XXHighEnd

Ultimate Audio Playback => Your thoughts about the Sound Quality => Topic started by: christoffe on August 01, 2015, 10:12:01 am



Title: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 01, 2015, 10:12:01 am
Hi,

the shortest way to install W10 is to use an ISO CD, no updates to W8.1 are necessary prior.

For the activation of XXH we have to install another browers, because EDGE is not working with a low "User Account" setting.

The SQ, first impressions, more details, more bass. The soundstage with the laptop is as I'm sitting very near (5m) to the performers. (with the office PC the distance is 25m away with a "wall of sound" :) impression, which sounds very nice)

***There is no "WOW" effect as the others wrote about the SQ with the build 10074***

For a test I'm playing the Beady Belle song "Intermission Music", where she sings together with Jamie Cullum. It is very difficult to locate the position of the singers, until now they stood very near together and with W10 they are more seperated.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belvedere-Beady-Belle/dp/B0012K5PX4/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1438416155&sr=1-3&keywords=beady+belle

More to come.

Joachim

P.S. Note to Peter: XXH is activated (with the red letters)


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 01, 2015, 04:59:33 pm
Hi,

attention, a "Minimized Mode" is not possible, we will see a black screen, and I had to reinstall W10.

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 01, 2015, 05:39:18 pm
What ?!
Well, I guess that sort of halfly could be expected. Sorry for that anyway !

But you did try with XXHighEnd 2.02 I assume ?

Regards,
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 01, 2015, 05:42:22 pm
Quote
For the activation of XXH we have to install another browers, because EDGE is not working with a low "User Account" setting.

Joachim, As far I know, Internet Explorer is just in there as well. In System32 somewhere.
I forgot at this time, but I wrote about it and how to take over the associations from Edge or whatever it is and was (10074) named.

Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 01, 2015, 06:00:52 pm

But you did try with XXHighEnd 2.02 I assume ?


 :yes: :yes:

Do I need after the restore of the W10 installation a new activation code? It seems yes.

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 01, 2015, 06:13:13 pm
Hi Joachim - Yes.


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 01, 2015, 06:58:03 pm
What ?!
Well, I guess that sort of halfly could be expected. Sorry for that anyway !


No problem, these are important things and so I can avoid orders from my wife for some household works. :)

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 02, 2015, 11:25:52 am
Hi,

the SQ under W10 (not minimzed) is superior to the W8 SQ due to the improved fine resolution, more details and improved timbre. The timbre of the brass instruments is amazing.

https://www.highresaudio.com/artist.php?abid=104230

W10 is worth a try when it is stable. Since the reinstall of W10/XXH 2.02 (on the laptop) all is running normal with XXH on a RAMdisc (with all W10 services in action)

W10 is running in the "flight modus" to avoid unwanted updates.

Joachim

P.S. Info to Peter, when I tried to minimize the W10 a note came up, that a creation of a restore point is not possible due to ..... (I forgot the reason) yesterday, and I proceeded with the minimizing and ended up with a black screen showing the mouse pointer only.



Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 02, 2015, 12:34:22 pm
Quote
P.S. Info to Peter, when I tried to minimize the W10 a note came up, that a creation of a restore point is not possible due to ..... (I forgot the reason) yesterday, and I proceeded with the minimizing and ended up with a black screen showing the mouse pointer only.

Joachim - strange. And I can't test it either - no RTM Windows 10 here ...

Regards and thank you for the efforts and feed back,
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: coliny on August 02, 2015, 02:26:37 pm
Re restore point, see my post http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3252.msg35147#msg35147


Colin


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 02, 2015, 03:06:45 pm
Re restore point, see my post http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3252.msg35147#msg35147


Colin

Thanks Colin,

read your remark at that time but didn't get the "curve" for my case. :sleeping:

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 04, 2015, 03:25:38 am
Hi,

the performance of W10 (build 10240) on the audio PC is very robust without any “hiccups” for three days until now. On this PC the only external  programs are  XXH 2.02 and the Primo ramdisc.
I had to shut down some drivers in the device manager. (a driver for the NOS1 and the NVIDIA card)
The PC is not connected to the internet.

I did not risk to “minimize” the OS (due to the  previous “happening” with a fresh W10 installation)  and shut down some services manually as tested with Vista/W7 (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=548.0)  and proposals mentioned with the link in the post "W10 tweaks".

