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More => Old Versions => Media Center 15 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: BushPilot on July 31, 2010, 04:45:00 pm

Title: Wasapi vs kernel streaming
Post by: BushPilot on July 31, 2010, 04:45:00 pm

I am running MC15 on my laptop with Windows 7 using usb to my Benchmark HDR dac direct into my MC-275 amp. I am able to configure both kernel streaming and wasapi. Both work wonderfully well but kernel streaming seems to my ears as slightly better sounding. Am I losing anything with this setting?

Title: Re: Wasapi vs kernel streaming
Post by: JimH on July 31, 2010, 05:15:44 pm

If you can use WASAPI, I would.

Title: Re: Wasapi vs kernel streaming
Post by: BushPilot on July 31, 2010, 05:39:28 pm

OK, I can do that. But why? Is there a technical reason for doing this, as you suggest?

Title: Re: Wasapi vs kernel streaming
Post by: LocutusEstBorg on January 29, 2015, 03:40:53 am

Old thread, but Kernel Streaming is not properly supported by many sound cards now. DSP features such as bass management, subwoofer gain etc. do not work in Kernel Streaming on my Xonar U7 but they work in WASAPI exclusive mode. My Sound Blaster Zx supports DSP features in Kernel Streaming as well, but not ASIO.

In the latest Sound Blaster Zx driver, 5.1 support was completely dropped from Kernel Streaming! It only supports 2 channels now. For 5.1 channels you have to use WASAPI.