Digital preamp vs Windows volume control

[dualazmak]

Hello OP spittiz,

I am so sorry that I went into too much in detail about practical ASIO and ASIO4all configurations with the specific crossover softtware EKIO.

I still agree with Kal, however, as far as you can use ASIO and/or WASAPI exclusive, you would be better to mute-off all the Windows kernal audio services for safety and bit perfect audio processing within PC, and you may also digitally output into DAC(s) using dedicated USB ASIO drivers.

Now we can do these cost-effective I/O and processing all in 192 kHz 24 bit, just like the extraodinary expensive TRINNOV ALTITUDE32 is doing everything in 192 kHz 24 bit with its dedicated built-in Linux-base OS and software/firmware.

 

[bennetng]

windows kernel mixer

Windows kernel mixer is a pre-Windows Vista thing, including XP, 2000, ME, and 98SE. With the WASAPI architecture since Vista, the mixer runs in user mode. All mixers running in kernel mode in newer versions of Windows are provided by individual hardware manufacturers within the kernel mode driver, they are not part of the Windows OS components.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/drivers/stream/kernel-streaming

This section contains legacy documentation on the following topics relevant to the original (pre-XP) ks.sys class driver:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_features_new_to_Windows_Vista#Audio_stack_architecture

The Windows Kernel Mixer (KMixer) is completely gone.

Many newer audio devices no longer expose the Kernel Streaming API. For a quick check, download Reaper, go to preferences > devices, choose Kernel Streaming. If the list is empty, then your audio device's kernel mode driver does not support Kernel Streaming. Even if there are something show up, like my very old Roland SC-D70 released in 2001, it is simply routed to WASAPI exclusive mode.

You can also try the Kernel Streaming plugin in foobar2000.
https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_ks

In fact, I still have some screenshots of how the Windows Kernel Mixer UI looks like in my old Geocities homepage, accessible via WayBackMachine:
https://web.archive.org/web/20181105185952/http://www.geocities.jp/anothergs/kXTut/1st-step.html

You can also see similar screenshots if you Google with the appropriate keywords.
https://www.google.com/search?q="hardware+acceleration""sample+rate+conversion+quality"&tbm=isch

 

[dualazmak]

Hello bennetng,

Thank you, I understood your points.

I am rather hesitating to install Reaper which I have no need to use or test, but, just for our reference, let me show you my present audio output devices on Windows 10 in my audio dedicated silent PC and how JRiver MC 27 recognizes the audio devices while I acutually listening to music by JRiver;

In my specific multichannel multi-amplifier project using EKIO and DAC8PRO (with its dedicated DIYNHK USB ASIO 8-CH driver), I need to use ASIO4all and USB ASIO I/O routing in bit perfect 192 kHz 24 bit, as you may kindly understand. Under ASIO4all, I may output into any combination(s) of the available multiple USB ASIO DAC channels through umlimited number of EKIO's output channel. Of course, the sound quality is always perfect and really amazing...

 

[bennetng]

Once again, OP and others who wonder if there are differences between different volume controls, read the link below and try the files. The download counter has not incremented until now so obviously no one reading this thread tried the files yet. Make sure to check ReplayGain and/or any other volume management settings in your playback software as well.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...p-vs-windows-volume-control.18360/post-605003

 

[escape2]

Try these files with ASIO and WASAPI exclusive mode, with different playback software, and different volume controls in your signal chain, including playback software, mixer/control panel of your soundcard/interface (if available), Windows volume control and so on.

Thanks.
I'm using ASIO with Foobar2000. "file a" with Foobar2000 volume slider set to -12dB sounds the same as "file b" with Foobar2000 volume slider set to 0 dB.

 

[Wizard509]

Kal, Can you hear the difference? Personally I use an analog preamp as I am all analog from the single DAC on. I intend to swap WMP for Audirvana and AISO. I was able to remove EQ APO by additional adjustments to my crossovers, active and passive.

Dual, why do you have two caps in series to your ST?

Apologies for digging up an old thread.

I am "old school" with regard to audio equipment and do not know nearly as much as I would like about modern components.

I am working toward replacing the system that is in my shop. It will laptop based with a not-yet-selected DAC. Monitors will be analog and consist of a single powered sub connected to a pair of powered satellites.

Can you recommend some preamps for me to consider for volume control?