[Seegs108]

  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.

 
He's looking to get "perfect" sound. The windows mixer can do some harm to things. Either way, I doubt he has appropriate equipment needed to hear the difference anyways.
 
To the OP. set it 16bit 44.1khz and also tick "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device". This will allow an application to adjust the output if nessesary. Rarely will you be listening to anything better than CD quality sound. A DVD or Blu-ray will be your typical higher bit and sample rate material.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

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.

As you can see the OP needs to hear system sounds.

 

[LuciferRising]

Yes, it's important that I am able to hear every system sound or any other sound for that matter. Thanks.

 

[Seegs108]

  Yes, it's important that I am able to hear every system sound or any other sound for that matter. Thanks.

 
You can't get bit exact "perfect" sound that way unfortunately. With WASAPI or ASIO you're using an exclusive audio output mode. If you need to get other sound then you can't use WASAPI or ASIO.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

It seems that this is going round in circles.

The OP can use DS or WASAPI Shared mode and still hear system and application sounds.
The OP cannot use AISO, WASAPI Exclusive or KS because system and application sounds will be muted.

 

[Seegs108]

Which apps allow for a shared WASAPI mode? I've only ever seen exclusive mode as an option.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

iTunes is one example.

 

[LuciferRising]

Quote:

It seems that this is going round in circles.

The OP can use DS or WASAPI Shared mode and still hear system and application sounds.
The OP cannot use AISO, WASAPI Exclusive or KS because system and application sounds will be muted.

 
What am I currently using? (system default)

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

System default usually means DS.

Actually, what audio player are you using?

 

[curiosus]

I am using Winamp w/ WASAPI. In exclusive mode, system sounds won't work ONLY when I am playing music on Winamp. The system sounds comes back automatically when I stop/close Winamp. Maybe that can work for you.

 

[LuciferRising]

System default usually means DS.

Actually, what audio player are you using?

Winamp. What i've ever used. Now that it's stopped being updated not sure what I will use. Winamp is so easy, compact, light and user-friendly. Anyways, thats what I'm using.

 

[LuciferRising]

  I am using Winamp w/ WASAPI. In exclusive mode, system sounds won't work ONLY when I am playing music on Winamp. The system sounds comes back automatically when I stop/close Winamp. Maybe that can work for you.

I need to be able to hear any system sounds in any time. System sounds are important to me. Very important.

 

[A_Man_Eating_Duck]

Winamp. What i've ever used. Now that it's stopped being updated not sure what I will use. Winamp is so easy, compact, light and user-friendly. Anyways, thats what I'm using.

Just because it stopped being updated doesn't mean you have to switch to something else. As long as it still function correctly keep using it.