And then there was W7 SP1 (RC) ...

[PeterSt]

Then don't if you hear the updates ...

Maybe it's a bit unclear, but what Josef meant (I'm sure), is that W7 should be as native as possible (no upgrades let loose on it), and slipstream RC1 over it (which contains all those updates in a decent fashion).

[AUDIODIDAKT]

I already updated my main w7 OS, this week and the week before that.
Not knowing it would do something to the sound, but its for the better, less edgy

But me have no 300-400 euros to spend on w7.
So must improvise if you know what i mean.
Takes more time

[pedal]

I know it is a little cocky to say "what did I say?", but actually I was very happy with 9-z3 and W7 back in November, as reported here (to Peters surprise).

Well, what did I say? (sorry about that, ha-ha). Now I have jumped into the window, out of the window and back into the window again. 

Anyway, no effort, no gain, of course.

------------

Since we are becoming a big family with the same OS, the same Julia soundcard and the same NOS1 DAC, can somebody share their recomended settings with me? 

[PeterSt]

Maybe not of much value, but see my Sig. Definitely adjusted it now.

Music is totally crazy here and the best there ever was.

As I never want to judge alone, when dinner actually was ready, I asked my wife "what's changed ?". Answer : I don't like the music, so never mind.

So, "shall I put on your album briefly then ?" -> ok (we have at least one album she likes much)

Within 2 seconds (really) there came a : Brushes sound much better. More detailed.

Within a next 5 seconds : But wait ... this is because of the bass I think. Wow, this flows out. It is so easy. So easy to listen to. Hear that drums ... so easy.

At the next track : The bass is fast. ... Yes, it responds faster.
And : Dzjee, the bass is VERY tight. Impossibly tight. Puh, how can it be THAT tight ?
And : Man, how good you can hear those strings now. Same as all the instruments being so apart.
And : So easy ... so easy ... So warm.
And : So much more profound, this bass. WOW


That did it. I changed my Sig.
For the very first time I (we) am able here to find KS Special Mode better than Adaptive Mode (which should be better all the time !)
It seems totally impossible, so much as things have changed. It is indeed weiry to not hear a bass as such anymore. It's all individual strings producing bass tones (let alone not all that long back when there was just bass sound not knowing whatever did that).
I'm listening to very well known albums, but the lot swings ... not normal. Swings, taps, dances, joys. Now *that* never happened with Special Mode. It's taking my breath away.
Yesterday I played Black Sabbath (Paranoid). Even that can swing. It has a rythm, rhyme and in the end intelligence which is all up front suddenly. Not just dark "sabbath" music anymore, but a couple of guys who well thought about their music and how to construct it to fit their image. It's like another dimension. Also yesterday I listened to Oscar Peterson. Well, the man is crazy; From the start to the end each key on the piano is under his 100% control. I never heard it before, but now I can. What a fun must this man have (had) and got payed for it in the mean time.

I have the feeling that somehow my own quest for the best has been finalized.
It's really freakin' unbelieveable, and I'm not even sure what caused it; As I said in the other topic, it must be W7-SP1, but in combination with Special Mode and maybe the Spinning Disk I use for the OS again. But at adjusting my Sig I also found out that my SFS.ini was at 00 which actually is an accident, emerged from initializing the RAMDisk again (and SFS.ini = 00 being default for 0.9z-4). And then there's the SFS itself ... see Sig. Haha.
But which of this really does it ? I stay away from touching my settings for a while ...

Peter

PS: We ate one hour later.

:extasy: <- needs a new smiley

[Flecko]

I have the feeling that somehow my own quest for the best has been finalized.
It's really freakin' unbelieveable, and I'm not even sure what caused it; As I said in the other topic, it must be W7-SP1, but in combination with Special Mode and maybe the Spinning Disk I use for the OS again. But at adjusting my Sig I also found out that my SFS.ini was at 00 which actually is an accident, emerged from initializing the RAMDisk again (and SFS.ini = 00 being default for 0.9z-4). And then there's the SFS itself ... see Sig. Haha.
But which of this really does it ? I stay away from touching my settings for a while ...

I have this easyness since using sfs.ini=10. 00 is good too but 10 seems to give a little bit more details and a cleaner sound. The second "1" (sfs.ini=01) makes sound unpleasent for me.  I will try the ultra low sfs values!
Keep on listening!

[Gerard]

(and SFS.ini = 00 being default for 0.9z-4). And then there's the SFS itself

Peter,

What is you SFS setting. I read your SFS.ini as 00 But your SFS is 1,0?? (wich before was 220)  On my pc i cant go lower than 12.

 

[PeterSt]

Special Privileges.

Payed myself 200 euros, and then it happens.


(don't try to pay to "you" yourself, that won't work)

[Gerard]

Special Privileges.

Payed myself 200 euros, and then it happens.


(don't try to pay to "you" yourself, that won't work)

Ok will wait for the next version 

[JohanZ]

*SFS=1,0* @ *SFS.ini = 00*

Ho Peter,

First congratulations with the release of NOS1 DAC.

