Does Streetdeck affect the SQ of a music file?

t3sn4f2 · 10-03-2007, 09:03 PM

Hey guys, I am interested in using Streetdeck with Vista so that I can take advantage of Vistas better audio processing and sampler. I know Streetdeck needs WMP to play music files but is there anything done in the background when those files are called up with Streetdeck that would affect their sound quality when compared to playing them straight from WMP?

Thanks

god_of_cpu · 10-04-2007, 09:07 AM

No, StreetDeck should sound exactly the same. It uses the built in equalizer and other audio processing in WMP.

t3sn4f2 · 10-04-2007, 09:19 AM

Great!, thanks.

RedGTiVR6 · 10-04-2007, 09:19 AM

WMP does affect the SQ, but SD it's self doesn't interject anything into the audio stream.

If you're looking for the best, most accurate reproduction of sound off of the computer, WinAmp or Foobar2000, both running bit-accurate plug-ins, is your best bet.

t3sn4f2 · 10-04-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

WMP does affect the SQ, but SD it's self doesn't interject anything into the audio stream.

If you're looking for the best, most accurate reproduction of sound off of the computer, WinAmp or Foobar2000, both running bit-accurate plug-ins, is your best bet.

Thanks for the reply Jan. I'm aware that WMP is not optimum, but in my case I want to get the best sound out of Rhapsody downloaded subscription files so I will need WMP. I assume Winamp can play these files too but I have been told from a developer of Winamp that since the files are DRM'd they will not output threw an ASIO type setup. This is the reason I was looking into Vista which from what I've read will give me acceptable results and still let me navigate my music threw Streetdeck.

RedGTiVR6 · 10-04-2007, 11:09 AM

If all you're going to be playing is downloaded files, then the difference will be neglegable.

If we were talking about lossless files or CDs then there would be a noticeable difference.

Artificial · 10-04-2007, 11:59 AM

you want crystal sound in a car? What am i missing here? A car is worst place for reproducing audio because of its dimensions and materials. Not to mention the engine and wind and noises from the surrounding...

Nola111 · 10-04-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Artificial

you want crystal sound in a car? What am i missing here? A car is worst place for reproducing audio because of its dimensions and materials. Not to mention the engine and wind and noises from the surrounding...

You're at the wrong website altogether dude.

RedGTiVR6 · 10-04-2007, 06:06 PM

lol - no kidding...i've had quite a few of these home theatre snobs listen to my car at the request of some friends who are themselves into home theatre...they get out and proclaim that they never thought a car could sound like that...

I'm sure Gary Biggs would beg to differ that a car can't sound good.

Artificial · 10-05-2007, 09:20 AM

sure it's not that bad, but still you wont hear any difference between the different players...

RedGTiVR6 · 10-05-2007, 10:13 AM

yes, you can tell the difference between players.

to say you can't tells me you have not spent the time checking that or verifing that...I've done an AB comparison between WinAmp and Windows Media Player and there is a NOTICEABLE difference.

parksgm · 10-05-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Artificial

sure it's not that bad, but still you wont hear any difference between the different players...

Completely depends on what you're listening with...there'd likely be very little audible difference with a stock system, but that probably wouldn't be the case with an upgraded, aftermarket system purpose built for sound quality...which is what Red has.

t3sn4f2 · 10-05-2007, 12:12 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

yes, you can tell the difference between players.

to say you can't tells me you have not spent the time checking that or verifing that...I've done an AB comparison between WinAmp and Windows Media Player and there is a NOTICEABLE difference.

Jan in your type of system would you concider the difference between the 2 something that is noticably bad and draws attention as having something wrong when not compared head to head or would you say that its something that still sounds good but when compared face to face rapidly can have a noticable difference.

changeip · 10-09-2007, 01:41 AM

so is there no way to get WMP to play audio CDs without screwing with them? I have been wondering why my audio sucks lately ... it's WMP ?

t3sn4f2 · 10-09-2007, 07:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by changeip

so is there no way to get WMP to play audio CDs without screwing with them? I have been wondering why my audio sucks lately ... it's WMP ?

WMP is not what is messing with your CD (although I can't say much about its decoding softwares quality, but it does not seem to be a popular signal degradation concern to people). Its what the XP mixer does after WMP decodes the signal that is what is affecting the signal. IF you want to use WMP and still have quality sound (not "BIT PERFECT" sound though) you can go with windows Vista which had the whole audio part rewritten by people that do audio. Here's a long thread about Vista sound quality from the head microsoft audio software designer.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...3&page=1&pp=30

How bad would you say your sound is. I have been told from the designer of a highend DAC that in order for him to hear the negative things that XP does to the audio he need to have on high quality headphones and the difference is not easily heard. Are you sure its not something else in your audio chain or would you concider yourself to have very sensitive hearing and would pick up on the inferior audio easily.