Hi,

Just wondering if those with a little love for tweaking and sound quality do change rhe default 16bit audio quality output in their Windows machines to 24 bit or just leave it alone.

Tempted to switch to Studio quality but will take pointless as an answer.

Thanks.

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Unless you are playing 24-bit audio files and using a DAC (digital-to-analog converter, the part that actually takes the digital files and makes an analog signal) that supports 24-bit audio, it is utterly pointless because you aren’t actually using 24 bits.

Even then, unless the rest of your equipment is very good, it is unlikely you will be able to hear a difference.

^^^^ this ^^^
Higher sampling and 24 bit can equate for better sound but mostly makes it better for replication.
I use some Audioquest Dragonfly usb DAC's as well as Topping on on system.
A better DAC can definitely translate to better sound.

I'm not an audio engineer but where higher sampling/bit rate is most effective is when they sample the original analog signal not from upscaling a digital source from 16 to 24 bit or more.

However, a really nice DAC the sound is much better than the built in conversion in a PC computer albeit this is a subjective analysis.

Over the last 20 years, a few of those spent in pro sound, it has been my experience that the analog audio outputs of PC’s just sound terrible. They are always full of weird noises.

If you wanted to upgrade I wouldn’t make sampling rates a concern at all, but I would get a different interface. Some sort of usb DAC probably, though I haven’t done anything like that in many years so I don’t know what is out there. I remember using Presonus stuff back in 2005 in the studio I was at, but I couldn’t tell you how they are now.

But I’m confident that would give you much more tangible results simply by moving away from the factory analog interface.

I have the audio from my desktop running W7Pro routed to my home stereo system and it sounds fine. I play some pretty good Classical music, even organ, from the PC and it is excellent.

flashguy

Thank you gentlemen.

Was wondering if i was overlooking or missing something since Windows is mostly configured to the lowest common denominator.

I’m using an Intel NUC 6 (i5) HDMI connected to a new Yamaha Receiver. I stream, watch DVDs and play mp3 and FLAC mainly with VLC.

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I just finished listening to an hour-long organ recital via my desktop and audio system. It sounded very good. (Of course, I'm using an old Fisher XP-18 as one of my speakers--it has an 18" woofer and can handle the low pedal notes. I bought it in the 1960s for use with my home organ--Schober Recital Model kits.)

I often route the web version of our FM Classical music station through my audio system, and am very satisfied with the sound.

flashguy

Nicky, wouldn't the DAC in your receiver doing the actual conversion not the NUC?

If the audio is going to a receiver over HDMI, digital audio is going from the NUC to the receiver and the DAC in the receiver is being used, nothing analog is happening in the NUC.

A Yamaha receiver should have a reasonably capable DAC, much better than anything usually built into a computer.

I would expect a recent receiver to support 24-bit audio, but that should be easy to check in the specs. You would need to confirm that both the HDMI input supports 24-bit audio and that the DAC does. Sometimes some digital inputs don’t support the full range of input formats the DAC does.

I am guessing the Receiver is doing the handling. It’s logical, Mr. Spock would agree.

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