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Forums › Home Theatre › FLAC File and Windows 7 Audio Settings Question


372 posts

Ultimate Geek
Topic # 104846 21-Jun-2012 22:10 Send private message

Hi all.

I have a question about the audio settings for playing FLAC files in Windows 7.
I am using KM Player to play FLAC files.

I just wanted to check on how the Windows 7 audio is supposed to be set up.

If I RIGHT click on the Speaker icon in the Windows Task bar and select Playback Devices, then click on 'Speakers' and the Properties button, then the Advanced tab - is it correct to select '24-bit, 48000 hz' if that is the quality of the FLAC file (24/48) ?

This is where I change it? And if so, will this any effect on playback of lower quality MP3 files? Or what about when recording my own music in Audacity or Kristal? It'd be better to change the sound quality back for those times?

I'm not too knowledgeable about this stuff.

Thanks!



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372 posts

Ultimate Geek
  Reply # 644885 22-Jun-2012 19:03 Send private message

Perhaps I posted this in the wrong forum....

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  Reply # 644913 22-Jun-2012 21:13 Send private message

It's just not a common question.

Here's some info that may be helpful
http://blog.szynalski.com/2009/11/17/an-audiophiles-look-at-the-audio-stack-in-windows-vista-and-7/

Windows 7 mixer operates in "shared mode" when you have multiple audio streams eg: system sounds, music playing, other audio eg: skype call.. are mixed and outputted by windows.  

At 48kHz default format your 16bit 44kHz mp3's would be up sampled for output

At 44kHz default format your 24bit 48kHz FLAC's would be down sampled for output. 

I'd say test a few mp3's and flac's with default format at 48kHz and 44kHz see which you prefer.

Alternatively:
Exclusive mode can prevent re-sampling and mixing of multiple audio streams, foobar with WASAPI plugin for example will take care of automatic sample rate switching (within the limits of the rates supported by your hardware) but you won't hear any other audio streams other than the app with exclusive control.



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  Reply # 644970 22-Jun-2012 22:59 Send private message

Depends on what your DAC is too, for example my ASUS Xonar Essence One will playback at what the bitrate of the file is (playing from foobar2000 with ASIO plugin). Very nice, since while I listen to all FLAC files on my PC some is 24-bit 96/192kHz stuff while most is 16-bit 44kHz stuff.




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  Reply # 645407 24-Jun-2012 15:04 Send private message

That's a good point, if your sound card has a native ASIO driver and your player software supports using ASIO for output you can use that.

You could also try http://www.asio4all.com/ for sound cards or onboard sound without native asio drivers.

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