Help with SQ Difference between PC and Notebook !

[Unterstuffz]

So for a Quick intro i am using the following setup:

A Topping D10 Bal to feed a Xduoo TA20

I connected my Notebook i Use for Work (XPS 17 9700) and my gaming pc via a USB Switch (this one and i used the optional 5 V Input )

to some usb devices i need on both , including my signal chain (p.s the Usb switch is connected to the WD15 Dock of the notebook)

And i have the following Effect on my Notebook (Same Settings in Control Panel, Same Driver, Same file for the Apo EQ (Gain on Both 0),and volume on both 100 % ) there is a lack of lowend enegery and Information missing in the subbass and i dont know why...

And to ensure that im not going crazy i made a blind Test with 3 of my friends (2 are not that deep into gear but listen to a lot of music and one Buys a headphone every month and has like 30 ) and all 3 are noticing the same thing.

sooo im really thankful for tips what i can do next to solve this .

 

[MohawkUS]

It's not often talked about but the computer has a significant impact on many DACs. There aren't any settings you can change that'll fix things, you'd be looking at buying a different DAC or a DD(digital-to-digital) converter to filter the signal.

 

[Unterstuffz]

It's not often talked about but the computer has a significant impact on many DACs. There aren't any settings you can change that'll fix things, you'd be looking at buying a different DAC or a DD(digital-to-digital) converter to filter the signal.

Ok thanks for the hint ! Do you mean something like this ?

 

[MohawkUS]

Ok thanks for the hint ! Do you mean something like this ?

Yep.

 

[castleofargh]

So for a Quick intro i am using the following setup:

A Topping D10 Bal to feed a Xduoo TA20

I connected my Notebook i Use for Work (XPS 17 9700) and my gaming pc via a USB Switch (this one and i used the optional 5 V Input )

to some usb devices i need on both , including my signal chain (p.s the Usb switch is connected to the WD15 Dock of the notebook)

And i have the following Effect on my Notebook (Same Settings in Control Panel, Same Driver, Same file for the Apo EQ (Gain on Both 0),and volume on both 100 % ) there is a lack of lowend enegery and Information missing in the subbass and i dont know why...

And to ensure that im not going crazy i made a blind Test with 3 of my friends (2 are not that deep into gear but listen to a lot of music and one Buys a headphone every month and has like 30 ) and all 3 are noticing the same thing.

sooo im really thankful for tips what i can do next to solve this .

Have you tried a bit perfect setting on the audio app for both computers? If you have a pretty obvious low frequency difference, there is most likely a DSP involved(EQ or whatever). I'm obviously talking about something beside EQ APO as you seem confident that your settings for it were the same. Sometimes it's some crappy app that came with the soundcard, and on rare occasion, you don't even have the option to disable the DSP(beside bypassing the soundcard entirely with wasapy or asio to your external DAC).

What @MohawkUS talks about is about the last thing I would consider as the cause along with Gremlins. Sure enough some computers have a lot of electrical noises, and maybe the laptop has a weak USB(to save battery), or some dubious resampling setting, and maybe aliens. Many things can happen, but how often would digital noise or whatever USB miracle, translate into clear reduction of bass while everything else has it's own power? I'm highly skeptical.

 

[Unterstuffz]

Have you tried a bit perfect setting on the audio app for both computers? If you have a pretty obvious low frequency difference, there is most likely a DSP involved(EQ or whatever). I'm obviously talking about something beside EQ APO as you seem confident that your settings for it were the same. Sometimes it's some crappy app that came with the soundcard, and on rare occasion, you don't even have the option to disable the DSP(beside bypassing the soundcard entirely with wasapy or asio to your external DAC).

What @MohawkUS talks about is about the last thing I would consider as the cause along with Gremlins. Sure enough some computers have a lot of electrical noises, and maybe the laptop has a weak USB(to save battery), or some dubious resampling setting, and maybe aliens. Many things can happen, but how often would digital noise or whatever USB miracle, translate into clear reduction of bass while everything else has it's own power? I'm highly skeptical.

Good point ! My Source is qobuz so no Flac or Foobar ... are there any application to achieve Bit perfect output in that configuration ?

 

[Roseval]

My Source is so no Flac or Foobar

You want us to trouble shoot by telling what you are not using?

Anyway, try a media player supporting WASAPI/Exclusive as this bypasses the entire Win audio stack.
Have a look at players like Musicbee or Foobar. They all can be configured to do so.

You might also check the Win USB audio setting like Full range/small, enhancements, etc. https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Windows/Win7/USBDAC.htm

 

[Unterstuffz]

You want us to trouble shoot by telling what you are not using?

Anyway, try a media player supporting WASAPI/Exclusive as this bypasses the entire Win audio stack.
Have a look at players like Musicbee or Foobar. They all can be configured to do so.

You might also check the Win USB audio setting like Full range/small, enhancements, etc. https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Windows/Win7/USBDAC.htm

Sorry that was my the Important Word that was Missing is Qobuz ... I solved the Problem ... in pure desperation i borrowed a "IFI iSilencer" and now Everything is fine ...or i just lost my mind ... thats also in the realm of possibilities.. but thank you anyways...

 

[castleofargh]

Do you have a way to record your output(at the DAC or the amplifier), so maybe we could get to hear what you described and the improvement from the USB gizmo?
It's not going to do anything for you, it's just an egoist request out of personal curiosity ^_^.

 

[hakunamakaka]

USB from PC/Laptopt -> DAC should be avoided if possible. People are just unaware on how good their system can sound with clean source or DDC in chain.

 

[castleofargh]

USB from PC/Laptopt -> DAC should be avoided if possible. People are just unaware on how good their system can sound with clean source or DDC in chain.

2 days ago you rejected the conclusions of an Harman paper because a hundred listeners(blind test) and 30 headphones aren't nearly enough to be statistically significant compared to all the people and all the headphones. But right now you don't seem to have any problem generalizing about USB and DDC based on nothing, while also specifying nothing at all about a use case(if any) that was properly tested.

 

[Unterstuffz]

Do you have a way to record your output(at the DAC or the amplifier), so maybe we could get to hear what you described and the improvement from the USB gizmo?
It's not going to do anything for you, it's just an egoist request out of personal curiosity ^_^.

Unfortunaltly not and after some deeper testing the problem seem more or less the same ... Oh and in the meantime i tested a DDS (this one)it changed nothing .
I Know its a first world Problem but i am legit sad mainly because i dont understand the problem... it is like there is just information missing there is no noise (audible) the base ist just not there ...

 

[Unterstuffz]

USB from PC/Laptopt -> DAC should be avoided if possible. People are just unaware on how good their system can sound with clean source or DDC in chain.

Ok an what would be a clean source ?

 

[hakunamakaka]

Ok an what would be a clean source ?

A dedicated streamer, you can find something on the budget as well like Pi2AES or Digione player.

2 days ago you rejected the conclusions of an Harman paper because a hundred listeners(blind test) and 30 headphones aren't nearly enough to be statistically significant compared to all the people and all the headphones. But right now you don't seem to have any problem generalizing about USB and DDC based on nothing, while also specifying nothing at all about a use case(if any) that was properly tested.

Please do a bit more reading regards USB interface from laptop/PC

 

[Unterstuffz]

A dedicated streamer, you can find something on the budget as well like Pi2AES or Digione player.

Ok thanks ... but ... With a dedicated Streamer i cant use my EQ Presets ... Thing on my pc everthing ist Wonderfull but only with my EQ Settings i just dont understand why my Notebook behaves so different...