Sound quality of SPDIF output on EPIA boards

**Vicne** · 12-09-2005, 06:17 AM

I thought I should share this interesting information for those using the SPDIF output of their EPIA board, like mox and myself.
We both noticed that some noise and hiss appears in certain conditions, even if the original sound quality is very good, and it seems we're not alone : this article suggests switching from the Via driver to the RealTek one on an Epia M9000, and I guess it should work with other similar models.
I have no way of testing this driver right now as I am reshaping my CarPC, but feel free to tell us if you test it...
Just my 2 cents.

**JC-S60** · 12-09-2005, 06:33 AM

That is some very usefull info!

Beats having to add an external soundcard!

**schreibers** · 12-09-2005, 06:59 AM

Great thanks!

**mox** · 12-09-2005, 08:11 AM

Great find! Will try ASAP, I am at work right now. Strange that nobody else on mp3car.com has ever reported this problem.

**fonseca** · 12-09-2005, 08:36 PM

Never seen those drivers, I'll try them. I have no noise, however, and my sound quality is on par with using the optical out on my Audigy. I wonder if your noise was related to grounding? If you're not using an optical converter, the coax cable could introduce some noise into the sound.

The article doesn't mention that VIA's audio drivers also allow S/PDIF and analog to be sent out simultaneously, so I don't see that as an advantage. But his comments on resampling are interesting, although I can't compare since I don't upmix my 16 bit sources to 48KHz.

**mox** · 12-10-2005, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Vicne

I have no way of testing this driver right now as I am reshaping my CarPC, but feel free to tell us if you test it...

Tested it this afternoon...
SPDIF sound quality of the Realtek driver is excellent. Highly recommended. Thanks Vicne!

**LagunaICE** · 12-11-2005, 11:19 AM

does it bring any improvements/feature enhancements even for analogue output?

**mox** · 12-11-2005, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by LagunaICE

does it bring any improvements/feature enhancements even for analogue output?

Bunches of DSP features and equalizer presets, as well as a choice of different room acoustics (jazz club, theatre, sewer pipe), pseudo-3D etc.

I haven't tested extensively yet, as the only SPDIF input is the one in my car, but at least my mp3s now sound like they should.

We should sticky Vicne

**bridqer** · 12-11-2005, 02:07 PM

Well, I loaded those drivers and now there is no sound, after return from hibernation. Must restart for audio. Rolled back the driver and worked fine for a while then audio stopped mid-music. Now going to try reinstalling previous drivers. This is on a MII-10K.