iTunes 9 has WASAPI (Updated: Zune 4 also has bitperfect out)

[lmf22]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SemiAudiophile /img/forum/go_quote.gif it only applies to systems running Vista or later. i downloaded iTunes9 on XP and it is grayed out.

Windows XP does not have Windows Audio Session API (WASAPI). WASAPI is a feature of Vista. I don't know why it doesn't work with 64bit Windows. Hopefully Apple will correct this in a future release.

EDIT: In response to donunus's question. You will know the audio stream is bitperfect when you play a DTS WAV file and the receiver detects and decodes the DTS signal. I think this is the only way to test for bitperfect output. Whenever the stream is not bitperfect, the DTS signal gets changed and the receiver will not be able to decode it, which results in noise or silence. On my receiver, when the stream is not bitperfect, the DTS light blinks rapidly and there is silence.

 

[M3NTAL]

So - this is only useful to people who want to listen to SACD and DVD-A through their home theatre setup. Most high-end DACs are 2 channel and don't decode this

 

[Ham Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3NTAL /img/forum/go_quote.gif So - this is only useful to people who want to listen to SACD and DVD-A through their home theatre setup. Most high-end DACs are 2 channel and don't decode this

The DTS test is just a test method to verify if you are able to do bitperfect output. You could also test for bitperfect output by playing an HDCD encoded file (ripped from an HDCD) through a DAC that supports HDCD. If the HDCD light on the DAC lights up then the signal is bitperfect.

These are just tests. I don't have either a DTS receiver or a DAC that supports HDCD. I have no practical way of verifying that I have bitperfect output. I assume I do, I just have not been able to verify.

 

[donunus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriverdude /img/forum/go_quote.gif If your amp DTS lights up, it's bit perfect. Also for HDCD title.

Ahh ok. I'm not using a Receiver. Its just going to my DAC.

 

[donunus]

Even if its 16/44, it might be still bitperfect then even though the soundcard is only set to 16/44 if not playing dts files. Remember DTS is 24 bit which is why the need for the soundcard to be set that way

 

[mrarroyo]

Thank you guys, I believe I should just by the Mac I have been wanting and give up on the PC!

 

[shrisha]

Actually on XP there is one thing what giving you to get bit-perfect play with almost any player. It's ReClock from Slysoft.
Free-Codecs.com :: Download ReClock DirectShow Filter 1.8.4.8 : ReClock DirectShow Filter gets rid of jerky playback of AVI and MPEG files
Properly configured everything should be alright.

 

[Ra97oR]

Any fix for x64 problems?

 

[darkswordsman17]

This is good news, although it not working on 64-bit isn't good. Maybe try running iTunes in 32 bit compatibility mode? Kinda pain, and not sure if it would work. If it does, I think you can make a shortcut so that it'd start that way and not have to select it each time.

 

[donunus]

Nobody changed the latency setting yet?

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Thank you guys, I believe I should just by the Mac I have been wanting and give up on the PC!

I believe that is the way to go!

 

[lmf22]

UPDATE (also updated original post): Zune 4 also has bitperfect output.

I recently got the Zune HD and though I should see whether the Zune 4 software has bitperfect output. It does.

I did the following tests and the receiver detected and played the DTS file:

1) Zune 4 does not seem to support WAV files so I converted it to WMA Lossless with dbPowerAmp. The DTS WMA Lossless file played fine. This also shows that conversion from WAV to WMA Lossless is indeed lossless.

2) Just like with iTunes 9, when I played a sound (e.g., a Windows sound effect, YouTube, a movie on KMPlayer, other videos with Firefox) while the DTS file was playing, the DTS signal was lost. But when the other sounds stopped, the receiver detected the DTS signal again.

3) I also tried different conversions with dbPowerAmp. All played fine (the received detected and played the DTS signal)
WAV to WMA Lossless (played with Zune 4)
WAV to Apple Lossless (played with iTunes 9)
WAV to FLAC to Apple Lossless (played with iTunes 9)
WAV to FLAC to WMA Lossless (played with Zune 4)

All bitperfect as long as no other audio streams are playing.

 

[KingStyles]

Dont give up on pc. Give up on itunes on pc. If you cant live without itunes then yes mac is the only way to go. There is much better suited players that do bit perfect on pc that sound great. Untill you are ready to drop a grand on amarra to run with itunes on a mac then its not worth the extra expense to jump over to the mac world. I will say a mac is typically easier to configure for bitperfect and does have a nice interface with itunes which some might feel is worth the jump.

 

[dallan]

Amarra mini has the same SQ as regular Amarra for under $400. so you don't have to drop a grand.

 

[KingStyles]

Does amarra mini upsample?