XXHighEnd

Hi.

I am new to this forum, and new to this software (09u-14a). I want to use xxHighEnd and an external DAC (AudioNote DAc 3.1). When using digital SPDIF out on my laptop, I get the message :

-> The Dac does not accept this byte sequence.

After a while Engine 3 stops working.

Any idea, please?

Regards Per Aage

Hi,

This can be caused by the device being in use, but this is not likely.
Did you try the DAC Test (bottom option in the DAC Is setting) ?

Most probably you have an HD Audio device in the laptop, and as far as my experiences goes, they never work (properly for Vista Exclusive Mode).
If you post the result of the DAC Test in here, I might be able to say more / recognize things.

Btw, don't forget to tick the both checkboxes in the properties of the device - advanced tab (see below; never mind the 96K/16 shown there; it does nothing for Exclusive Mode).

Peter

Peter.

Thank you for answering me.
I not sure which audio device is inside this laptop. The laptop is a F-Siemens, 2-3 years old. The device is named Realtek AC'97. When I try to use DAC Test, the Engine 3 stops executing. I have ticket both the checkboxes.

Is there some audio device which I can't use??

Ref210

Ref210,

I am sorry for this late reply, but somehow I missed your latest post;

I can't be sure what you mean by "the Engine 3 stops executing". But please note that it may take some 30-60 seconds for the process to finish.
But otherwise, what do you mean, and how can you tell ?

Again, sorry for late answering.
Peter

Ah.

Did you try it with a normal .wav file ? that *is* a necessity ...
Otherwise this looks very strange to me, and I don't think anyone reported such a thing. Also, it will be a tough thing to debug. So I just hope it is about not using a .wav file ...

But if you used a .wav file, is there a .log file with a current date/time in your XX folder after trying ? (I forgot the name). If so, does it contain something ?

Peter.

Yes it is a .wav file, created by EAC.
You mention some problem with HD Audio device. I do believe that's what I have in my laptop.

Regards
Ref210

?

It's called XXModeSupport.log

Peter.

No, there is no log file created.

Ref210

I am very sorry, but then this has to wait until I'm back from holidays.

In the mean time you could look for and upgrade of those ac97 drivers ?

Btw IIRC AC97 worked here, but that was not from a laptop. The laptop I tried did not ...

When I'm back I can create a kind of debug version. By that time I'll ask here whether you still want / need it.

Peter

Hallo Peter.

Are you back from holiday? Do you want to investigate my problem any further? A debug version would be nice.

Regards
Ref210

I'm afraid that takes another week. :prankster: But then I will try to work it out for sure.

In the mean time, please make screencopies of all the tabs you see from your audio device. This allows me to find a device that behaves the same (the Audio Note isn't the problem, l have that, hahaha).

Peter (from a hotel at Bourbon street :party: :whistle: :whistle: :whistle: :party:)

comon now... Southern California is not all that far from you now... tell your jet to swing by here on the way home.

Hi Per Aage,

Are you still with us ? If so, I will in due time come up with a debug version for you. Not that I currently know how to approach it ...


Do you have these for me ?

Peter

Hi Peter

It seems to I have the same problem as Per Aage.
In the beginnning I try out engine3 but I never got it to work.
When I starting to play with XX#3 the ENDPOINT message coming after 10 seconds.
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/endpoint.gif)
And then after a while:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/bitfrekvens.gif)
And this:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/notstart.gif)
And end up with this one:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/device.gif)

When I try the DAC Test, Vista pop up this:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/sluttet.gif)
It says that XX#3 has stopped working. Windows is looking for a solution...

My equipment is:
HP Pavillion DV9000 (dv9266ea) with a Conexant High Definition Audio Card.
Vista SP1
Electrocompaniet ECD1

With XX#1 everything works fine.

Sverre

Hi Sverre,

For you counts the same. Could you do this please ?
Thank you !
Peter

Hi Peter

Screencopies from my audio device:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/avspilling.gif)
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/generelt.gif)
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/format.gif)
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/nivaa.gif)
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/forbedring.gif)
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/avansert.gif)

Sverre

Thank you Sverre.

But hmm ... the third screen seems to show that this device only supports 48KHz samplerate. And this is about the only one you will not encounter in normal audio files. I mean, this may be the reason that you won't be able to use it with whatever setting.
Whether this lets fail the Dac Test is another thing (but it could be).

Are you able to get hold of an 48KHz file ? (this is what is normally used with DVD's). I now wonder whether an 48KHz file will play with Engine#3 ...

