought cards are relatively quite poor when compared to those high end external ADCs or DACs. Faster doesn't necessarily mean better either. Many media PCs are low powered , and quite often use Linear PSUs. There are now even linear PSUs for Mac Mini from the likes of Paul Hynes. Then it's no longer an inexpensive option, is it ? The options are there for the designers. You name it, Mac Mini has them. Like I had written, what is there without something to mode in this hobby. No longer a hobby any more. Even in Win system, we need to mode to make things better sounding and you have been doing that as well with PS and better sound cards. That is also whatever we fancy for the cost. Don't need Paul Hynes if not too fanciful. Those Crickets and whatever from Buffalo will do. Anyway, back on topic different OS sound different. You better bet on it even from Apple.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 10:46:04 GMT
Chong YOU were the one that suggested getting a Mac Mini. I couldn't care less if Apple is the defacto, or Kim Kardashian is your defacto, and you are the mystery father of her baby. Can we please stick to the subject of this thread ? The title of this thread is "Audio using different Windows Operating Systems. "
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 13, 2013 12:08:38 GMT
Ok, ignoring Apple OS, if that's what you want as I'm still writing on OS system so far, what new Intel processor you have now to hear the difference as that also can affect the sound and not Win 8 entirely.
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Post by gommer on Mar 13, 2013 17:46:01 GMT
So, that mean we can't throw Linux flavors in the ring?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 20:50:30 GMT
So, that mean we can't throw Linux flavors in the ring? Marc I am more interested in the hardware side of things, and tweaks of the Windows OS to further improve sound. However, if you have anything to add about the hardware side of a Linux based system regarding SQ , feel free to join in. Alex
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 21:00:13 GMT
Ok, ignoring Apple OS, if that's what you want as I'm still writing on OS system so far, what new Intel processor you have now to hear the difference as that also can affect the sound and not Win 8 entirely. i7-3770CPU @3.40Ghz. Asus P8Z-M77 Windows 8/64 8GB RAM 1333ns.
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Mar 13, 2013 22:07:10 GMT
I find Win 8 sounds better than Win 7 when using Jplay, not harsh, more depth.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2013 22:25:31 GMT
I find Win 8 sounds better than Win 7 when using Jplay, not harsh, more depth. John I am using cPlay, mainly because jPlay asking price is too high for me. I am playing the existing recent files from the Corsair Voyager using the +5V JLH PSU and the modified USB cable with red and black disconnected at the PC end of the USB-A with 220 ohms across the + and - pins of the plug. I am using the same version of cPlay with the same Asio settings of 10mS, (at the moment) and the same Asus Xonar D2X card via coax SPDIF as before. All played from System Memory. Initially the USB cable was plugged into a USB 3.0 port where I found the sound had hardened considerably, and was especially noticed on female voices. It sounds considerably better when plugged into a USB 2.0 port. It's early days yet, so I am looking to see what I may be missing here, or what else I can try. Regards Alex P.S. I am presently using Intel integrated graphics instead of the 9800 video card of the previous.
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jkeny
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Post by jkeny on Mar 14, 2013 0:37:45 GMT
Alex, bear in mind the possibility that the harshness you are hearing might be the system revealing some issues in your system that were being masked before. I'm not saying that's what's happening but it is worth keeping open this possibility.
I'll be interested in the outcome of your resolving this. Btw, try a demo version of the new Jplay to ascertain if what you are hearing might be software issues?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 1:41:51 GMT
Alex, bear in mind the possibility that the harshness you are hearing might be the system revealing some issues in your system that were being masked before. I'm not saying that's what's happening but it is worth keeping open this possibility. I'll be interested in the outcome of your resolving this. Btw, try a demo version of the new Jplay to ascertain if what you are hearing might be software issues? Hi John NO. That is not a possibility. We both know what Jitter sounds like. No, it's not playback software issues either, as Foobar is even worse. I have just had the PC apart, and unfortunately my son bought an M/B that won't accept a video card. As I said, it's early days yet. I did of course expect SQ to be at least as good as W7/32 from the Corsair. Regards Alex
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XTRProf
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Post by XTRProf on Mar 14, 2013 2:08:41 GMT
i7-3770CPU @3.40Ghz. Asus P8Z-M77 Windows 8/64 8GB RAM 1333ns. And your old system for all to understand better. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 2:20:36 GMT
John I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that although via USB 2.0 sounded better than via USB 3.0 on the 1st day that I tried the audio side, that it was probably far too early to judge a brand new PC's motherboard etc. I also took the opportunity while it was apart today to fit a few pieces of 3M tape to various areas of the case. Barry Diament's "Maria" from 24/192 "Americas" is now sounding much better, and now very close to the original setup. Of course, capacitor "burn in" etc.is a figment of our imagination, isn't it ? Regards Alex
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chris1967
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Post by chris1967 on Mar 14, 2013 7:25:26 GMT
I have done extensive testing because i have since December Win 8... and agree with jkeny...
My headphone rig, and my main system never sounded better...
I use Foobar (Wasapi enent), USB2.0 (because i am using other stuff on the usb3), but i am playing everything through my NAS disk and not local... and ODAC modified with USB power supply, and still waiting for my Salas boards...
No sign of hardness more detail and depth than before... not night and day but surely better with Win8...
(the same results by the way with M2Tech HiFace and Musiland Monitor USD 01 on to my spdif DAC, although i prefer the cheap ODAC ess sabre 9023, much more detail and sparkle)
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 8:56:44 GMT
Hi Chris I agree that W8 should sound better. If you saw my recent reply, you will see that it has markedly improved already, as the Motherboard electrolytics , and possibly the SMPS electros stabilise. When I first started this thread, the new M/B and Switch Mode PSU only had a few hours on them. Regards Alex
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chris1967
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Post by chris1967 on Mar 14, 2013 13:44:06 GMT
:)Ok problem solved then!!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 21:38:59 GMT
Hi Chris With more hours on the clock for the new Motherboard and it's SMPS, I can now even hear differences between my Demo worst track versions on the Corsair Voyager and the same .wav files before moving them to there from their original location on the HDD. The Corsair Voyager version actually sounds a little better than the original due to the superior PSU of the Corsair Voyager, despite both being played from System Memory! ( Not that my good friend from Mt. Ku-Ring-Gai is likely to believe me. ) Regards Alex
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 22:47:26 GMT
Correct. I live in Mt Kuring-gai not Cukoo land.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2013 23:23:09 GMT
Correct. I live in Mt Kuring-gai not Cukoo land. BTW, old "Cloth Ears", Cukoo is spelled as "cuckoo"
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