Lately, after reinstalling Windows 11 from scratch in my Lenovo X280 Laptop, I started hearing stuttering, pops, and clicks in digital audio playback. I noticed that this problem was only occurring with my Xmos XU208-based Topping D10s, which I had bought to use as USB-coax converter for my primary custom DAC. The same problem never… » Read the full article
Software
Computer Audio Design: Optimization Scripts
I would like to present this set of scripts, prepared by Computer Audio Design, aimed to optimize Windows 8, 8.1 and Mac computers by stopping unnecessary background processes. The first time, the user launches an executable file. A console prompt opens, where the user is asked three questions: – if he wants to fully disable… » Read the full article
Review: JPlay 5.2 Audio Player
Jplay is considered, along with XXEighEnd and the minimal MQN, one the best sounding music players on Windows platform. Initially I have been sceptical about how a software player could affect the sound quality of a hifi system, but, as long as I kept learning about the matter, everything started to make sense. It’s about… » Read the full article
The Meitner IDAT D/A Interpolation Algorithm
This interesting article (source: Stereophile) provides a good explanation about what’s special in Meitner’s IDAT interpolation algorithm and the way it’ said to be “capable of understanding music”. The article describes how the IDAT algorithm merges the effect of FIR (finite impulse response) and IIR (infinite impulse response) filters, by detecting which parts of the… » Read the full article
Dithering: Digital Volume Control (To-Be) Made Right
The following articles show how a well implemented dithered volume control could let us forget about expensive preamplifiers, and use the PC or other digital sources to control volume without losses. As the articles below will explain, dithered volume control works the best the higher the quantization goes (24 bit and over) Digital Level Control… » Read the full article