Is the SFS=1,0 a new parameter in release 09z-4? When do you release this version? Any chance you develope in 2011 a small budget DAC, the NOS2 (H=> I or T)?

Regards Johan

[PeterSt]

*SFS=1,0* @ *SFS.ini = 00*

Ho Peter,

First congratulations with the release of NOS1 DAC.

Is the SFS=1,0 a new parameter in release 09z-4? When do you release this version? Any chance you develope in 2011 a small budget DAC, the NOS2 (H=> I or T)?

Regards Johan

Hoi Johan,

Yes, it is new to 09z-4;
I realize it is a bit stupid to mention this publically - including implied benefits, but I guess I tripped over my own enthusiasm about the sound I have now, while not knowing exactly what causes it. In this case I thought it would be very wrong to fake the SFS with 12 or something, because people might never get there. Of course, now they can't either, but now with a known reason. The "1,0" just does what it promises, and while all the "memory play" features are still 100% obeyed, this now behaves as a more normal player (with withgoing response). I can go up to 0,2 (200KB) but this is not 100% safe. Actually 1,0 not always is, but I encounter that once a week maybe. 2,0 is I think.
In combination with other stuff this does much more though, but let that be for when 0.9z-4 is out. I hope this will be next week, all the DAC stuff being behind us then (still working on the last two right now).

Any chance you develope in 2011 a small budget DAC, the NOS2 (H=> I or T)?

At this moment not being able to guess what your H, I or T means, it is difficult to see how. And to be honest ... as how things are going currently (which may merely be a matter of poor organization) the price is way too low already. So, sorry ...

Peter

[Chriss]

Peter,
you say that spining disc is sounding better over SSD? (with all other improvements OS SFS etc. etc.).
But did you try W7  on SSD too?
Criss.

[PeterSt]

I don't say exactly that Criss. I do say though it changes the sound and in a way (frequency) that makes me think there's some continuous "communication" with the memory cells. This might (or will) be at the electronical level though (like feed them with power, constantly looking at the state, whatever). Additionally it looks like that emphasizes. Emphasizes whatever it is in there that *can* be emphasized. This is a dangerous thing by itself for judgement (if it makes sense to begin with) because e.g. white noise could make the sound more clear when emphasized (not clean, but clear). If such a thing would be true, I see no way that something which is good can be emphasized for the better. Ok, we could "emphasize" voltages to the sense of volume, but that still wouldn't make things better. And so ...
So I now might think that all the SSD implies is fake. Or it fools. And thus better leave it out.

But I say it again : It is one of the several things which changed at the same time. Still I have the experience (a year back or so) that the SSD had to be out because something else was wrong and *that* emphasized. So you see ... once we are clear about that no "good" can be emphasized while it emphasizes in general, it shouldn't be there at all. So yes, in the midst of several things, but I'd put some money on the fact that the SSD is a bad thing.

Don't blame me if I appear to be totally wrong.
Peter

[Suteetat]

Well, I finally installed Win7 with sp1 RC after it took me a lot of effort to actually find Vista 64 bit version just a couple of months ago.
It is a bit difficult to accurately judge the sound quality as I also just sold my amplifier and am waiting for a new one to arrive in the next couple of weeks.
In the mean time I just got something that I borrowed from friends and local dealers.

Anyhow, when I reinstalled Win7. Right of the bat, it sounded awful, coming from Vista. The sound was downright grundgy, lots of digitalitis
which I thought, oh no....
Then I download SP1 RC and things got much better. Overall, the sound is much smoother and more relaxed than pre sp1.
In comparison to Vista though, I think there is a trade off. Win7 sp1 has more open sound, more clarity but it does not have quite
the full body and weight of Vista. Vista was a bit warmer, a little more darkish.

Again, some of these could also be from change in amplifier although I did have a chance to listen with Vista with the new amp/pre
a little bit before jumping onto W7 sp1 bandwagon

I think Win7 is promising but I have to wait until my new amps/pre arrive where I can also go back to use all my old cables again as well.

btw, I had to reinstall xxHighend after installing sp1. For some reasons, the screen got screwy and setting button would not show up on the screen.
Very strange but all is well now after reinstalling XXHighend.

[PeterSt]

I think I can recognize all you said. But about the full body and weight it may be a matter of "interpretation". So, about "weight" I tend not to agree, if only weight is translated into punch or attack at the lower frequency levels. W7 SP1 has more of that. Also, Vista indeed is warmer, but IMO not for the better. It lacks (totally ?) the control of the lower regions. Your Vista being "darker" is something we could just disagree upon, since it is my idea that W7 is more "brown".

So, blame the amp ?

[BrianG]

I have to agree, as said before, W7 SP1 has "more" bass than Vista SP1 in my system but I lack the correct words that I can use to describe it so I just use other people to point me in a direction that I may or may not like and either outcome is OK.   

I usually use Peter's sig details as this pointer but at the moment they don't make sense, Qs = zeros, 64 bit latency and SFS = 1,0 unless you have 09z-4