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ASIO, WASAPI, Direct Sound... is there any difference in sound quality?

For those confused, this might help:

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(Source: FlexASIO backend documentation, adapted to remove references to FlexASIO and PortAudio)
 
Rottmannash said:
Thanks. I wonder why they market it as a great option...doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...
It was the best option until WASAPI Exclusive mode in Windows Vista.
 
What about utilizing Equalizer APO though?

I found I need to use DirectSound in Jriver in order to get Equalizer APO to apply room correction. If I choose WASAPI, EQ APO simply is ignored.
 
scar1g said:
What about utilizing Equalizer APO though?

I found I need to use DirectSound in Jriver in order to get Equalizer APO to apply room correction. If I choose WASAPI, EQ APO simply is ignored.
Click to expand...
You have to use WASAPI Shared mode.
 
Can someone tell me why I can clearly hear the difference in sound when I install the ASIO driver on the iBasso DC05 DAC? This is BravoHD. We are talking about simple playback of YouTube videos through the Chrome browser. Without the driver, it seems that there are no high frequencies at all, only bass and upper mids are heard. After installing the driver, detail increases, high frequencies are clearly heard and the sound in general becomes much better. It turns out that the ASIO driver somehow affects the operation of the Windows mixer? Because when watching videos on YouTube via Chrome browser, WASAPI: Shared Mode is used, not ASIO. I noticed exactly the same improvements in sound on other DACs after installing ASIO drivers from their official websites. For example, Hidizs S9 Pro, CEntrance DACport HD, etc.
 
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LongKick64 said:
Can someone tell me why I can clearly hear the difference in sound when I install the ASIO driver on the iBasso DC05 DAC? This is BravoHD. We are talking about simple playback of YouTube videos through the Chrome browser. Without the driver, it seems that there are no high frequencies at all, only bass and upper mids are heard. After installing the driver, detail increases, high frequencies are clearly heard and the sound in general becomes much better. It turns out that the ASIO driver somehow affects the operation of the Windows mixer? Because when watching videos on YouTube, WASAPI: Shared Mode is used, not ASIO. Windows 11 Home x64. Tin Hifi T2 DLC iems.
Click to expand...
One of the modes is defective or misconfigured.
 
LongKick64 said:
These changes in sound can also be heard on other devices that have completely different drivers:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
They're all defective or misconfigured. There is no difference in sound quality between WASAPI and ASIO. They're just digitally transferring bits.
 
strea said:
What about utilizing Equalizer APO though?

I found I need to use DirectSound in Jriver in order to get Equalizer APO to apply room correction. If I choose WASAPI, EQ APO simply is ignored.
Click to expand...
You can use WASAPI shared for Windows to allow EqualizerAPO to work and still use WASAPI exclusive in Jriver with the Jriver EQ working. Other than closing Jriver before using Youtube or other apps, both work fine together. EqualizerAPO does not work while Jriver is working but the Jriver EQ still works fine. I use this method in Windows 10 and it works smoothly.
 
Just for all of your reference on this thread...

I now very comfortably use VB-AUDIO MATRIX as system-wide ASIO/VASIO/VAIO routing center within Windows 11 Pro PC (which completely replaced ASIO4ALL) together with JRiver MC (as audio-visual player) and DSP EKIO (as system-wide DSP center). If you would be interested in my use case, please refer to my post here #931 on my project thread.
 
LongKick64 said:
Because when watching videos on YouTube via Chrome browser, WASAPI: Shared Mode is used, not ASIO.
Click to expand...
Wasapi shared mode goes through windows audio mixer which may not only resample (most likely inaudible), but also perform some DSP, depending on your configuration. E.g. some equalizer may be in your chain.

ASIO or Wasapi exclusive passes the samples directly to the driver, no resampling/DSP. IMO that's the difference you hear.
 
LongKick64 said:
Can someone tell me why I can clearly hear the difference in sound when I install the ASIO driver on the iBasso DC05 DAC? This is BravoHD. We are talking about simple playback of YouTube videos through the Chrome browser. Without the driver, it seems that there are no high frequencies at all, only bass and upper mids are heard. After installing the driver, detail increases, high frequencies are clearly heard and the sound in general becomes much better. It turns out that the ASIO driver somehow affects the operation of the Windows mixer? Because when watching videos on YouTube via Chrome browser, WASAPI: Shared Mode is used, not ASIO. I noticed exactly the same improvements in sound on other DACs after installing ASIO drivers from their official websites. For example, Hidizs S9 Pro, CEntrance DACport HD, etc.
Click to expand...

There is exactly zero technical reason why just installing an ASIO driver would affect the operation of the normal Windows audio pipeline, unless the ASIO driver installer is doing more than just installing an ASIO driver, or there is something incredibly unusual happening on your system (e.g. you have some kind of WDM-ASIO bridge installed).
 
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Maybe it has something to do with the ASIO buffer or the latency? The processor executes commands faster. The sound definitely changes even if you turn off all graphics in Windows 11. The system starts working and responding to commands faster and the sound changes dramatically. If you don't believe me, try an experiment, turn off all visual effects in Windows 11 and listen to how your hardware sounds. I guarantee you will be very surprised:eek:

UGUQWHoAzbMvBArp7hLTCM-970-80.jpg
 
LongKick64 said:
Maybe it has something to do with the ASIO buffer or the latency? The processor executes commands faster. The sound definitely changes even if you turn off all graphics in Windows 11. The system starts working and responding to commands faster and the sound changes dramatically. If you don't believe me, try an experiment, turn off all visual effects in Windows 11 and listen to how your hardware sounds. I guarantee you will be very surprised:eek:
Click to expand...

The only guarantee I see here is just trolling.
 
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