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How do I optimize J.River with quality sound card

I've been doing a bunch of reading on this site and it's been very informative. I'm trying to wade into the PC audio arena and I would like to do so initially on a small budget.

I currently have a two channel setup with a Rotel CD/integrated amp and Linn speakers. I do not have a stand alone DAC and I would like to set up my PC using a quality sound card initially. I read a good article in the Absolute Sound on the subject and the author used an Echo/Mia Midi soundcard and Foobar2000.

I purchased an Echo Gina sound card which has an internal PCI card with a breakout cable to an external box. The external box has a DAC and both analog and digital I/O connections.

After messing around with Foobar, I find the user interface a little lacking. I think J.River is easier to use and I would like to use that as my software.

So, the question is what steps must I take to use J.River and bypass the KMixer in WinXP. Most of the other posts on this subject reference setup with USB DACs. I may go that route one day, but not yet.

Thanks to all in advance. This is a great site.
bmdduck
gmood1
1,251 posts
 
The ASIO4all should work with your sound card just like it does for USB Dacs.
Just download it and choose it as your output device in the J.River media center.
bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
Thanks,I'll give it a try.
bigamp
219 posts
 
JRiver has a built in ASIO driver. I recommend using that one. JRiver has said that it does not modify the bits during playback - other ASIO drivers do. I've never used the ASIO4all driver, but I seem to recall reading in this forum that ASIO4all modifies the bits during playback (take that for what it's worth.)

When you use an ASIO driver, I believe you avoid the Kmixer. The other way to bypass the Kmixer is to go into control panel, find your audio hardware device, and uncheck the box for mapping through the device.

Send me an email if you have any more questions about optimizing jriver -- I've been using it for a few years.
bigamp
219 posts
 
BTW - if you bypass kmixer through the windows control panel, you don't need an ASIO driver. In this case, in jriver - options - output mode: select Direct Sound instead of ASIO. Direct Sound does not change the bits during playback, giving you an untainted bit stream to your dac.
bmdduck OP
99 posts
 
Thanks Bigamp.

One follow up question...I downloaded the free J.River jukebox program. Does your advice apply to that version or to the version selling for 39.95 on the J.River site? Are there any worthwhile advantages to the pay-for version?
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