Anyway, if it is true that this device can play 48KHz files only (hence it will resample to those if it's allowed to (and Engine#3 does NOT allow that)), it will be baaaaad of course. I hope you will agree with that.
Thus, if so, you better get yourself a better soundcard ??

In the mean time I will work on this anyway. First the Dac Test which must workout OK ...

Peter

You can try this one : http://www.lindberg.no/hires/2L50SACD_tr1_48k_stereo.zip

This is 24 bit though. If your soundcard doesn't support that, XX will play it at 16 bits.

Sverre,

I found a laptop with your Conexant HD Audio device. Indeed it supports 48KHz only. No way XX will be able to play 44.1 files on that with Engine#3. But then again, you wouldn't want that, because of poor SQ (resampling).

I tried to find newer drivers for this Toshiba Satellite, but what I found just removed SPDIF support. I'm not sure new drivers ever *can* help, because it would be dependent on the hardware being able to do 44.1.

Kind of sad thing is, that the DAC Test just works (it shows support for 48/16 abd 48/32 (the latter would be 24 bits really)).
I still might supply a kind of debug version for the DAC Test itself, but it will never get your Conexant working ... :sad:


Oh, almost forgot : I tried a 48/24 file, and *that* indeed just works (as expected) !

The conclusion from this all is (for Engine#3) : The page (like the third one here (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=516.msg3739#msg3739)) offering the Samplerates, shows the possible sample rates from your soundcard (and you can point out which ones are supported by your DAC/Receiver/etc.). Now, those not shown, will not work ... (hehe)
Do note though, that ticking/unticking the ones offered, does NOT make any difference for XX/Engine#3 (I just tested that explicitly)).

Peter

Hi Peter

Thanks for the answers.

What about #Engine1 then? That one works for me and use 44 kHz?

I have bought a new soundcard.
The card is this one:
http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/PHASE24FireWire_TechnicalData_GB.pdf (http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/PHASE24FireWire_TechnicalData_GB.pdf)
Do you have any experience with Terratec and this one?

Anyway, I have installed the card and get this:
(http://www.tarud.info/hifi/xxhighend/egenskaper.gif)

I have expected that this card support 96 kHz?
Or is it something I missed here?

Sverre

Well Sverre, if I am right in my assumptions as expressed in the before post, this card only allows for 44.1 Khz sample rate ?

About Terratec ... I think there are a few topics floating around in here about that brand. They are not all that positive IMO ... (oops).

Then, the pdf you provided shows no word about Vista. But it does about XP ... Preliminary conclusion ? no Vista drivers ... :sorry:
But in this case the hardware should be able to do the 24 bits 96 KHz (digital hence SPDIF). Analogue-wise even more (192KHz). So this needs time (for them to create the appropriate drivers).

Hmm ...
Would you really need more than 44K1 ? I don't ...

Edit (forgot this) :


Engine#1 (and #2 for that matter) allows Vista to resample internally. If you are able to look at the output sample rate (SPDIF) you'd see it. This is 100% sure.
About the observation of GerardA below (analogue output) ... YMMV. Or more honest, I just don't know. :innocent:

Oops,oops??  I read that!

I am very happy now with this soundcard/box.
I use it as a DAC and not the SPDIF-out so I don't get that message.
What happens if you try to connect the phase 24 to your amplifier directly?
I'm really curious what you think of the sound that way!!

Vista-driver can be downloaded from www.terratec.com:

PHASE 24 FireWire - Driver and Software
WDM Driver and ControlPanel
For Windows Vista (32/64 Bit) / XP (32/64 Bit)
Version: 2.44.41 | Filesize: 9.24 MB

And I did'nt wrote this:
I have problems with this card.....no sound out of it.
Everything seems alright from the pc-view but nothing out....
I have tried it on XP too. Same result.
So I think it is somthing wrong and will return it.

Sverre

 

GerardA,

Couldn't you help Sverre with your settings of the soundcard ? Such a thing *can* be broken of course, but it doesn't seem likely ...

Hi GerardA

Could you put screencopies from your audio device here like I did above?

And a screencopy of PHASE 24 Control Panel?

Thanks!
Sverre

OK, I'll try to do this tomorrow.
Since I'm installing a new htpc now, not everything is working yet.
But the sound is working better then on the laptop, less strange noises on startup and a clear difference in the Q1 settings.
Maybe I will prefer -2, but a little bit fireplace-sound...

Here they are: