tomstearns

I use Media Monkey (MM) as my music server running under XP Pro Sp3. I installed the Kernel Streaming output plugin (vks3.6.3) and attempted to use it with my V Link USB-to-S/PDIF converter but no joy. I'd appreciate a step-by-step walk-thru of the settings needed to make this work. If it's possible. My method is to open tools>options>outputs and select Kernel Streaming, then Configure and point to an output device. This last is a problem since none of the choices is clearly identified. I get two "USB Audio Devices" plus a "Generic", and regardless of which of the USB Audio devices I choose, the "Status" button shows it sleeping while music plays, and if I shut down MM and re-launch it does not play. If it's relevant, I also attempted to disconnect my bit stream from the Windows audio controls by using the Sounds and Audio controls, paging my way down to the bottom of the Hardware tab until I could identify the V Link as a "USB Audio Device" and then selected "Do Not Map" for this device. As I understand it, this process is supposed to disconnect my stream from the internal Windows volume controls and other audio screw-up features but it doesn't work because the Windows volume control still effects the sound.

My computer audio system seems to have trouble delivering the same sweet, lifelike performance on loud orchestral passages as it does on solo or small-group stuff. Infrequently I hear short, sharp "braaaack" sounds mixed in to the music which I interpret as an overload or clipping or drop-out problem somewhere. My computer is a T60 with 1.66GHz processor and 2 GB of RAM running Media Monkey Gold driving a Musical Fidelity V Link into a Cambridge DACMagic DAc and thus into an EMotiva XPA2 (300 WPC). One theory is that a "sub-dropout" or clip occurs in the loud stuff which causes unmusical noise to enter the stream. I run a latency checker from Thesycon GMBH which says the T60 is good to go--capable of handling streaming audio or video.How do I actually know this? Are there other tests? I'm also wondering about the aging crossovers (maybe 25 years) in my Super Tower 2ARs's. There is an upgrade kit which I am considering, but it's wasteful to fix what ain't broke. Any ideas?

A while back preproman suggested that I use JRiver Media Center instead of Media Monkey which is my present server. I still wonder what the basis of that suggestion was---I have experimented with JR MC and don't see anything better in the sound or track management (which is a slight issue with Media Monkey). How do either of these programs control volume? Does the output from the music server pass thru the laptop soundcard and thus volume controlled there or does it go direct onto the USB buss? Would the sound improve if I use my passive attenuators on the analog output of the DAC or should I use the internal digital volume control, somewhere in MediaMonkey or the laptop?

Eloise, thanks again--right on point. How would I find a DAC with a good USB input? Most ads are useless for finding out the basics of the equipment on offer. Does the Arcam rDAC have a high bitrate USB capability?

Great stuff Eloise & preproman. Much appreciated. The Cambridge DACMagic is the sameas the XDA1 in the sense that its USB input is not as "refined" or "advanced" as the other inputs--- the DACMagic cannot handle high data rates through the USB port but can thru the coax audio and Toslink. Don't know why manufacturers do not put the same engineering effort in on all inputs. The level of development in the input chips is not constant. The V Link works fine, at this point--I have not heard an interrupt in some time so apparently something is now better than it was. Eloise I will look into the Arcam rDAC---thanks for the pointer.

Preproman, I do not know about the Cambridge Audio DAC.They are not terribly communicative about the circuitry. I am enroute to an Emotiva XDA-1 DAC which is asynchronous and also has a good USB input which will allow me to simplify my system---I will connect direct from T60 to XDA1 by USB. That is the master plan which has emerged from these several interchanges, all of which are deeply appreciated. The interplay of these high end audio minds in the aid of me is very very useful and even the small disagreements yield information that I cherish.

The tone of my response (above) is too cold & suspicious--I should have said that I was pleased & excited over the idea that a different server software could be beneficial since this is an inexpensive fix and if there's a fundamental problem with the way MMonkey does its business I should for sure change. So many thanks to preproman for a pointer and a lead on how to make this system work as well as possible. Anything I can learn on differences between JRiver and MMonkey which explains from an engineering viewpoint the benefit of one over the other would be appreciated.Asynchronism is the goal; my DAC is said to be asynchronous and so is my V Link so it would be good to have an asynchronous server program.

Nice explanation of server software/computer interactions and possible audio maleffects and I get the point. The English needs a bit of correction but the meaning emerges. The article focuses on the Mac system--which I am not using--and doesn't mention JRiver or Media Monkey and how they operate compared with each other. Does anyone know, from an engineering point of view, the differences in operation between JRiver and MMonkey? JRiver costs a bit more but either one is about 0.01% of the cost of a system. I do not like learning new softwares but would happily do so if there was a solid basis for change.

Why would JRiver be better than Media Monkey? Or, looking at it differently, why would the player influence the sound? As I understand the process, the player or server software is like a traffic cop who tells this to go ahead of that etc. Regardless of server program it's the same file running thru the same hardware (V Link/Cambridge DACMAgic etc)...why any difference, unless Media Monkey is limited in bitrate etc, which it isn't. What is WASAPI mode? I downloaded J River and explored it and do not see any setting for WASAPI mode. Somehow I got a display scheme in which the images side of the program ran a slideshow thru my photoarchives; this was very interesting--wonderful to see ancient pix I had forgotten juxtaposed against the random playback from my music library. Then I suffered one of those damn "updates" to the J River media player software and I seem to have lost that capability.

