[mrip541]

I just switched from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1. Just to make sure the sound worked I opened up iTunes and started a random song. It sounds TERRIBLE using usb-->Audinst HUD-mx1-->headphone out. I mean really really bad. Bloated tubby bass, some kind of echo, shimmering distortion like I'm listening to a really old mp3.
 
If I open playback devices it shows the mx-1 as a SPDIF Inteface and the Enhancements tab from Windows 7 is gone. I can't find any way to alter the sound. I'm so confused.. How is the USB out sound so incredibly bad?!?
 
I can't live like this and will eat the cost of Windows 8 if there's no way to fix this. Any ideas?

 

[PurpleAngel]

Try installing FooBar2000 (it's free), see if it improves audio quality.
 
Are all the windows 8.1 audio setting set for 2-Channel (stereo) audio?

 

[Roseval]

I’m afraid this has nothing to do with Win8
Audio has priority zero at MS. Vista/ Win7/ Win8, the audio stack is by and large the same.
It cannot be that a USB DAC shows up as a SPDIF output.
Some DSP going on in iTunes?
Indeed try Foobar or MusicBee and check if you have the same problems

 

[mrip541]

Thanks for the responses guys. Audio is definitely set to 2 channel, and using my own files in foobar does sound better than my gf's in itunes. I spent a while messing around and I think the real issue is that the mx1 doesn't play well with Windows 8. Audinst doesn't provide drivers, at all, for the mx1 anymore. I uninstalled every audio device and usb driver and reinstalled each one with drivers from the manufacturers web pages, which seemed to help. But I think what really did it was to just switch from my mx-1 to my v-90 dac, which brought back the enhancements tab where I could disable all audio enhancements. The issue with the v-90 is it doesn't have an optical out, which I've been using on the mx1. Are there any usb dac/headphone amps with digital outs that have full Windows 8 support?
 
Here's a shot of the mx1 showing up as a SPDIF device:
 

 
Or it could all just be in my head, but I don't think so. I really feel like low bass is still stronger in Win8...

 

[Roseval]

If this is the product you are talking about: http://audinst.com/en/items/188
 
It doesn't need drivers as it uses the standard Win UAC1 drivers
It acts as a USB DAC (USB > analog)
It acts as a USB to SPDIF converter (USB > SPDIF)
 
Bit surprised you can't configure it because normally one can: http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Windows/Win7/USBDAC.htm
 
If all you need is a USB to SPDIF converter, there are a lot of them: http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_SPDIF.htm

 

[Fabithierry]

Your problem is iTunes. Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 are the same