Since we have similar setups, I though maybe I should just list what I am using:
Soundcard: Essence ST with H6 daughter card
Driver: Asus Xonar Unified Driver 1.11 (I'm not sure this works on XP)
Output Format: - ASIO
- Large Hardware Buffers: checked
- Channel Swap: I swap channels
- As low as possible without problems (.1 - .5 seconds)
- Volume Device: Speakers (Essence ST)
- Audio for Video is set to use same device as audio playback
Output Format: - Sample Rate: No Resampling
- Bitdepth: 24-bit (if using ASIO, I think it use 24 bit anyway since the card is 24-bit)
- Channels: 7.1
- Mixing: JRSS
- For stereo sources only mix to 2.1: checked
- Subwoofer: both option boxes are checked (This is important to enable maximum dynamic range.)
- Crossover is set to "silent"
(The JRSS settings are so 5.1 is mixed to 7.1. Nothing is done with 2.0 sources with these settings. Since you are only using 5.1, I would recommend "No Mixing.")
Room Correction Bass Management Settings - Subwoofer distance is set 1 foot closer than measured distance
- Crossover: 80 Hz for mains/center, 100 Hz for surrounds
- Routing: Move bass to subwoofer
- High Pass Filter: 24 db/octave
- Low Pass Filter: 24 db/octave
ffdshow audio settingsI don't use any of the ffdshow DSP's when ffdshow is my decoder.
Volume Control - Application Volume is muted (only with Vista or Windows 7)
- Internal Volume is selected as method to control volume
- System volume is kept low for other applications