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I'm suspecting XBMC, that it lowers the bit depth of hi-res audio file from 24 to 16 bit.
My setup - Xtreamer Ultra 2, OE 2.0.0, hw:0,1, optical output.
My receiver displays only the sampling frequency of the input signal but not the bit depth.
To test this, I've created a 24/44,1 audio file (FLAC) and while playing tried to record directly from the optical output to a DAT recorder, which accepts only
16/44,1 and 16/48 signals. The recording was OK.
My conclusion from that test is, that XBMC reduces the bit depth from 24 to 16 bit - that is not bit perfect!
Is there a way to display in OE the audio output format from the file actually playing?
How to setup OE, that it doesn't reduce the bit depth.
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OE 2.0.0 does not suppert HD-Audio. You could try OE 2.95.6. This includes the new audio engine.
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DDDamian
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By system I mean everything after we pass the audio data off - so your driver, OS or audio API (like ALSA), physical link (optical, hdmi, analog) and receiver.
This applies only to AE builds (pre-Frodo). If you are using Eden then yes, it will be 16bit.
System: XBMC HTPC with HDMI WASAPI & AudioEngine - Denon AVR-3808CI - Denon DVD-5900 Universal Player - Denon DCM-27 CD-Changer
- Sony BDP-S580 Blu-Ray - X-Box 360 - Android tablet wireless remote - 7.1 Streem/Axiom/Velodyne Surround System
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OK, I have OE 2.0.0 (Eden), so 16bit no matter what.
When I upgrade to OE 2.95.6 (Frodo), the 24bit should work (supposed my system supports it, I think it does)?
Is there a way to find out that my system outputs 24bit?
I've found out the DAT recorder test is not conclusive. I've tried recording from the optical output from a PC, changing the output bit depth from 24 to 16 and back and as long as the samplerate was 44,1 or 48 the DAT recorder recorded without a problem. It looks it somehow "ignores" the additional 8bits ...
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DDDamian
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Over optical the most likely is 16/48 and 16/44.1. Yes, the extra bits are likely dropped. HDMI is your best bet for higher bitrates/depths. That or possibly a USB DAC.
System: XBMC HTPC with HDMI WASAPI & AudioEngine - Denon AVR-3808CI - Denon DVD-5900 Universal Player - Denon DCM-27 CD-Changer
- Sony BDP-S580 Blu-Ray - X-Box 360 - Android tablet wireless remote - 7.1 Streem/Axiom/Velodyne Surround System
If I have been able to help feel free to add to my reputation +/- below - thanks!
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Krobar
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2012-12-29, 12:08
(This post was last modified: 2012-12-29, 12:08 by Krobar.)
No luck with Frodo RC2 on XBMCBuntu either; I just get digital noise for DTS CD files which means it isnt bit perfect. Is there any thing that needs to be adjusted in the settings or mixer to get bit perfect playback?
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DDDamian
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DTS CD plays back fine here in a .wav container - is your volume set to 100%?
System: XBMC HTPC with HDMI WASAPI & AudioEngine - Denon AVR-3808CI - Denon DVD-5900 Universal Player - Denon DCM-27 CD-Changer
- Sony BDP-S580 Blu-Ray - X-Box 360 - Android tablet wireless remote - 7.1 Streem/Axiom/Velodyne Surround System
If I have been able to help feel free to add to my reputation +/- below - thanks!
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DTS in wav-file is fine here, too. But trying to play a DTS-encoded Audio CD XBMC just skips through all the tracks on the CD in a few seconds with no tone played, not even a static noise.
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ian-ep
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Does anyone know the situation with regard to bit-perfect stereo audio over USB?
I have a Cambridge StreamMagic 6 which contains a USB audio 2.0 (asynch) DAC capable of 24/192 (same DAC as the DacMagic plus). It works fine with spdif (optical) up to 24/192 from my Asrock ION 330HT running the latest Openelec beta with Frodo. However, I can almost never get xbmc to recognize the StreamMagic as a USB DAC. It simply doesn't appear as an option. I say 'almost never' as I have succeeded a couple of times getting the DAC to appear in the options a couple of betas ago, but it disappeared again after a reboot. So it obviously can be done ... but how to make it stick?
It worked flawlessly in Eden with a custom audio setting of 'plughw:2,1', but the custom option has mysteriously been removed in Frodo, so ...
Any suggestions?
Ian
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Two questions or issues with AE right now. I have a few devices that seem top work well with XBMC for audiophile use. A Wyred 4 Sound DAC2, Audioquest Dragonfly, and a Musical fidelity VLINK192. All seem to exhibit the same behavior using openelec RC1.
ReplayGain is not working working correctly. FLAC files play a few decibels louder than MP3, Flac files all play the same volume, 44.1 through 192, but the mp3 files all play at a lower volume, both in album and per track. when using a playlist with both file formats it is quite apparent.
Crossfading studders when XBMC encounters files of mixed resolution, 96k to 44.1k or 48k, maybe the solution is to not mix them if they are different resolutions like jriver media does?