The SQ  of W10 is superior to that from W8. (more bass, more details, more timbre, again a stronger right/left speaker orientation/seperation)

As long as we are installing the audio/ram disc programs in W10 only, it runs very stable and we hear a great sound.

W10 is now my preferred audio OS.

Joachim

***I'm using W10 without "remote control, no tablet***


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: juanpmar on August 04, 2015, 12:13:01 pm
Hi Joachim, thanks for your W10 test. I'm not sure if at any time you have tested also the 10074 version, if so, I would like know how you compare the two versions.

Best regards,
Juan


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 04, 2015, 12:18:27 pm
Hi Joachim, thanks for your W10 test. I'm not sure if at any time you have tested also the 10074 version, if so, I would like know how you compare the two versions.

Best regards,
Juan

Hi Juan,

the installation of the build 10074 failed on my laptop, so I couldn't compare.

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: juanpmar on August 04, 2015, 12:28:09 pm
Ok, thanks Joachim. Anyway, I´ll take into account your observations, we'll see if anyone can compare the two versions.

Regards,
Juan


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: Robert on August 04, 2015, 10:58:30 pm
One would expect Peter is comparing versions. I will once I get another SSD loaded with the current version.
I have a question if I run a second OS drive is it possible for W10 ver 10074 os to upgrade while I'm running in the latest OS W10 ver?

If I leave XXhighend in Min OS with V10074 this should negate any updates on this drive. Is what I'm hoping.

I do have a problem with the expiry date for 10074 but will do what is required to maintain SQ. It also concerns me stopping updates is a major if at all possible.

I guess time will sort these issues.

Robert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 05, 2015, 12:49:50 am

I have a question if I run a second OS drive is it possible for W10 ver 10074 os to upgrade while I'm running in the latest OS W10 ver?


Hi Robert,

with the installation of W10 build 10240 on a separate HDD/SSD (SSD with 120GB= < €100)  you will have a "dual boot system" and both OS are running independent from each other (you have to decide with the bootmanager that whether you want to work with build 10074 or build 10240). So, nothing changes your present settings in 10074 disconnected from the internet.

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: Robert on August 05, 2015, 07:23:17 am
Thanks good news.

Robert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 05, 2015, 05:52:46 pm
Hi,

by disabling the programs "OnDrive" and "Cortana" with the "Group Policy Editor" the SQ improved again. 

Joachim

P.S. Peter, did you install the W10 RTM meanwhile for a listening test?


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 06, 2015, 05:48:37 am
Joachim,

I did not install any W10 RTM at all. It is OF NO USE.

I gave you the link to that forum.
Did you try to follow it ? (what people all come up with)

Sorry !

Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 06, 2015, 01:09:04 pm

It is OF NO USE.


UUH, don’t give up – the W10 (10240) SQ on my system is superior to W8.

Most sound problems with W10 are coming up in conjunction with the “Cortana” program, and that program we have to disable. There are some sites in the internet with proposals such as: 
http://superuser.com/questions/949569/can-i-completely-disable-cortana-on-windows-10
(This is not working)

W10 on the AUDIO PC is stable since 5 days and I installed XXH 2.02, the NOS1 USB driver, an Intel video driver (for the embedded “video card” on the processor)  via the W10, the PRIMO ram disc, the Phasure OCX file and Firefox browser only. Deleted have been the “NVIDIA” (video driver) and “Realtec” (audio driver) programs.

The audio PC is not connected to the internet and no updates are implemented, and a lot of services are disabled (maybe not all) which we don’t need.

Peters Q1 to Q5 settings are not working with 8Gb RAM systems, it seems. I tested  Q1=14 /0/0/0 in the beginning, but the highs are a little bit too harsh.
Now I have Q1=6 and  /1/2/1/ and the SQ is smoother.

My conclusion:  W10 is running quite well on AUDIO PC’s (with audio related programs only)  with a great SQ.

Joachim

P.S. Somebody simulated (via the BIOS) the behavior of build 10074 with the “expiry date” on September ?


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 06, 2015, 01:20:26 pm
Hi Joachim,

I don't know what you want exactly, but ...

A totally destructive 10240 build is the same to me as a simillar build of 10074. Both are as unusable for normal practice work.

And now you want me for fun to sit down for XX days to have 10240 going ?
FOR FUN ... do you receive ?

Can you explain to me what the reason is that you are using the RTM (10240) ?

