Any way to get 24bit from xp.

[thyristor44]

Hello
I have a audiolab m-dac on approval and cant seem to to get anything but 16bit when running flac files to it. I am on xp, is 24bit possible on xp. The mauual gives how to setup for 24bit but only in vista upwards.
Do I need to upgrade os and would it be worth it.
Thanks
thyristor44

 

[richie00boy]

My emu card records and plays 24 bit without any problem on xp.

 

[thyristor44]

So its not down to xp. Nice site.

 

[richie00boy]

Just check your files are definitely 24 bit!

 

[Foxx510]

The audio output format config on Win 7 is greatly improved over XP in my opinion. Very simple and easy to access.

 

[thyristor44]

The audio output format config on Win 7 is greatly improved over XP in my opinion. Very simple and easy to access.

Thanks, but its a bit of a big step to change from xp. Is 24 bit very much better anyway.

 

[Richidoo]

Your DAC has an ASIO driver, so the OS will not make a big difference. I have XP with ASIO sound interface, it does play 24 bit sound files. XP is 32 bit (or rarely 64) OS.

Make sure you read the manual and get the driver installed correctly.
http://www.audiolab.co.uk/manuals/m-dac manual.pdf

With my ASIO sound card in XP if I don't follow the sound card mfg's driver installation instructions perfectly it will not work right. That could be your problemo.

 

[Julf]

Is 24 bit very much better anyway.

No, not really. I still haven't come across a commercial recording with a dynamic range exceeding 16 bits.

 

[thyristor44]

Your DAC has an ASIO driver, so the OS will not make a big difference. I have XP with ASIO sound interface, it does play 24 bit sound files. XP is 32 bit (or rarely 64) OS.

Make sure you read the manual and get the driver installed correctly.
http://www.audiolab.co.uk/manuals/m-dac manual.pdf

With my ASIO sound card in XP if I don't follow the sound card mfg's driver installation instructions perfectly it will not work right. That could be your problemo.

Thanks for your help
I read the manual and one recommended player was foobar which has easy setting of output device to 24 bit. Audiolab provide a test file at 24 bit and this plays at 24bit 96k without problems. VLC which I always use doesnt have this.
All my flac files are made on Exact Audio Copy from cds and are 16bit would you think this is aproblem.

 

[Julf]

All my flac files are made on Exact Audio Copy from cds and are 16bit would you think this is aproblem.

If the files are 16 bit, they will play back at 16 bit (what would be the point of playing them back at 24 bits?)

 

[thyristor44]

If the files are 16 bit, they will play back at 16 bit (what would be the point of playing them back at 24 bits?)

Not when I realised that cds are in 16bit so naturally so are my flac files.

 

[Pano]

I use the JRiver player and output 24 bits from XP. The advantage is doing volume control and DSP in the player. 24 bits out allows a lot more room to work

 

[Julf]

I use the JRiver player and output 24 bits from XP. The advantage is doing volume control and DSP in the player. 24 bits out allows a lot more room to work

Yes, if you actually do DSP or digital volume control, then keeping the results as 24 bits makes sense.