Multimedia Audio: 2K better than XP?

[Alan M. Goldfarb]

(This was posted originally on the New Users board. I am
copying most of it here, but will not post it on any
other Win2K newsgroups unless advised to.)

I am dissatisfied with the multimedia audio performance
of my computer with Windows XP Professional. I have been
told that although both XP and 2000 are based on the same
NT kernel, Windows 2000 provides better multimedia audio
performance especially with CD/DVD music.

My hardware configuration is as follows:

ASUS PS4E Motherboard w/ACM Bios revision 1011
Award-type Bios, 256K; Asis645 Chipset
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 1.80 ghz
256K DDR RAM
Maxtor 6L040J2 40 GB Hard drive
IBM-DPTA 372050 20 GB Hard drive (secondary/D: drive)
ATI Radeon 7200 64 AGP Video card
Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-M1102
Plextor CD-R PX-W1610A 16/10/40x
Linksys Combo Ether PCI Lan II Card
Creative Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Platinum audio card
Lansing twin speakers with subwoofer
Microsoft PS/2 Port Intellipoint Mouse
56K PCI Voice Modem SP-1156IV R9A
Epson Stylus C82 Inkjet Printer
Visioneer One Touch 8100 Scanner
Iomega ZIP 100 storage drive

I know my sound card is outdated and plan to upgrade
to an Audigy 2 ZS, probably going for headphones instead
of speakers since I am often online in what is the "wee
hours of the morning" for my time zone (1-6 AM my time).

All my hardware has the latest XP drivers. Everything
works great, except the volume for multimedia audio is
always either too loud or too soft; never 'just right.'
CD/DVD audio tends to always be too low and I have to
turn up the volume on my speakers manually, and then most
other programs with audio and musical effects tend to be
too loud; most notably the Windows start-up and shut-
down .wav files (Yes I know I can just disable these, but
why should I have to just to hear music and voices for
the movie I'm watching or album I'm listening to?).

The son of Goldilocks needs to get away from Papa and
Mama Bears's porridge and find Baby Bear's porridge. Is
Windows 2000 the answer or is it just an outdated sound
card?

 

[Edward Rozee]

Alan,

I haven't seen any difference in audio quality using Windows 2000 or Windows
XP Pro. IMHO, Windows Media Player and/or volume is most likely
misconfigured under Windows XP.

Remember that CD Audio and Wave files have independant settings in the
Windows Volume control. Be sure these are set correctly.

Check the settings under Windows XP here:
Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices -> Advanced (in Device volume
groupbox)

Also, Windows Media Player has it's own volume control, which is located
beside the control buttons (stop, play, mute...). You may have to fiddle
around to find your prefered setting.

My 2 cents, good luck sorting this out,
Edward

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
(This was posted originally on the New Users board. I am
copying most of it here, but will not post it on any
other Win2K newsgroups unless advised to.)

I am dissatisfied with the multimedia audio performance
of my computer with Windows XP Professional. I have been
told that although both XP and 2000 are based on the same
NT kernel, Windows 2000 provides better multimedia audio
performance especially with CD/DVD music.

My hardware configuration is as follows:

ASUS PS4E Motherboard w/ACM Bios revision 1011
Award-type Bios, 256K; Asis645 Chipset
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 1.80 ghz
256K DDR RAM
Maxtor 6L040J2 40 GB Hard drive
IBM-DPTA 372050 20 GB Hard drive (secondary/D: drive)
ATI Radeon 7200 64 AGP Video card
Toshiba DVD-ROM SD-M1102
Plextor CD-R PX-W1610A 16/10/40x
Linksys Combo Ether PCI Lan II Card
Creative Soundblaster Live! 5.1 Platinum audio card
Lansing twin speakers with subwoofer
Microsoft PS/2 Port Intellipoint Mouse
56K PCI Voice Modem SP-1156IV R9A
Epson Stylus C82 Inkjet Printer
Visioneer One Touch 8100 Scanner
Iomega ZIP 100 storage drive

I know my sound card is outdated and plan to upgrade
to an Audigy 2 ZS, probably going for headphones instead
of speakers since I am often online in what is the "wee
hours of the morning" for my time zone (1-6 AM my time).

All my hardware has the latest XP drivers. Everything
works great, except the volume for multimedia audio is
always either too loud or too soft; never 'just right.'
CD/DVD audio tends to always be too low and I have to
turn up the volume on my speakers manually, and then most
other programs with audio and musical effects tend to be
too loud; most notably the Windows start-up and shut-
down .wav files (Yes I know I can just disable these, but
why should I have to just to hear music and voices for
the movie I'm watching or album I'm listening to?).

The son of Goldilocks needs to get away from Papa and
Mama Bears's porridge and find Baby Bear's porridge. Is
Windows 2000 the answer or is it just an outdated sound
card?

.