How to setup Foobar2000 to obtain the best possible sound?

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dalamar /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
This coming from the OPAMP placebo guy.

This coming from the 'All DACs/Amps are the same' guy.

 

[leeperry]

This coming from the OPAMP placebo guy. 

hehe, I'm in the mood for troll feeding today...looks like you might learn something today after all.
 
if all the opamps sound the same, then I'm Queen Elizabeth

 (yes, it's really me on the picture!).
 
Learn my little padawan, learn: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f6/audio-gd-discrete-op-amps-reviewed-OPA-earth-OPA-moon-OPA-sun-v-2-a-397691/
 
Listen to a bunch of DAC's, and dare telling us again that they all sound the same...everything changes the sound, opamps, cables, media players, audio renderers, PSU's. Your goal is to find a combination that blows you away -everyday-...I have achieved that goal, did you? Or are you still running an asux soundcard(that would entitle you to sound pedantic on audiophile boards somehow)?

 

[Dalamar]

Quote:

This coming from the 'All DACs/Amps are the same' guy.

It's an indisputable fact that any difference in DACs and amps (that aren't trash - ex, a lot of onboard, some dated sound cards, some dated cd players) is minor and your money is best spent on better headphones/speakers or acoustic improvements of your room.
 
You shouldn't spend over 10% of your speaker/headphone value on a dac, and yet I see a lot of people spending craploads on DACs. You're trying to justify your impulse buying, wasting money, and in the case of leeperry tin hat behavior, and aside from lying to yourself, you can't.
 
The discrete opamps measure terribly, not surprising since it came from Audio GD. If you like deformed colored audio, well, good for you.
 
And no, I'm not going to run around testing DACs more than I already have. It's a waste of money. NG94 sounded exactly the same as my Essence, both of which sounded marginally better than my onboard. Measured worse, but the distortion and snr were negligible and inaudible. It had worse freq. response, nothing that can't be equalized though.
 
At best, the difference between DACs will be the difference between resampling - subtle and negligible. People should know this, and know that DACs have the least priceerformance ratio. Same with opamps - the difference may be measurable, but you're not going to hear much if any difference short of placebo effect.
 
Now stop encouraging newcomers into bad behavior.

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

It's an indisputable fact that any difference in DACs and amps (that aren't trash - ex, a lot of onboard, some dated sound cards, some dated cd players) is minor and your money is best spent on better headphones/speakers or acoustic improvements of your room.
 
You shouldn't spend over 10% of your speaker/headphone value on a dac, and yet I see a lot of people spending craploads on DACs. You're trying to justify your impulse buying and in the case of leeperry tin hat behavior, and aside from lying to yourself, you can't.
 
The discrete opamps measure terribly, not surprising since it came from Audio GD. If you like deformed colored audio, well, good for you.

If it was indisputable, we wouldn't be having this (gasp) dispute, now would we?
 
I agree that you shouldn't spend too much compared to the endpoint, but, that's not to say that one couldn't, and couldn't find positive improvement moving up other equipment.  By Sept, I should have my almost final setup in the M2Tech HiFace ($110) --> Gamma2 ($300?) --> Meier Concerto ($670) --> LCD-2 ($950).  My source/DAC is going to cost $400ish combined, and will be a marked improvement over the 'logical' (according to you) uDAC or MM 02. (@$100)  I don't impulse buy.  I research again and again.  The DAC for this setup still isn't actually set, I'm still getting opinions.
 
It's wonderful that you think you have a justified opinion from only trying two DAC/Amp combo units, one external, one internal.

 

[Dalamar]

Again, you're ignoring what level-matched blind tests show, there is usually VERY LITTLE difference.
 
If people want to waste their money on "hifi", fine let them, just don't go shilling dacs and amps like they're required or make a large difference. They don't. And people need informed of this fact before making the purchase, unless of course they're rich and don't care like 99% of head-fi.

 

[MikoLayer]

another reason to use vista/7 over xp. I can see people on ancient machines with less than 2gb ram clinging to xp, but otherwise...

 

[leeperry]

 
You shouldn't spend over 10% of your speaker/headphone value on a dac

hahaha, your source(DAC/transport) can easily become your weak link, you'll find out soon enough...maybe when you'll stop comparing crappy external DAC's to internal soundcards? get a linear regulated PSU, use a galvanically isolated connection to break the dirty computer ground, put some high end opamps...and you might see the light. This said, you haven't mentioned what headphones you used during your breakthrough discoveries.
 
gotta love those "myth debunkers"(ignorance sure is bliss

), you're from the hydroponic-audio forum I presume?

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

Again, you're ignoring what level-matched blind tests show, there is usually VERY LITTLE difference.
 
If people want to waste their money on "hifi", fine let them, just don't go shilling dacs and amps like they're required or make a large difference. They don't. And people need informed of this fact before making the purchase, unless of course they're rich and don't care like 99% of head-fi.

No, actually, you're ignoring what blind tests show.  Remember that other thread we were arguing in?  You should go read that Forte vs STX blind test, then call them all succumbing to the ancient and mysterious effects of placebo... While being tested blindly.
 
This conversation originally wasn't even about money; you turned it into a soapbox for your 'Placebo is Everything!' lecture.  Using WASAPI is free and a one-time, five minute setup.  Most of Head-Fi isn't rich, and do care.  That's why I've been researching price/performance on the Meier Concerto, and price/performance on other amps in that price range, nevermind the 40ish hours I've put into the LCD-2, researching the technology, and the implementation, to make sure I'm not succumbing to flavor of the month.  And many others do and are doing the same.
 
Go away, you're less fun of a troll than Leeperry, and less educated to boot.

 

[darknessproz]

Well, i HAVE heard a noticeable difference between ASIO and WASAPI on foobar2000 though my crappy laptop speakers. I can't really tell which one i prefer until i get my new speakers maybe today.
 
Oh, and wasapi has made a huge difference in the sound, thanks guys. 

 

[MikoLayer]

 
Quote:

Most of Head-Fi isn't rich

 
... and you have a LCD-2, you sure?
 
All the joking aside, I am in general agreement with your posts. Though I have seen enough praises of the HiFace, did you think it was worth it to your setup if you don't mind me asking? I am thinking of picking up one for my modded valab. Not sure which version (coax or bnc) to go with though.

 

[Hybrys]

Quote:

... and you have a LCD-2, you sure?  
All the joking aside, I am in general agreement with your posts. Though I have seen enough praises of the HiFace, did you think it was worth it to your setup if you don't mind me asking? I am thinking of picking up one for my modded valab. Not sure which version (coax or bnc) to go with though.

I don't have my setup yet, it's coming together slowly right now.  In my opinion, the HiFace is only worth it if you can't get low-jitter 24/96 over USB...  Which is actually steep to ask for at this moment, and the HiFace can provide.  Since you already have the DAC you want to feed, ask yourself these things.  Do I need 24/96?  Is my current implementation not good enough?  Could my sound source be crisper and cleaner?  If you said yes to any of those questions, the HiFace would suit you well.
 
As for RCA vs BNC... (Remember that Coax is different from Coaxial RCA) It depends on a lot of things.  Does the HiFace have a true 75ohm connector?  Does your Valab have a true 75ohm connector?  Are you willing to drop some cash finding a good 75ohm cable? (Not massive cash, mind you.  $25-100)  Then go with BNC.  If not, and if you want the flexibility for the future, go with Coaxial RCA.