Firstly, many thanks to the several contributors herein. Your time, experience & wisdom are greatly appreciated by this newbbie. The ESI Juli@ is apparently PCI so won't fit in the dock. Not sure what a good USB cable is but will try NewNex. And NewNex does have ferrite beads in some of their cables depending on intended purpose; these I avoid. I read Chris on Asynchronicity (sp) and it's a good intro but not useful to me since the terms "adaptive" and "asynchronous" are descriptive of a system. In other words, as I get it, IF my CambridgeAudio DACMagic has a good clock and is set up to be the master, and IF the V-Link is agreeable to the concept, THEN the computer output and signal timing would be regulated by the DAC and jitter would tend to be reduced. On the other hand unless these conditions are met, what? The V Link may be an asynchronous-capable device but that doesn't mean it runs in that mode, does it? It is slave-oriented, but is there a master around? The neat thing about all this is we get to chew on technical stuff in the service of an art form or esthetic pleasure ie listening to good music. All the food groups!!

What is the difference between asynchronous and adaptive and why do I care? I have an idea but would appreciate a clear explanation. Please keep in mind the Cambridge DACMagic in the digital chain. I am drawn to the simplicity ( I think) of using a PCI card to get a S/PDIF connection to my DAC, thus avoiding USB issues. What is the advantage of the 1212M over the 0404? Both seem to have the same specs; 1212M costs a bit more. As far as Musical Fidelity equipment quality and sound goes, the V-Link is a Stereophile "A" quality choice---for what that's worth.

Thanks for the comments, Eloise. Yes, you're correct, it is a Musical Fidelity V Link. And there are issues--I hear dropouts and, as you say, there is a setup issue. Which is my question--how do I set this equipment up, software and hardware-wise, for best performance? As to why I think a different USB interface would help a USB problem, I agree- the idea sounds illogical but that's exactly what the salesman said when he tried to get me to buy a different bridge--he said, "USB is bad so use my USB-to-S/PDIF gizmo!" I said, "If USB is bad, how can your gizmo be any better since it uses USB?" And lots of other logically disconnected, monetarily-driven interchanges. Don't know anything about JRiver but MediaMonkey has more controls and abilities than I ever expect to understand. And as an aside, I have attempted to use ASIO4ALL as an output plugin but no dice and no sound regardless of configuration. Also with kernel streaming via OutKS36. I know I sound ignorant because I am--I am deluged by partial statements about timing errors and jitter and who's clock is controlling and bitrates and "Windows is bad at handling audio because of multiple handoffs so use ASIO" and on and on and I cannot integrate all this stuff into a coherent whole. I hesitate to say this but I suspect some of the people I've talked to either don't know what they're talking about or are too motivated by commission issues. I admit I am an engineer with all the horrors that entails but I do understand when things are explained clearly and without commercial bias, which is what I'm seeking. What causes dropouts? According to the latency checker and CPU load graphs I have adequate CPU power and RAM. So, would I be better using S/PDIF interconnect from my dock, or is that just another layer if interchange with no benefit? How do I control clock timing thruout? Is the problem something about the way the VLink plays with my USB output?

I am using a T60 laptop as my music server/controller and a Cambridge Audio DACMAgic as the DAC. I'm trying to optimize the connection between the T60 and the DACMagic. My present interface or bridge is an MAudio V-Link; USB to S/PDIF. I hear occasional dropouts on 24/96 files and am suspicious of USB, at least at my stage of ignorance about jitter control etc. I have a dock for the T60 which provides a S/PDIF connection that I am planning to use to eliminate the USB and VLink.The dock has capability of using a PCI-E card and another idea would be to use a E-MU 0404 card or some such in the dock to get a more direct connection from laptop to DAC, also eliminating the USB. There is also the M2TechHiFace which seems to be a good approach and much simpler. Some reviews suggest there is no issue with USB if I use the HiFace. I use MediaMonkey as my server software; how do I set it to "kernel streaming" if I use the HiFace, or is that necessary? What about ASIO drivers? Needed?

David-- You appear to understand the problems of transmitting pulses down uncontrolled USB cables and also the listening effects of 16 bit vs 24 bit and the choice of sampling frequencies. I would very much appreciate your comments on the following issues: I'm ripping my CD collection onto a harddrive and usually select 24/96 WAV as the format. I think the Streamer II+ has trouble handling high bitrates --above 2000KBPS*, for example. This may be a USB/cabling issue or a problem inherent in the Streamer II+. What do you think? Do I gain from using 24/96? Does the resulting bitrate (around 4500 KBPS) create serious transmission problems? What file format would you recommend? I have two sets of ripped files from a choral CD; one set is around 2500 KBPS and the other 4500KBPS and there is a clear difference in the playback sound--the higher bitrate is much more open and airy. * I know this sounds high but that's what Media Monkey says it's doing.

This may be a dumb question--is there a PCI card which provides high quality DAC function? I suspect my "ticking" problem (see other post) is related to the USB connection used for my Music Streamer II+. Also, the USB dingus dangling off my living-room setup isn't very attractive. If somebody makes a good PCI card I'd like to know the make & model!