I'm using a Windows 7 Intel/I5 laptop as a music server after implementing the changes recommended at
http://wiki.benchmarkmedia.com/wiki/index.php/Windows_7_Audio_Playback_-_Setup_Guide. I've also disabled the McAfee anti-virus.
The music server is connected to an EMM Labs XDS1 v2 via a Kimber Kable AG USB B-Bus directly into the XDS1 USB digital input. The XDS1 v2 USB digital input is functionally equivalent to the EMM Labs DAC2X.
I installed the supplied EMM Labs audio driver and selected the XMOS XS1-L1 driver on the music server which is now the active sound driver. I've confirmed this via the Windows audio settings.
In the JRiver MC19 Tools/Options/Audio audio settings I selected the TUSBASIO audio driver option because from reading the HELP system it sounds like ASIO is the preferred option. But now I realize there are three other options I should consider labeled Meitner Audio 2.0 Output (Kernel Streaming), XMOS XS1-L1 Audio (WASAPI), and XMOS XS1-L1 Audio (Direct Sound). I've been playing FLAC and DSD files using the ASIO setup and they sound very good, but now I'm not sure this is the optimal setting.
I had also been experiencing a few dropouts occasionally when listening to computer music files. So last week I disabled the McAfee anti-virus and for the past couple of days haven't experienced dropouts. But just after disabling the anti-virus I felt I was hearing a slight "hardness" in the reproduced sound, and it sounded louder at the same album sound settings I had recorded in my music spreadsheet. I have no idea why this would be unless it has something to do with the laptop responding to the lessening of cpu demand as a result of limiting the McAfee real time scans.
Anyway I then took another look at the laptop sound card settings and ended up lowering the volume, ultimately deciding on a setting of 65. I also checked the box disabling any sound card enhancements such as bass boost. IMO this significantly improved the mid-range clarity, overall transparency, and tightened the bass. A friend told me this is counter to what he has read on forums like Computer Audiophile.
Now I'm beginning to question all the settings! When playing pure DSD or DSF files I'm confused whether I should check mark the MC19 Audio Device/Device Settings DSD bitstream in DoP format. From reading it appears DoP is used to play DSD via PCM!
Can anyone comment on the settings I've made and whether I should change any of them? Are any of you using EMM Labs XDS1 v2 or DAC2X with JRiver?