[LuciferRising]

OS is Windows 7. Control Panel -> Sound -> Properties -> Advanced tab
 
Questions are:
 
Default format: What should I select here? [ 16/24bit ] [44.1/96kHz]
 
 
Shared mode VS Exclusive mode - What should I use?
 
 
Resampling will screw my quality, so what do I do in order to get the best audio playback?

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

Stop shouting.
 
And listen.
 
Or read.
 
Been covered.
 
Lots.

 

[PurpleAngel]

  OS is Windows 7. Control Panel -> Sound -> Properties -> Advanced tab
 
Questions are:
 
Default format: What should I select here? [ 16/24bit ] [44.1/96kHz]
 
 
Shared mode VS Exclusive mode - What should I use?
 
 
mpling will screw my quality, so what do I do in order to get the best audio playback?

I just leave mine at 24-Bit/96Khz.

 

[gevorg]

Here is a good start:

http://thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Windows/Win7/AudioPanel.htm

 

[astrallite]

You have to re-sample at some point, unless you plan on modifying your Windows output sample rate every time you change your source between games, movies, and music.

 

[mcandmar]

Use WASAPI and its irrelevant.

 

[astrallite]

"Perfect audio quality" starts with having good audio gear, not tweaking settings in Windows Contol Panel.

 

[LuciferRising]

So you mean, whatever I select in the settings I will lose quality due to resampling? I don't really care about games, I just want to listen to my lossless music the way it's intended to be listened to.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

No, if you use WASAPI exclusive mode it should automatically change the output sample rate and bit depth to match the source when the track starts playing. If you play a sample rate and\or bit depth that your DAC\Soundcard doesn't support you will get a WASAPI error. WASAPI exclusive will bypass the settings in the control panel.

 

[LuciferRising]

No, if you use WASAPI exclusive mode it should automatically change the output sample rate and bit depth to match the source when the track starts playing. If you play a sample rate and\or bit depth that your DAC\Soundcard doesn't support you will get a WASAPI error. WASAPI exclusive will bypass the settings in the control panel.

Do I get to be able to listen to system sounds/other sounds though? It's important that my PC notifies me about anything important.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

Nope, you will only be able to hear the one application that is using WASAPI exclusive mode.

If you want to be able to hear system sounds then you have 2 choices, Direct sound or WASAPI Shared. resampling will occur based on what output settings you select in the control panel > sound. Whether or not you can hear the resampling is something you'll need to test.

 

[LuciferRising]

Nope, you will only be able to hear the one application that is using WASAPI exclusive mode.

If you want to be able to hear system sounds then you have 2 choices, Direct sound or WASAPI Shared. resampling will occur based on what output settings you select in the control panel > sound. Whether or not you can hear the resampling is something you'll need to test.

I'm using DS as of now am I not?

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

You can use either DS or WASAPI Shared.

 

[kraken2109]

Just select whatever your highest quality music is, or whatever the max is that your gear supports. I really doubt you'll hear a difference, but you could do blind tests if you want to. I don't bother with WASAPI since it stops anything else making sound and it doesn't sound any different to me.

 

[r010159]

No, if you use WASAPI exclusive mode it should automatically change the output sample rate and bit depth to match the source when the track starts playing. If you play a sample rate and\or bit depth that your DAC\Soundcard doesn't support you will get a WASAPI error. WASAPI exclusive will bypass the settings in the control panel.

 
I do like the idea of WASAPI automatically adjusting the sample rate. But I would avoid upsampling. IMO there is no benefit, and may actually make the music sound worse.
 
Bob Graham