Audiophile Myths

[rids57]

From what I can gather there is very little difference in sound quality between Directsound, WASAPI and ASIO since Windows Vista, which introduced a 32bit floating point sample depth to the audio stack.

an interesting read on the subject...
http://blog.szynalski.com/2009/11/17/an-audiophiles-look-at-the-audio-stack-in-windows-vista-and-7/

 

[mrk]

Yup that's what I gathered too ever since doing a bit of reading after I switched to MusicBee from WinAmp and noticed that MusicBee recommends using the 32bit floating point option in the player section of settings (not enabled in my screenshot above as I was having a play around).

I couldn't do that. If I am watching a show I give it my full attention. I don't like anyone else talking to me unless it's about the show and even then briefly when it's timed right.

I'm talking about proper shows here I don't watch crap like eastenders and the like.

If the football was on I don't care it's a free for all, people are free to talk whenever and as loud as they want.

Shows like Game of Thrones completely different. I wouldn't dare watch them until I know I don't need to do anything for an hour. In fact I have put off watching it for up to a week sometimes for when both me and the mrs both have an hour completely spare together to watch it.

Yeah it does depend on the show. GoT has to be watched with no distractions. Californication, The Office, Big bang Theory and the like? They are easy to watch while doing other things. Again as I said, all depends on what I feel like

 

[melmac]

I don't think many people do things like you do. I for instance when I start watching a show don't pause it halfway through to then listen to some music. Then 45 mins later watch the rest of the show.

seems rather odd to me, in fact it would detract from the viewing experience and enjoyment of the show for me to be constantly interrupted by someone whilst watching game of thrones, never mind interrupting it myself to listen to music.

this!! I don't want to be interrupted listening to my favourite music or watching my favourite shows. Notifications are all turned off for me.

 

[rids57]

Yar, I've gone back to exclusive mode WASAPI, guaranteed the best possible sound and don't get interrupted when pop ups pop up - which seems to happen quite often in Windows 8.1.

 

[shaffaaf27]

Great story and read from this thread!

I currently have a xonar dx. It gets rid of static and increases volume massively over on board, but my brother recently got a fucuosrite usb dac. I think it's got its own sound, but it's superb as well. I do wonder what is better of, a USB dac or internal sound card.

 

[Rroff]

A USB DAC will be removed from internal case EMI a soundcard needs some pretty good shielding to have the same level of immunity to it. So a good USB DAC certainly can potentially be better.