OK, got the new system running.
Dell Precision 370 Win7 Pro cca. 2007 USB2.
Drivers set to "Exclusive" mode, so the Foobar
WASAPI plugin controls the action.
USB2 "audiophile" cable with separate
power and digital cables, ebay.hk
DM Plus USB2 drivers with linear PSU
Monster M1000i XLR-RCA
Parasound Zamp v.3
DYI Belden 10AWG 99.9% oxygen free, silver solder. gold plated ring terminals (butane torches run hot!)
ProAc Tablette 50 with sterling silver jumpers on Bell'O stands.
ASIO = FAIL, same at home on my 2010 Dell T7500. Winamp, WMP, plugins poor, Foobar freezes on all
systems. Ran a search "WASAPI better than ASIO" and i was surprised to see the results. Apparently if
you do not mix music WASAPi is just as good.
WASAPI = A-OK with MAIKO (or mother in most Slavic languages) plugin fro Winamp but still buggy, PERFECT with Foobar 24 bit.
So all testing with Foobar WASAPI.
I also tested the system with my Canton Karat M30 D's, they can't hold a candle to the ProAcs.
Sound is filling, soundstage is marvelous, Suburbs of Goa and Radio Jazz Plus excel. AVRO Baroque shines
too, Bartok Radio (national pride
is reaching new heights.
This little Christmas adventure unfortunately exacerbated my chronic upgraditis again, so now i am in the process of replacing
my cables in the mancave separates system to match the new reference SACD player
I just wish manufacturers and software people talked more to each other, computer audio is so much fun but
very painful to implement.