2. pc-audio
  3. 1308002656

Memory playback worse than disk... Why?

Hi,

I'm used foobar, now jriver to connect my new toshiba portege r830 (i5,4g ram, windows 7 64-bit) to my Dac via USB

I play 24/96 flac files, stored on a buffalo nas.

To even get close to near absent jitter, I use wasapi event mode (better than ks, wasapi,...), exclusive mode for Dac, and clear the buffer before each track. I also increased the priority if the jriver process.

When I elect to playback my files from memory (file uploaded prior to playback), I get these big crackling noises upfront, and experience more jitter than by playing direct from the nas disk. Why?

Poor laptop design, windows design, settings ?

P.s. I'm amazed how complex it has been to make 24/96 work (and it's still not perfect).
mizuno
simontju
257 posts
 
I have experienced exactly the same phenomenon you described (just effects are minor). I think that Davide256 is correct in that wasapi seemed hardware buffer link.
I solve this problem and improved sound quality by using ASIO and not wasapi or wasapi special.

In addition, FLAC sonically is bad format and will increase all artifacts too. why not to use WAV ? if everything else is set up correctly you will hear immidiately big difference bewteen two formats ( I use powerful computer also)

Simon
davide256's avatar
davide256
395 posts
 
2 thumbs up Simontju to your opinion on FLAC. When FLAC is the option and not WAV on high rez downloads I always convert to WAV after... added processing for FLAC decoding seems to add jitter/ loss of clarity in playback on my dedicated music server.
ranperry
13 posts
 
@ Simontju

FLAC is not a bad format. Get a better computer, build a real media server, drop the USB connection and get a Bit Perfect sound server. If you can find someone to build a Linux server for you then go for it. Don't blame the format if your computer cannot handle it.
timlub
2,039 posts
 
I also believe JRivers buffer setting to be the problem. I agree that FLAC is not a bad format, but to my old ears, WAV sounds better. You can argue formats all day, but in the end, listen to you're own preference.
Mizuno, I switched back to foobar 2000 and problem was solved.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
See my post here, which describes a fix that I suspect stands a good chance of being applicable. That solution did in fact solve the tics/pops/skipping problem the OP in that thread had, with a Windows 7 laptop playing audio via USB.

Regards,
-- Al
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