Music quality discussion (1 Viewer)

[LasseL]

One of the major reasons for building me a HTPC was, besides it great fun, to organize my CD collection. I have a big music collection and I wanted the possibility to create play lists of favorite songs and an easy way to find a particular albums.
Although I wanted to put my music on a computer, my intention was to remain the CD quality, so I decided to skip mp3 and use lose less format for storing my albums. I have a high end amplifier with the ability the receive SPDIF so using a digital link between the amplifier and the HTPC was also a choice of mine.
I did beloved that the sound quality should be as good as it could be if I ripped the music using EAC (Exact Audio Copy) and used lose less format for storage, and a digital link to the amplifier.

So, finally to my question (discuss topic).

Listening to the same CD from my desktop CD player compared to playing it from my HTPC gives that the CD player has much better sound quality. And it is quite a big difference. (My CD player is connected to my Amplifier using a digital link and a compatible input as the HTPC is using, no difference if I swap the input sources).

Why is this??? Is there something I did not think of?

 

[fathead]

What soundcard are you using in the HTPC?

 

[petteram]

When playing the same mp3 files in Windows using WMP,
there is better quality than when using Mediaportal and WMP codec.
Why is that? There should be a way to implement the equalicer in WMP when
using this codec in MP. Have tried different plugins like foobar and itunes,
but they didnt do it for me. WMP would be best with support for equalicer.

 

[Taipan]

Do you have the option "Enable digital CD audio....." selected for the CD drive in your HTPC?

What do you mean by "the CD player has much better sound quality"?

 

[NorthernJohn]

When playing the same mp3 files in Windows using WMP,
there is better quality than when using Mediaportal and WMP codec.
Why is that? There should be a way to implement the equalicer in WMP when
using this codec in MP. Have tried different plugins like foobar and itunes,
but they didnt do it for me. WMP would be best with support for equalicer.

I've noticed that.

I second the equalizer support. I've also noticed that WMP "levels out" the volume nicely for mp3s from different sources. Not perfectly but adequately. On Party Shuffle, I'm forever digging out the remote control to bring the volume to an audible level.

I must admit, I haven't tried playing with foobar or other external players.

 

[rtv]

Whoever thinks about equalizers when the topic is about high end sound quality might be in the wrong thread :wink:

And it is quite a big difference.

Well, as you "hear" in analog there can be differences in sound quality even if your "audio chain" is completely digital.
One of the effects causing this is named "dithering".

Also some soundcards (like all creative's) mess up the digital signal instead of just passing it to the amplifier :evil:

On Party Shuffle, I'm forever digging out the remote control to bring the volume to an audible level.

Please try foobar2000 then and scan your collection with its replay gain functionality. 8)

When playing the same mp3 files in Windows using WMP,
there is better quality than when using Mediaportal and WMP codec

As they both use the same "engine" there can only be a difference if you've enabled plugins which modify the output stream.

 

[petteram]

Using WMP in windows gives a little more "clarity" to the mp3 files.
As for using the codec in Mp theres no option for adjustments.
For now I have to much bass and to little treble for me to "play it loud".
I think it would be an improvement to implement some sort of equaliser
to MP just to have the option.
I`m playing all my mp3`s in MP anyway because its easy and it looks damn good

BTW: My soundcard - http://www.hidiaudio.com/products/mystique.html

 

[rtv]

I read some reviews about the mystique because I was interested in its DD encoding features. The frequency curve however showed me that I should stick with my old card and better buy some loooong cables ;-)

btw: Instead of using foobar with its masses of high end features you can simply use Winamp as external player and configure its equalizer to your needs!

 

[LasseL]

What soundcard are you using in the HTPC?

I am not using any dedicated soundcard. My motherboard has built in sound Realtec ALC880

 

[LasseL]

Whoever thinks about equalizers when the topic is about high end sound quality might be in the wrong thread :wink:

And it is quite a big difference.

Well, as you "hear" in analog there can be differences in sound quality even if your "audio chain" is completely digital.
One of the effects causing this is named "dithering".

Also some soundcards (like all creative's) mess up the digital signal instead of just passing it to the amplifier :evil:

On Party Shuffle, I'm forever digging out the remote control to bring the volume to an audible level.

Please try foobar2000 then and scan your collection with its replay gain functionality. 8)

When playing the same mp3 files in Windows using WMP,
there is better quality than when using Mediaportal and WMP codec

As they both use the same "engine" there can only be a difference if you've enabled plugins which modify the output stream.

Can anone give me a tip on a soundcard that dont "mess up the digital signal",,, but just passes it to the amplifier.[/quote]