You have no idea how happy it will make me not having to mess around with the SFS. So, is that one variable down, 99 still to go?

Mani.

I'm currently using the same trial version and it installed and works a treat.

However, at some point (within 240 days) you're going to have to install a licensed version. I've found sourcing a full retail licensed version an absolute nightmare!

If you're tempted to buy one from eBay or the likes, be VERY careful - there are loads of counterfeit ones out there. Read this beforehand: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270649012104&ih=017&category=41882&ssPageName=mem_guide:1&rd=1

Also, check out www.howtotell.com, which is Microsoft's own website.

I bought one from the eBay seller, oo00_gagga_gizmos_00oo, which turned out to be fake. It was obvious within 2 seconds of receiving it through the post. I'm currently having big problems getting my money back from PayPal. The main issue is that because it's counterfeit, I'm not permitted to simply return it to the seller for a refund. I need to get an expert to verify that it's counterfeit (even though it's obvious), which isn't that easy to do. Oh, and they've given me 3 days in which to do this... and I'm working in Malaysia for the rest of the week!

Anyway, having done loads of research, in the UK a kosher OEM w2008 (non-R2) will cost you ~€500. A kosher non-OEM W2008 (non-R2) will cost you ~€1000. I've ordered the latter because apparently, OEM software is linked to your HW - there are rumours that MS does not allow mobo changes, etc. In any event, if you find either version for substantially less than these prices, it's probably a fake, and the product key may not work.

If you do find kosher versions for less than these prices, then let everyone here know.

Mani.

I think this happened when you first introduced Q1... haha.

I don't want to sound like a broken record (pun intended), but this is why I've adopted my system of comparing the sound of playback to that of vinyl. But not in a haphazard way, rather a more systematic way. The method requires a good analogue source (I would love a top-end open-reel machine, but use instead a reasonably good turntable) and also a good ADC/DAC (fortunately, I have one of the best ever made).

So, here are the steps:
1. make a digital recording from a good LP (preferably 45rpm) - I usually make three different recordings at 16/44.1, 24/88.2 and 24/176.4
2. listen to the vinyl being played back through the ADC/DAC, set to one of the recording resolutions, say, 16/44.1
3. listen to the same resolution recording, in this case 16/44.1, being played back through XX
4. adjust parameters in XX until the playback sounds as close to vinyl as possible

It sounds like I'm doing AB comparisons, but I'm not (actually, switching between DAC and ADC modes on the Model Two takes a few seconds). In any event, I tend to play a whole track one way and then listen to it again the other way.

Now, I concede that this is not a totally scientific way of doing things (e.g. is the vinyl source good enough?, is the recording software good enough?, is the rest of my system up to resolving any minor nuances?, etc) BUT...

... I would have gone mad changing all the XX parameters ad infinitum were it not for this method. My method lets me know where I am now and how far I still have to go.

Mani.

The issue I have with Special mode is that I can't use low buffer sizes - pretty much the whole point of using Special. You see, I've recently switched to using a Weiss AFI1 interface, which uses a firewire connection. I can't use it below 256 samples with Special and Quad Arc Prediction. (Even if I switched QAP off, I doubt I'd get down to 64 samples.) Certainly, my preference is Adaptive over Special-at-256-samples. In this respect, my RME card is much better - perhaps I should give it a go with Special mode...

Mani.

I'm sure you, like me, have had the experience where you come across an album that you just can't stop listening to, not because it sounds great, but because the music just draws you in. This doesn't happen to me very often nowadays (it used to happen so often when I was a student all those years ago). Well, it happened last night. And the album, which I happen to be listening to right now, is...

'Brothers', by 'The Black Keys'.

Just wanted to share...

Mani.

If 'Copy to XX-drive' is selected, then surely there is absolutely no point in copying the music files manually to RAM. This is exactly what 'Copy to XX-drive' will do... if XX sits in RAM.

Am I missing something?

Mani.

Hi Nick, I'm running W2008 SP1 (Build 6001).

As for improvements in SQ - well, I'm pretty certain that the IRQ tweaks did help towards an even 'cleaner' sound (even if Peter doesn't think they can/should make any difference with 4 cores). Certainly, the 'bloating' or excessive bass that many people (me included) have noticed on switching to Vista/W2008 has been eliminated. KS-Adaptive sounds great - I don't have to switch to KS-Special or Engine#3 to 'fix' anything, because there is nothing to fix.

As I've mentioned before, I'm running a trial version of W2008 and will be installing a licensed copy at some point. I'll try to document the affect (if any) of each tweak after it's been applied and figure out which ones really make a difference.

Mani.

Peter, I'm on 4 cores, with no HT.

I'm interested in what you think might be going on...

Mani.

Silly question - did you read the 'READ ME' file? There are a couple of things you need to do manually to get IntFiltr working properly.

Mani.

You got me!


Ah well, there's a story here. I had a few hours spare on Saturday - the wife was out with the baby (in the UK it's customary to refer to one's partner as 'the') and I thought, right, this is my chance to sort the PC out. I wanted to load Vistax64, but only had Vista32, so I went onto the MS website and installed a trial version of W2008 instead. I got it installed and carried most of the tweaks mentioned on this site. I had never heard anything quite like it before from PC playback - it was the most precise sound imaginable, but in a 'clinical' and 'overly analytical' way. After listening to it for a couple of hours that I thought something must be wrong. And guess what? It was R2!

On Sunday, I downloaded the trial version of W2008 SP1, which is what I'm using right now. I have a full non-OEM licensed W2008 (with 5 CALs) on order, and it should arrive in the next couple of days. But I'm not going to be in too much of a rush to re-install it on my main machine.

In any event, there's a huge difference in sound between R2 and SP1, the latter sounding so much more laid back and simply more listenable.

Mani.

Haha...

Many of us were perfectly happy with W7 (ignorance is bliss) until you came along and told us to change back to Vista. But I was never going to do what you said, hence why I've ended up with W2008!

Hopefully we (myself included) can all just calm down now and systematically work at optimising Vista - it looks like we'll be with this OS for a while...

Mani.

RAMDisk supports 4GB without a license. I'm hoping to use it @4GB as soon as my extra 4GB arrives (should be tomorrow).

Mani.

Haha, ON here! (Currently set to 4390MB by system.)

Mani.

Interesting. But again, this is no doubt very system-dependent. As you know, I'm tuning my system by comparing playback of recorded 24/192 to the original vinyl (also being fed through the ADC/DAC). And here the sweetspot is 50 now.

But I agree - the SFS still plays a big factor in sound. Surely it shouldn't, now that XX sits in RAM (and 'Copy to XX-drive' is active). Someone, anyone, please. please offer at least an explanation of what might be causing this!

Mani.

This is where setting IRQ affinities might prove useful. And not just what you start during playback, but what gets started automatically without your knowing, e.g. RAMDisk making calls.

Just a thought...

Mani.