Torquelover 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 Got a decent (within my budget) setup of headphone AMP (with DAC) and DT990 headphones. Before I get a CDP (the hunt is still on), I am using my PC as the CD transport. However, with the "better" system plug in, I find distortion when I play the music from iTunes (rip using AIFF). Even if I play the CD directly from iTunes, the distortion is still there. Using PC USD out. However, when I play the CD via my DVD player + headphone AMP & DT990, no distortion was observed. Did I setup the PC & iTune wrongly? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkkopi 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 Did you upsample your optical out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torquelover 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 Did you upsample your optical out? Notice that the sound is totally different if I play the CD through Windows Media Player with NO distortion at all. I have double checked iTunes and there is no special setting (I am using iTunes 10.x). For once, Windows is performing better than Apple (no flames please) Under Vista, I have set USB Audio DAC to be default, sampling at 16 bits 44.1kHz (CD quality). There must be something running and messing between iTunes to USD Audio out. Stupid me. Pulling my hair out. Looks like I belong to the CDP generation, just drop in a CD and play Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torquelover 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 Found the problem.. Apparently, iTunes by default turns the equalizer on. Just by turning off the equalizer, the distortion goes away. The music is now the same as from Windows. The equaliser can be found in View -> Show Equaliser. Ensure the check box is off. Please dont laugh at me Did you upsample your optical out? Must learn about digital audio from you guys. I still belong to the LP and CD generation In other words, I am from the "You mean the drawer in the CDP is not a cup holder!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alamakazam 0 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 usb dac latency not very good, try digital output to DAC, much better Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
:: Chicky :: 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2010 usb dac latency not very good, try digital output to DAC, much better Where you get the converter ? @TS IMO, wav lossless sounds better than alac Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkkopi 0 Report post Posted January 15, 2010 @TS IMO, wav lossless sounds better than alac He's not using alac. AIFF is the same as wav, more commonly used on mac due to fcp, logic studio etc. Must learn about digital audio from you guys. I still belong to the LP and CD generation In other words, I am from the "You mean the drawer in the CDP is not a cup holder!" If possible get a dac with optical in instead since mac comes with optical out/in nowadays which gives better latency. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites