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[ttan98]

Hi,

I tired to search for threads and posts relating to improving sound quality from the Media Center. I did not find that many(maybe I did not input the correct search words). There are a few sites which propose on ways to improve sound quality such as,

1. improving(lowering) system latency, by disabling devices which are not being used e.g. sound card, ethernet adapter, etc
2. removing services(those not being used) from operating system.
3. Fine tune the Bios.

I am sure some of you have done this. Is there a real  improvement in the sound quality? If yes can anyone direct me to threads or websites which discuss how to fine tune these parameters. The main website I got this information is from here:
http://cicsmemoryplayer.com/index.php?n=CMP.Guide

I like to use JRiver as my main player rather the one used in the above website. So by fine tuning my system(software and hardware) to improve sound quality is always welcomed.

Any inputs are welcomed. Thanks

[Vincent Kars]

This is not really a tweakers site.

I suggest to start with MC itself. It does have a couple of audiophile options like memory playback, different driver (DS, WASAPI, Kernel)
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/Players/MC14/MC14_audio.htm

Cics
The assumption is that lowering the electrical activity inside a PC improves sound quality.
RFI. EMI, ripples on the power rails are supposed to have a negative effect on sound quality.
Now DA conversion is a bit of a vulnerable process.
One might argue if sound quality decreases with increasing system load this is pretty much like having your screen starts to blur with increasing system load so a pretty severe design flaw.
One might also argue that if DA conversion is so vulnerable, one better moves it out of the box into a outboard DAC.

Under clocking does affect the RFI. It will be moved to a lower frequency and will become more dense (the harmonics). But will this improve sound quality or will it become worse?
Nobody can tell.

A low latency is needed to avoid drop outs. We talk a multi tasking OS, not a real time OS so we must remain below a certain threshold. I doubt if low latency for the sake of low latency makes sense. All I/O is buffered by design.
Anyway, do a latency check won't harm you. http://www.thesycon.com/deu/latency_check.shtml

Power.
Some claim an improvement when running on battery power.
Indeed switching to battery power can make a difference, the power saving schema of you PC can have some very nasty side effects!
An RMAA test will tell you: http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/SW/AudioTools/TroubleShooting.htm

System services most of the time do something at start up and than go to sleep.
One might wonder if disabling them really helps.
Disabling drivers in general don't shut of components, they remain powered.
Anyway if you want to fool around with drivers the Blackviper  is the ultimate source.

The forum for tweaking PCs for audio: http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/etv.mpl?forum=pcaudio

[JimH]

These two articles on our Wiki might help:
http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audio_Output_Modes

http://wiki.jriver.com/index.php/Audiophile_Info

[ttan98]

Thanks to Vincent for a detailed response and also Jim.

I will study the info given and I think they are very useful.