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Wow Windows Vista sounds sooo much better

I just installed Vista. I was not happy with the sound I was getting from my benchmark dac1. This thing got such great reviews but it never sounded right to me. It was way to soft with some voices and drums. Like there was this huge suckout. It drove me nuts. Certain ranges were way to low and behind a vail. I knew this coundn't be right. I could never get into the music enough.

Foobar2000 and Asio was better than not having it. But not what it should be. I did every thing. I did the whole asio, kernal streaming, asio4all, bitmatched, etc. Checked all settings. Tried different digital cables. Messed with EVERYTHING in my drivers and foobar2000.

As a last ditch effort before selling the DAC I thought I'd try Windows Vista. After all I knew Microsoft completely revamped its audio section. No more k-mixer was the big plus. Sounded good on paper anyway.... but lets see if it was truely implemented well.

I get home, install Vista (clean install). Go through all the settings first. Turn off any extra junk that comes turned on with the x-fi drivers.

Went to windows settings.... how pleasantly surprised to find setting for 24 bit, 96 khz setting (and any other settings too).

Went to foobar2000... how pleasantly surprised to find an option for "spdif out". That option allows for direct by-pass now. No longer routing through anything in windows. I tried this but it was full blast. I needed a volume control though. Again pleasantly surprised that using windows Vista volume sounds just as amazing. No loss in quality what so ever.

I no longer need any special asio drivers, or kernal streamers or any of that junk. I can now use all my audio and video apps and have just as great of sound.

I'm really floored what a difference Vista makes. All the power and dynamics and soundstage is there. Just how it should sound. A big thumbs up to microsoft for fixing all tha was wrong with xp's sound. I highly recommend upgrading. Thumbs up!
kacz
kana813
956 posts
 
"So we just need - please - to understand which version and what settings to use on Vista."

Set Vista to upsample to 24/96 and use an RME Fireface to
connect to an external DAC.
gotsouldr's avatar
gotsouldr
12 posts
 
If you use a usb dac you bypass the vista and sound card settings.i am using a usb interface then to a deqx dac.i am getting great sound from this setup.i ahve a sound card with coaxial digital out but did not get to compare it to the usb.
eandylee
124 posts
 
What's the set up? using internal sound card?

using external USB converter? is user Benchmark USB version?
gotsouldr's avatar
gotsouldr
12 posts
 
I GOT TO TRY BOTH SOUND CARD AND USB AND FOUND MY SOUND CARD IS MUCH BETTER.GRANT IT I AM USING AN INTERFACE BOX TO CONVERT USB TO COAXIAL OUT TO FEED TO MY DAC.I THINK THIS IS MAKING THING WORSE.THE SOUND CARD WITH COAX IS MUCH BETTER.ANY THOUGHTS.
thesauce
21 posts
 
Gotsouldr -

What's the power source on the USB converter? If its powered by the USB bus, then that's your problem. If its an external power source, see if you can upgrade it to a linear power supply. Boulder Cable in CO does this sort of stuff and they built me one for my Trends UD-10 and it made a world of difference (sounds the same as the battery source I had, WAY better than PC power).

I am just learning why people pay so much for clean power... it's necessary if you want the best sound.

I would also try a jitter reduction unit. I use a MSB digital director. Once you hear it, you don't want to go back.

Taker easy!

Ben
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