Windows Vista Sound Quality can be improved a lot more

Windows OS Sound Quality & the Audio Driver Architecture
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applies to Vista & XP

That day i was discussing with some friends about Sound Quality in XP v/s Vista.

Most of us are wannabe audiophiles who try to maximize sound quality on computers.


Some of them pointed out that the Sound in Vista passes through many layers including NT Kernel before reaching to the output. Due to this Sound Quality on Vista is different than XP.


Here is a map of how it passes in

XP:


Vista:


Due to this you can control Sound output of each Application individually (Sound mixer) in Vista but the Sound quality is slightly poorer as it passes through a longer route which is the core principle of HiFi sound i.e The shortest route must be taken for Sound output.

its better for XP but poorer anyway.

To improve this you can Try using ASIO feature which bypasses the kernel: http://www.asio4all.com/

How to use ASIO4ALL: HERE
And FYI use FooBar for Best SQ on Windows Vista or XP. ..it has bundled DSP's which prevent Clipping, Distortion & can also convert Mono into Stereo.

According to people who tried it...this helps more in XP ..

But using this on Vista will also improve the Sound Quality especially if you use onboard Sound card.



p.S: i am in a hurry rite now...will add more details soon like WASAPI for Vistaetc.

 

Will this really matter if your using headphones anyway? Or is this for the really anal audiophiles who want to tweak the SQ to the best regardless of speakers or headphones?

 

Yes, the actual Sound quality on Windows XP & Vista is highly flawed irrespective of u use Speakers or Headphones.

We talk about Tweaks & Improving FPS in Gaming/Videos.

I noticed we on NBR hardly talk of the Audio. .. Its interesting that most of us listen to our music & movies on computers.

Sound quality isnt flawless on Computer due to High noise interference...

What Soundcard do u use? The onboard sounds awfully dull, lifeless & flat ..

 

Thanks for that nocturnal.

I think that what you use for output (stereo, headpones, speakers....) make a very big difference too. When I plug my laptop into my HDTV, the sound is so much better.

 

I wanna try it out......anyone with any results after trying out the given settings?

 

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=42810

This guy thinks the opposite. He says Vista's sound is better than XP.

When I upgraded my gaming rig I also switched from XP64 to Vista x64. I decided not to carry over my X-Fi and instead try my new board's Sigmatel onboard sound. No major complaints really. I was concerned about CPU utilization but so far even in heavy sound events in games and such there's been no issue. Just having a problem getting the Line In to go to the speakers. Worked around it for now.

 

Yeah that's what I've heard. Although I haven't done a comparison myself.

Anyway, the number of layers isn't a very useful metric at all. A layer could output the exact same digital signal that it inputs as long as there's no need to modify it, if it's well-designed. For example, a layer is needed to mix the sound from different applications. But if only one application is outputting sound, then it shouldn't modify the signal, if it's well-designed.

Counting the number of layers is a lot like counting the number of processes running -- without looking at how much memory and CPU each one is using, it's not too useful.

Still, because some layers may end up modifying the signal, it's likely that you could improve things a little by using one of the things that bypass them like ASIO or something.

 

The first part sounds like a good feature, however I question the second part. Going through more 'layers' would only delay the sound a bit and (unless the layer was some kind of filter) not degrade it any. It's not like passing an analog signal through a 200 foot cable...

 

Yes, Audio Lag is also seen as a kind of degradation.

Dont worry...i ll also be putting up an article on Ways of improving Laptop sound.

Its big..so taking some time

 

In the Analog realm I could see propagation delay as a problem. In fact I've had to deal with it quite a bit in my days as a CATV sweep and Video technician. However, in the digital domain it is all too easy to re-time a signal when synchronization is needed and if the event is asynchronous there is no way to even detect it.

 

still, without understanding what each of those layers is doing, operating system induced audio lag may very well be a moot concept.

you have to consider that even when the electronic signal makes it to the speaker and creates sound, that sound is restricted to a very low speed of 300 m/s or so. i just don't feel like going through a few software layers is going to have an impact on time. it probably has less of an impact than physically moving your speakers 6 inches closer to you. the whole thing is sort of beyond the scope of human hearing and doesn't have much tangible value imo...

now, getting quality speakers, setting them up properly (position and orientation) and doing quality encodes of music, and avoiding transcoding... those are all very valuable to the audiophile experience.

 

Ever try playing a Song in Vista when CPU usage is above 80% ??

u ll notice little clipping here n there...

due to sound going through the Kernel system.. sometimes due to stress on the system the clipping can occur which can result is crackling noise.