![]()
Bits are most definitely not all the same. Once bit-perfect data streams are set up properly, proper cabling is the next critical factor. The differences relate not only to the essential characteristics of each format but also to the DA-11’s engineering implementation - and of course interconnects. Each of its digital inputs has advantages and disadvantages for the computer audiophile and a specific sonic character to be shortly revealed. This DAC can sound extremely good, revealing its recording-industry DNA in some cases but not so well in others. Listening: How does the Lavry DA-11 perform on a reasonably high-quality playback system? It depends. #Windows 8 usb audio driver computeraudiophile.com softwareDelusional fan boy enthusiasms aside, keep in mind that all software has issues. On laptops in general and Apple MacBooks in particular, there are never enough USB ports and most USB DACs really don’t like hubs. Requiring the user to dedicate-that is waste-a USB port for this purpose can be a problem. This is a major and unnecessary imposition. #Windows 8 usb audio driver computeraudiophile.com installOn the other hand, a major anachronism is Amarra’s forcing the user to install a hardware dongle on a USB port to protect the product against copying. The results are certainly very good overall. Reviews are somewhat equivocal on this point so far. Is the sound quality any better? Whether the audio compression/decompression (codec) software inside Amarra is better than those in the other media players is a subtle question. For USB-based devices and their simple native (to the OS) drivers, it probably isn’t. Device firmware changes from time to time and such qualification is especially relevant for FireWire-based DACs, which have complex drivers. This is a majorĬonsideration and should make system integration easier. Or one could purchase a $200 network-attached storage (NAS) device with 1.0 TB capacity for media files and pocket the difference.Īmarra is however tested against a long list of audiophile-grade computer DACs. Consider that for roughly the price of the Amarra software alone, one could buy a high-end digital media-centric Windows 7 laptop with say an 18.4” screen, BluRay, 500+ GB of storage and the J. #Windows 8 usb audio driver computeraudiophile.com trialFree trial versions are also available but according to reports, playback is restricted in major ways. An entry-level version (no playback above 96kHz) is still a rather lofty $395. The latest version (1.1 as of this writing) now supports Apple Lossless. Pre-eminent is the $995 Amarra Computer Music Player which integrates tightly-and exclusively-with Apple iTunes. River Media Center player supports almost every known digital audio file format a 30-day fully functional free trial version with updates is available.įor Apple Mac users, choices are fewer. This program taps into Microsoft’s WASAPI (Windows Audio Session Application Programming Interface) which, among other things, allows Media Center to bypass the internal DSP and digital volume control dithering used by Windows Media Player. There are several products that will accomplish this under Windows Vista and Windows 7. For pristine data, a third-party media player is required. In the case of Windows, the built-in audio 'stack' has elaborate digital signal processing for home theater applications it works quite well in this context but the S/PDIF stream is not bit-perfect in most cases. Each format has its peculiarities but they can deliver bit-perfect data. You can also simply rip CDs to uncompressed WAV. #Windows 8 usb audio driver computeraudiophile.com archiveAnd another more obvious point is to be sure to archive media with a lossless compression audio codec (Apple Lossless, Windows Media Audio For starters, streaming bit-perfect data to a DAC usually requires avoiding automatic sample rate and depth conversion within the operating system or media player. #Windows 8 usb audio driver computeraudiophile.com PcWhen one looks carefully into the details-and one must to obtain audiophile-grade playback from a computer source, PC or Mac-there are always issues. Making computer digital media foolproof always seems to be somewhat of a work in progress. All these elements can interact in insidious and invidious ways. Making it play beautiful music: Yes, after the initial set-up, music will most likely emerge from the speakers but your system will sound much better with careful attention to settings in the operating system, the media player software and the DAC. This review page is supported in part by the sponsors whose ad banners are displayed below ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |