Does audio driver software improve sound quality?

[Trojan Horse]

Hi have Corsair SP2500 2.1 speakers hooked up to my Xonar Essence STX sound card.

I have opened my Xonar Essence STX Audio Center software and have quit it as well during sound playback. I cannot find a difference in sound quality?

Most people say to set it to 192Hz and to leave it on HiFi? I find that even when I exit the software the sound is no different?

I am asking so I can turn it off from the startup but also because the soundcard makes a ticking noise... for the past five years I just thought that was PC boot up lol... anyone know what causes it?

 

[rids57]

The ticking noise is just a relay being activated and is absolutely normal.
You're not going to notice any difference in sound quality unless you also change the source material. So in theory a 192kHz FLAC with the card set to 192kHz "should" sound better than a 44.1kHz Flac with the card set to 44.1kHz. I say should because the vast majority of people wouldn't be able to tell the difference in a blind test.
The way I set mine is 96kHz (max used by games) and HiFi, which bypasses the DSP and provides the cleanest signal for my speakers. I then have my music player (JRiver) set to play through my Modi Multibit and also set to WASAPI, which forces the signal to bypass the Windows mixer and deliver the audio file to the DAC at whatever bit rate the file recorded in - this setup is for my headphones.

 

[EsaT]

Device driver gets always loaded by Windows after the moment you've installed driver.
Without driver device wouldn't work.
Opening/closing some device control software has no effect to that.
Unless there's major bug and it causes driver to crash.

I say should because the vast majority of people wouldn't be able to tell the difference in a blind test.

That "should" really shouldn't be there, because it's been proven pretty darn conclusively that human isn't bat or dog.
But marketroids like frauding people with bigger marketing numbers.

 

[C64]

On good headphones you'll notice a difference on speakers less so in various settings

 

[Tephnos]

kHz is a meme disproven by Nyquist theorem. Higher bitrates and depths are useful in production (recording) purposes only. Helps avoid noise floor issues and gives you more freedom when you're working inside a DAW.

Doesn't make a damn difference to the end user whatsoever.

 

[JasonM]

I have an Asus Essence ST and set the sample rate to 44.1. I do the same with my Pioneer DAC/AMP also.

What I have found is setting very high sample rates can negatively effect sound quality, maybe because most sound is still received in 44/48 then the card is having to up-sample, so I just keep on 44.1.

In general I find that 44.1 is a bit more natural (bit more analogue) to listen to, where as if I set especially to 96 and beyond the dynamic range is effected, very high frequencies are more pronounced that I don't like, and the audio is not as relaxing to listen to, so yes I just keep on 44.1

 

[V F]

I have an Asus Essence ST and set the sample rate to 44.1. I do the same with my Pioneer DAC/AMP also.

What I have found is setting very high sample rates can negatively effect sound quality, maybe because most sound is still received in 44/48 then the card is having to up-sample, so I just keep on 44.1.

In general I find that 44.1 is a bit more natural (bit more analogue) to listen to, where as if I set especially to 96 and beyond the dynamic range is effected, very high frequencies are more pronounced that I don't like, and the audio is not as relaxing to listen to, so yes I just keep on 44.1

I always find it hilarious when people try to drill me that 44.1/16bit is obsolete. I see many people with Creative AE-5 cards get very defensive with that. Considering CD quality and many hi-fi systems is 44.1/16bit but because marketing tells them 96/384 is the best most think they can hear and swear they hear massive improvements in games. They get quite ratty over it.

 

[JasonM]

I always find it hilarious when people try to drill me that 44.1/16bit is obsolete. I see many people with Creative AE-5 cards get very defensive with that. Considering CD quality and many hi-fi systems is 44.1/16bit but because marketing tells them 96/384 is the best most think they can hear and swear they hear massive improvements in games. They get quite ratty over it.

CD's still sound great, specifically if your using a quality CD player, coupled with good amp and speakers.

 

[d_brennen]

Still remember when I got my first CD hifi in the 90s. Was blown away by the quality. These days streaming Amazon music over 4G via phone to £25 Bluetooth headphones sounds just dandy to my ears