192Khz/24-bit on W7 64-Bit issues

Hi all.

I ran into a wonderful issue. I bought a Dac and Amp, all in one which can handle 192Khz/24-Bit. To reach these levels, I use a M2Tech Hiface RCA-USB S/Pdif converter.

However in the output/status windows in Winamp, I only get 96Khz/16-Bit.

I used these files to test it, they're all 96/24.

http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/page/5/downloadinst.template.php

I can't reach 192Khz either, it stop at 176.4.

At my laptop with Vista 32-bit I succeeded to get a few lucky shots with 192Khz, but it stopped and went down to 176.4.

But that's only a small part of the issues.

I need to verify that what goes out, is what it should be. I tested foobar with Wasapi, it worked with 24-bit, but I had no output or status window to verify it with. There isn't anything saying that what goes out is not 16-bit. On another note, Wasapi does not work any more on Foobar or at this moment like it worked yesterday. It tells me that it isn't supported. It'll surly come around in time.

I prefer using Winamp were I can't get Wasapi to work. My laptop won't recognize the plugin and winamp crash on my desktop with the plugin in the plugin folder.

Kernel streamer works on both however, Winamp tells me me that it's 96/16 that goes out.

I prefer not to use Kernel streamer, the reason for that is because its an unstable plugin. It gave me a bluescreen when using winamp, Of course I change the volume setting quite often.

Now back to the topic.

I'm looking for a media player which shows the output, or a plugin that do.

I'm also wondering if anyone with W7 64-bit got 96/24 working without any larger trouble or if anyone else have experienced these issues.

The output can surely be verified by using an external tool you would plug the cable into, but I bet they have ha price as well.

I need to identify what the issue is, I'll try it on a Mac when I get a chance to do so and see if it work better. If the issue is with W7 64-bit it's one thing, otherwise the developer is offering to send a replacement for the part which is causing trouble.

Anyone who got any knowledge in the area will be of great help. I have taken a note of several others having issues with specifically 64 bit. If anyone found a good solution it would save me a great deal of time.

Is 320 kpbs a tool, or do you mean as in kpbs as for a tracktrack? In that case 96Khz/24-bit goes up to 3200 kpbs.

It's the 192 Khz level and 24 bit I'm after and that I wont reach.

The main issue is that I'm stuck on 16-bit when the Dac can handle 24-bit.

Update.

I noticed that the Wasapi plugin worked better with the newest version of Winamp, unless it's a lucky shot. The input still says 16-bit.

Yes, I tried moving to different ports as I have been switching to my laptop for further tests. At the laptop, a cooler pad is connected. At the computer it's a USB keyboard and mouse. However USB ports on a computer works as a Switch, they all got their own bandwidth. If it were a USB Hub, then they would all share the same speed.

And for W7 64-bit, you can't plugin audio through an USB port, without that you got drivers for it. I don't believe that Microsoft got any fully supported USB Audio Driver, there might be a few if one were to mail them. Temporary fixes are never sent out in public. For 32-bit it should be fine, however I'm unsure if it exist USB audio drivers on W7 32-bit. It do however work on Vista 32-bit. To be correct, there's an USB Audo Driver for Win7 64-bit. But the files doesn't exist, the sound got to travel through a new file which XP and Vista likely don't have.

Unix systems are such a small market when it comes to desktops, their products rarely get support:

http://www.m2tech.biz/hiface.html#driver

You often see three ports, RCA, Thoslink or whatever it's called and USB.

All these perform just as good at their top, however the developer mainly put most research in one of them. In my case it was RCA who could handle 192Khz. The other two from my knowledge will have to travel through the RCA port to be converted/sampled into the same level of Khz for the chip it's heading to.

You would prefer the one which can handle the highest rate. And unless you have a good soundcard in your computer, the ports will suck except the USB port, which is the less researched one. And you don't want a soundcard in the computer due to the environment in it will degrade the sound quality. Hence you're getting a Dac.

So now you got the USB port or a converter to pick from, the majority put their research on the RCA port. Hence a converter will get you a better sound, of course I bought an 8m cable which were to long and the signal got degraded. The 4m cable weren't in store and it would take two weeks before they would be resupplied.

The USB converter will allow you to avoid using Windows, Macs and every other OS own audio drivers. These audio drivers cut off tracks at 16-bit I believe and work fully as good that one would want. But that is something I lack knowledge about. What I do know is that Directsound got or had limiters, which is why Wasapi often can be a good choice. The limiters are used to avoid any bad sound, but it can cut off to much as well

Here's a link for the Hiface if you're interessted.

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/446375/usb-24-192khz-m2tech-hiface

There's several USB converters, but their prices can vary a lot. I believe that I saw a Stella for the double of the price, and this is just one part the system you buy. V-link is a new one on the market, made by Musical Fidelity. There was another topic which mentioned three which I can't remember

Thanks for all the help, I apparently got it working now. There's a function called "allow 24-bit playback" in Winamp which I were unaware about. Both directsound and Wasapi works fine now.

Input stream:
24 bit PCM encoding in 2.0 (Stereo) setup. 96000Hz rate
MAIKO buffer/latency: 0 samples (0 µs)

Output stream:
32 bit float PCM encoding in 2.0 (Stereo) setup. 96000Hz rate
Client buffer: 46080 samples (480000 µs)
Client latency: 10666 µs
Mixer scheduling period (latency): 10000 µs
Minimum device period (latency): 3000 µs

Shared mode renderer

Plugin latency reported to Winamp: 480 ms
Peak output loudness detected: -1,767174 db

Yes Windows do in XP, Vista but not Windows 7 64-bit.

On Windows 7, the sound goes through a specific file that doesn't exist on the former version. From what I read, a lot of people got issues with the USB Audio Driver on Windows 7 32-bit as well. The issue is that missing important files for the driver to work, don't just exist with a fully updated W7. A lot went nuts over it and I did as well until I found out that it just didn't exist driver.

I'm not sure how USB Audio driver do on XP and Vista 64-bit, but it works with 32-bit. There were issues with Vista 64-bit at one point where one received a personal fix from MS.

Ah yes, I noticed. Long usage gave me a bluescreen. It works as long you don't push the change tracks button constantly and doesn't change the volume setting to often.
It do work if one were to have patience and mainly only listen to a few tracks.

Thanks, I'll try that. Could be fun to verify things with later on.

What a wonderful issue to run into, and so easily solved. I bought a Burson HA160D, It was a nightmare to come home and see things not working. An issue with me is that I'm stubborn and sit with the issue until I fix it. More or less it took a hell lot of time.

Thanks for the help all.