Lastly, do you realize that you are removing programs one by one etc. etc. to improve SQ, which all has already been done (by me so to speak) for 10074 ?
But use MinOS.

So seriously, I am lost somewhat on what you are attempting, and why. But of course you are going to tell me ... :)

Best regards,
Peter



Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 06, 2015, 02:07:01 pm
Hi Joachim,

I don't know what you want exactly, but ...

A totally destructive 10240 build is the same to me as a simillar build of 10074. Both are as unusable for normal practice work. correct

And now you want me for fun to sit down for XX days to have 10240 going ?
FOR FUN ... do you receive ?

Can you explain to me what the reason is that you are using the RTM (10240) ? The installation of 10074 failed two times, but the 10240 installation was a piece of cake

Lastly, do you realize that you are removing programs one by one etc. etc. to improve SQ, which all has already been done (by me so to speak) for 10074 ?
But use MinOS. MinOS failed in W10 and I had a black screen and reinstall W10; now I would delete the NVIDIA program prior to MinOS

So seriously, I am lost somewhat on what you are attempting, and why. But of course you are going to tell me ... :)

Best regards,
Peter


Hi Peter,

see my reply in red letters above.

The other concern with build 10074 is, what will happen after the expiry date in September. Did someone simulate this, or is there a solution .......... ?

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 06, 2015, 02:14:56 pm
Hi Joachim - not sure :

I did not read about you NOW being able to go to MinOS.
(it seems you don't dare to do it, which of course is fine)
If I am correct - still no difference with 10074. Unless :

Quote
The installation of 10074 failed two times

You mean completely ? :nea: ... then I missed that.
After going into MinOS, yes (black screen for you). But my memory ...

The expiry date of W10 Preview is told to be October 2015 (not September). And I set back my date to 2012 (and told about that).
I can't guarantee a thing though.

What I do seem to read is that people - especially with laptops- find their laptops "bricked" (wich means : completely dead) and have to bring it to the electronics repair shop. Again, follow that forum.

I am not going to co-operate with that.
(read : encourage for it)

Best regards,
Peter



Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: BertD on August 07, 2015, 12:43:54 pm
And I set back my date to 2012 (and told about that).
I can't guarantee a thing though.

Hey Peter,

Did you try to reboot with the new date set to 2012?

Cheers,

Bert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 07, 2015, 12:55:02 pm
Yes Bert.

It did not work any more.

You ?

haha

Peter
(but there's some more to tell about this)


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: BertD on August 07, 2015, 02:54:22 pm
It did not work any more.

Same here indeed.. have to try to see how far back we can go and if not then re-time every 3 months or so...

Just thinking, which DOS command changes the date? I could implement this within the batch-file I use to load XX into RAM. Or you could implement this in XX (at startup) or...

Quote
(but there's some more to tell about this)

I am sure there is. ;-)

Cheers,

Bert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: JohanZ on August 07, 2015, 03:02:47 pm
Quote
The expiry date of W10 Preview is told to be October 2015 (not September).
A windows 10 key will solve this expiration?

Johan


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 07, 2015, 03:19:28 pm
Just thinking, which DOS command changes the date? I could implement this within the batch-file I use to load XX into RAM. Or you could implement this in XX (at startup) or...

Bert, that would be the Date command.

It is a very long time ago, but something like

DATE<[the date]
would feed [the date] into the command.

Regards,
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: BertD on August 07, 2015, 03:29:58 pm
Bert, that would be the Date command.

Already found it... ;-)

lmgtfy.com/?q=set+date+batch+file# (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=set+date+batch+file#)

DATE 07-07-2015

Thanks,

Bert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 07, 2015, 04:48:00 pm
Hi Bert,

Your link leads to a strange Google page (well, here it does).

Of course, like you did it, it already works. I made it too difficult (thinking too much "program like").

Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 07, 2015, 06:16:22 pm
Quote
The expiry date of W10 Preview is told to be October 2015 (not September).
A windows 10 key will solve this expiration?

Johan

Hi Johan,

I suppose not, because the Preview 10074 is supposed to work with a key which can be activated. And many or most people do / have done that.
But not mine (key is not accepted).

Regards,
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: BertD on August 07, 2015, 07:23:33 pm
Your link leads to a strange Google page (well, here it does).

As intended... just watch the animation explaining how to do a search through Google for the subject. I should be seen as a joke but not all get the clue.  :(

Cheers,

Bert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on August 08, 2015, 08:16:06 am
haha
Ok.


