So does the EQ in a software player like VLC degrade the data that gets into the DFR if it's enabled? When using my headphones with vlc and some FLAC files I tried pumping up a bit lower frequencies with VLC's to attenuate the overall bright high signature and noticed a bit of crackle in certain parts (like sandy sound) and I'm still trying to find the cause.
Is there any resampling taking place? Do you guys not use EQ with using an external DAC? Would that happen with any software player?
VLC creates a pre-process EQ into the dragonfly, and the dragonfly corrects the sound and reprocesses the data sent to your headphones. re-sampling doesn't always mean the sound is being created twice, it could be slang for the sound file being modified through a software engine before it reaches the destination of the soundcard, means it's not the flat 'most-original.' but keep in mind, the software needs permission from the operating system to utilize a method to transmit the data to the sound card.
Windows 8.1 / Windows 10:
speaker properties: volume @ 90%-100%, "disable all enhancements", advanced: 24 bit, 96000 Hz (Studio Quality) / Exclusive Mode - check box on: "Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device" and "Give exclusive mode applications priority"
there will be 1 / 100 flaws in every split second, which is just speculation. AudioQuest didn't make a perfect product but it's pretty close. occasionally I'll hear a snap, crackle or pop, because remember the dragonly_RED hardware is trying to reprocess software data sent to it. it's not common, maybe once every couple days when I'm listening to music mixes, certain kinds of software will have bugs in it, and so when I hear it, I have to hit the replay button 3-5 times to determine if it's a flaw in the file or just a software/hardware glitch.
software EQ is pre-processed, while external hardware mixer EQ is post-processed with respect to how the dragonfly_RED is connected. the dragonfly_RED will reconstruct the sound data, and will not touch anything else once it leaves the 3.5mm DAC jack, so try plugging a different set of headphones into it on the exact same software settings.
the VLC software has "2 pass" which sends the song into the EQ bands TWICE, double processed, sending the song EQ'd and EQ'd again through the same bands. you may have to play with the compressor settings on the next tab over. VLC does not intend to degrade songs, the software (tried it) seems to be legit on the EQ settings, you can have the sound file processed the way you want it before dragonfly_RED does final processing. mids usually are always amplified pretty hard on dragonfly_RED, the brightness is very high on mids in other words, so turn down middle bands on rock music and strong vocals, for example.
the VLC EQ-preset, "soft-rock", seems to favor the dragonfly_RED, on cleanest and richest sound based on what I'm hearing on different kinds of music, with "compressor" and "spatializer" turned OFF.
try jitterbug to cleanse the USB port distortion(s) or bad ground-loops (disconnect laptop from power source and all other USB peripherals), or try a different set of headphones, because like mentioned earlier before, the hidden processor
(which will boost the frequencies/GAIN by default for example) on headphones will sometimes throw out "good sound" and force enhancements which may include resetting pre-configured EQ paths and restructuring final listening experience. sometimes the combination of motherboard and dragonfly_RED software drivers may not match up very well, either. and just because it's a FLAC file, doesn't mean the recording methods were setup the way we all wanted to hear it. try using a different piece of software with the same FLAC file, and then listen to it on converted format in MP3_320k to see if the problem can be reproduced. one thing to note, that i think is truly awesome, is that 'fast music' actually may sound a bit slower with the dragonfly_RED and the jitterbug combined, because the detail is more clear and the song is re-timed on final output!
so in short, the data can be degraded, yes, but to answer it correctly, the data is being reconstructed from a digital source (supposedly) for analog reproduction, so if anything is lost or degraded, it is user listening experience of what sounds better or worst that must be your judgement after you know for sure the software-hardware combination pre-processiing before the data reaches the dragonfly_RED, as to make sure the data (song/sound) is actually at its highest integrity. hence, DAC, digital to analog converter.