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JRiver vs MediaMonkey question

post #1 of 8
10/19/11 at 9:13am
Thread Starter 

I have been using MM for a while now and for giggles tried JRiver. I have Win 7 64 bit running to an Audio-gd Digital Interface to my Ref-8 DAC.

I use Waveout on MM and WASAPI on JRiver. I have exclusive mode checked and system sounds off.

 

I hear zero difference going between the 2 programs, playing a well recorded song (even 24/96).

 

Anyone else experience this? Are there any suggestions or comments?

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post #2 of 8
10/19/11 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tim3320070 View Post

I have been using MM for a while now and for giggles tried JRiver. I have Win 7 64 bit running to an Audio-gd Digital Interface to my Ref-8 DAC.

I use Waveout on MM and WASAPI on JRiver. I have exclusive mode checked and system sounds off.

 

I hear zero difference going between the 2 programs, playing a well recorded song (even 24/96).

 

Anyone else experience this? Are there any suggestions or comments?



Try ASIO in JRiver and see if that makes a difference. I briefly tried MM but didn't really like it.

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post #3 of 8
10/19/11 at 5:21pm
Thread Starter 

ASIO does not work with my setup for some reason.

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post #4 of 8
10/19/11 at 8:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tim3320070 View Post

I hear zero difference going between the 2 programs, playing a well recorded song (even 24/96).

 

Anyone else experience this? Are there any suggestions or comments?


Why would there be difference if there isn't processing included in data path (all driver models should transfer data bytes/words untouched if data isn't routed through DSP (FX) or SRC'ed)?

 

jiiteepee

 


Edited by jiiteepee - 10/19/11 at 8:27pm
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post #5 of 8
10/20/11 at 2:56am

My preferred media player is iTunes. From time to time, I've indulged myself with others including Media Monkey and foobar.   At one point, I thought foobar sounded better than iTunes; but, I was mistaken, it was just louder. When I re-set iTunes to disable volume adjustment it matched the level of foobar making A/B comparison/contrast indistinguishable. From that experience I began to trust what the experts had to say on the matter-all media players sound the same. I still use foobar to initially play flac files, but those files are converted to ALAC with dbPoweramp and sent to my iTunes library for more convenience than foobar offers.


Edited by sterling1 - 10/20/11 at 2:59am
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post #6 of 8
10/20/11 at 3:57am

itunes is a classic example of bloatware, especially the windows version. MM can be set to use external players, and it's far and away the best library management software for big collections. I'm using foobar as a player, and that works very well and sounds as good as itunes from a mac.

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post #7 of 8
10/20/11 at 11:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jiiteepee View Post

Why would there be difference if there isn't processing included in data path (all driver models should transfer data bytes/words untouched if data isn't routed through DSP (FX) or SRC'ed)?

 

jiiteepee

 


I don't have any DSP, volume leveling, etc. It's a straight shot to my DI.

 

The only reason I tried it is for "bit perfect". Everyone seems to be falling over themselves trying to get bit perfect to their DAC and from what I understand, MM via wave is not and JRiver via WASAPI is. I have been listening to JRiver for a while. If there is a difference between the 2, I am guessing it's placebo but if a gun were to my head, it seems there is a bit more air (or maybe extension) with JRiver, as though MM is slightly dulled. It feels like I can hear a hair more reverb to Colin's singing in The Decemberists " Rise To Me" for instance. Again, this is probably a brain trick and it's very subtle. Or maybe slight volume difference?

I came into this very skeptical BTW, expecting not to hear any difference so it's why I bring it up.

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post #8 of 8
10/20/11 at 1:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tim3320070 View Post

ASIO does not work with my setup for some reason.



I had the same issue. Downloading ASIO4ALL did the trick. You might also like to try kernel streaming in JRiver. Both will give you bit perfect streaming.

 

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