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on August 08, 2015, 06:20:12 pm
Hi,

after listening for several days to W10 (build 10240) my suggestion is, this OS is a MUST for all none build 10074 users.

The sound is amazing and made another jump forward after the "switch off" of the Cortana program with the renaming procedure. I never heard the live concert from Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young with such a SQ. Unbelievable :veryhappy: :veryhappy: :veryhappy:

http://www.amazon.de/Street-Crosby-Stills-Nash-Young/dp/B000002ITW/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1439050614&sr=1-1&keywords=crosby+stills+nash+%26+young+-++4+way

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: Robert on October 20, 2015, 10:18:37 pm
I thought I should reply re Peter's new settings for XXhighend 2.02 if anyone has noticed them yet(in his signature).

I tried them last evening in my setup and found them to be a nice improvement in sound, well worth trying out even though we are about to get an upgrade. Less metallic(bright) on top end notes at volume, but this is recording dependant.

W10074 with XXhighend 2.02 in Min OS with date early September 2015 is working flawlessly for me.

Robert






Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on October 21, 2015, 07:51:51 am
Thank you Robert.
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: Jud on November 10, 2015, 09:28:01 pm
Hi Peter,

As I think you remember, I'm on the "fast track" for Windows 10 updates.  Do you know if I would just be wasting my time trying to install XXHE on the latest update to see how it might sound (in other words, it would definitely not even work)?  Or it is possible that it will work, but I am doing this at my own risk (of Win 10 being screwed up or potentially horrible SQ  :prankster: )?


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: Robert on November 10, 2015, 10:13:42 pm
Jud may I suggest you try all things at your own risk. You can always reload it all again. Personally I wouldn't try it Peter is working on a newer version. OS updates have never been part of the plan.

I have changed my SFS to 1/60. I found HDCD files in albums would only play two tracks before stopping.

Robert


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on November 10, 2015, 11:13:55 pm
Hi Peter,

As I think you remember, I'm on the "fast track" for Windows 10 updates.  Do you know if I would just be wasting my time trying to install XXHE on the latest update to see how it might sound (in other words, it would definitely not even work)?  Or it is possible that it will work, but I am doing this at my own risk (of Win 10 being screwed up or potentially horrible SQ  :prankster: )?

Hi Jud,

since 3 month XXH is running under W10 build 10240 here, and the SQ is amazing, more details, and much more timbre of all sound sources. (feet tapping sound)
XXH 2.02-MinOS is not working with build 10240, so I'm using  an other "minimizing OS program" until the next W10 build/XXH 2.03 version.

Joachim


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2015, 08:11:57 am
As I think you remember, I'm on the "fast track" for Windows 10 updates.  Do you know if I would just be wasting my time trying to install XXHE on the latest update to see how it might sound (in other words, it would definitely not even work)?

Hi there Jud,

When you have been served with some "speed" you may have noticed that 10586 was handed out to the Slow Ring on November 9th. 10586 will 100% most definitely be the next ISO to download.

Do notice that using the 10586 from the upgrade over upgrade situation - and how it should be available to you at this very moment - is BAD (think "bloated" which is not good for us audio guys).

Also -and this is merely for others-, watch out with downloading any "self created" ISO of 10586 which already floats about since 5-6 days. This too is from upgrade builds (in this case from the fast ring where it (obviously) also has been provided).
N.b.: I too did not download the currently available 10586 yet (but have 10565 fully running).
I will provide a link to the official MS-created 10586 ISO when it is available. This really is "today or tomorrow".

Regarding XXHighEnd - don't. I am writing the Release Notes to 2.03 at this very moment. This should be a "today" thing when nothing else comes in between. 2.03 will allow to boot any W10 Build into MinOS without losing the OS (which will happen with 2.02).

Regards and thank you for your help,
Peter


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: christoffe on November 11, 2015, 08:35:31 am

 2.03 will allow to boot any W10 Build into MinOS without losing the OS (which will happen with 2.02).


 :good: :good: :good: :) :) :)


Title: Re: W10 - SQ
Post by: PeterSt on November 11, 2015, 05:34:27 pm
I am writing the Release Notes to 2.03 at this very moment. This should be a "today" thing when nothing else comes in between. 2.03 will allow to boot any W10 Build into MinOS without losing the OS (which will happen with 2.02).

Well, what came in between was that topic (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3364.msg36332#msg36332) about the OS disk I also needed to finish.