Home Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Computer Audio Asylum ]
[ Alert Moderator ]

RE: Update v0.3: The Art of building Computer Transports

Hello Soundchekk,

Thanks for the feedback. It’s truly amazing how good computers are able to perform! I plan to do an Ubuntu Linux project – thanks for the link (great timing BTW).

You raise very interesting points. Here’s my initial comments:

1. PCI Latencies – Which tool would be best for XP? I think lowering rest while increasing soundcard can be useful. I use a PCI based RME card.

2. SRC: I only use best sinc interpolator option (highest quality) upsampling to 24/96. Lower qualities must be avoided which I think you say cause substantial error and needs dither. I tried off-line processing and didn’t get improvement. I’ll check again. What I found however is in foobar 0.9, setting buffer length has impact (as larger buffers demand more processing). Hence, its set to lowest.

3. Volume Control. Yes it’s definitely worth expanding on this. I don’t use it but as you suggest you can get rid of preamp - an improvement. My DAC has built in high quality ladder based vc. No resolution loss and no need for preamp. Had opportunity to test the new dCS Scarlatti DAC with its digital vc. I was impressed how well it performed – pity about its high cost though. It bettered my AA Prestige SE with analogue based vc.

4. Processor Clock. Yes, ‘lower the better’ is not correct in general. What I’m saying is for E2140 processor, lower is best. Because on another lower spec CPU, lower speed may not adequately cope and will sound poor. Need for low clock speed is for:
a. Reducing RF radiation (higher speeds generate higher energy RF which is very bad)
b. Reducing power consumption: E2140 is very power efficient at lowest clock speed. This means we get much less ripple voltage from psu (there’s a direct correlation to ripple voltage and PSU load).
I found these to have impact on quality. Also by optimizing RAM, we get more throughput at this low clock speed - this helps.

Don’t use CPU Fan. In my setup, heat is drained using Zalman’s heat-pipe technology. Vibrations from CPU Fan has negative impact on quality – can you test this without fan (need case that provides alternative cooling). These vibrations could very likely negatively impact other optimizations.

5. USB ports can sound different. Yes this will be the case but can be minimized by reducing RF radiation – try using the TDK ferrite core.

6. XP vs 2000. Operating systems will have different results. On XP have you applied the kernel changes? These have large impact.

7. Application priority - you say "Realtime priority gives mainly priority to the GUI, which you actually don't want". Interesting - I will test lowest priority.

In setup suggested, I configure Windows graphics processor (csrss.exe) to lowest priority. Also in foobar dynamic video content is minimal (no time elapsed, no spectrum analyzer etc.). I like foobar’s multi-threaded approach and using Process Explorer, display/GUI thread has no CPU activity and minimal context switches. Can you try this and let me know what you get.


How does Linux compare with Vista, XP and 2000?

Once again, thanks for your post!

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Parts Connexion  

Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups
FAQ

Post a Message!

 Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]