Now let's add an EQ to the audio path. There are three ways now :
For every way, if all the (***) are "ASIO / KS" then it's bit-perfect. If at least one of the (***) is "Windows mixer" then it isn't.
- Player with integrated EQ --> (***) --> physical output
- Player --> (***) --> VST Host with EQ VST --> (***) --> physical output
- Player --> (***) --> standalone EQ app --> (***) --> physical output
If EQ is being applied, how can any of these combinations be bit-perfect? Surely bit-perfect relates to the transmission of bits from one object to another. If these objects form a chain and the bits are altered in any one of the intervening objects, then the transmission of bits from the first to the last object ceases to be bit perfect?