M2Tech Hiface & J.River Media Center with WASAPI
Posted by: Hot Rats on 20 July 2010
I'm currently running J.River Media Center 15 with the M2Tech Hiface. It works fine in ASIO mode with ASIO4All installed but it will not play 24-Bit/96kHz and 24-Bit/192kHz files in WASAPI mode (My other posts outline the problems)
I posted on the J.River forum about this and one of the administrators offered the following response:
M2Tech was nice enough to send J. River a Hiface a few months back. During our testing, we found what appears to be a bug with their WASAPI driver that makes our playback engine unhappy. We've reported the technicals to M2Tech. It might be good if you also report to M2Tech that WASAPI + J. River support is important to you.
I contacted Purite Audio, the UK importer for M2Tech. As always, the gentleman there was extremely helpful. He agreed that a driver update was probably required to get the Hiface to work with J.River Media Center in WASAPI mode and said that he would conytact Marco at M2Tech regarding the problem.
He advised me to check the website from time to time for a driver update.
I think that for the time being this provides the answer. I'm sure that when the driver update is released it will resolve issue with the Hiface and J. River Media Center 15.
Posted on: 20 July 2010 by js
ASIO4All is basically a kernal stream app that is neither truly ASIO or KS but better than nothing. I'd keep an eye out for the update.
Have you tried MM?
Posted on: 20 July 2010 by pcstockton
it is important not to forget that Windows can easily be bit perfect in Direct Sound mode. It just isn't guaranteed.
Just keep ALL system sounds off, play one stream of audio at a time, and keep all media player volumes (and any associated system volumes) @ 100%.
Posted on: 20 July 2010 by Hook
quote:
Originally posted by js:
ASIO4All is basically a kernal stream app that is neither truly ASIO or KS but better than nothing. I'd keep an eye out for the update.
Have you tried MM?
MM's current 3rd-party WASAPI output plugin is buggy.
One of the MM developers posted that MM 4.0 will have full WASAPI support, but that was a while back. Last request I saw for MM 4.0 release time frame got responses with chuckles and rolling eyes.
Hook
Posted on: 20 July 2010 by js
Thanks, I don't want to do the xp to 7 upgrade as it's basically a do over so I'm a bit behind on what's up to date. Should be good when here as wav is pretty easy to deal with in MM.
Posted on: 21 July 2010 by AMA
js, sorry for off-topic: W7 is a very good upgrade from XP both in performance, stability and comfort. I guess only lack of some peculiar audio drivers can withhold you from making such a reasonable step up
Posted on: 21 July 2010 by js
Agreed. I have it on the home PC and have already recommended 7 here. I just don't do music on that one and don't really need it on the laptop as ASIO/KS works fine. For instance, if I use asio in a vista/7 machine, it will be an extra layer of wasapi involved and we use sound/mastering programs that both sound better than any of the media programs and also don't have wasapi exclusive as an option. Preferred media player programs will all have wasapi excluslive eventually and is probably the best option for consumers in a Windows machine due to their library arrangements.
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by Hot Rats
I think I have managed to get the M2Tech Hiface to work with J.River Media Center in WASAPI mode. After much experimenting and tweaking (Not to mention swearing!) it seems to be playing all file resolutions without skipping.
I prefer the sound in WASAPI mode. It's not as 'hot' as ASIO and is more engaging than kernel streaming mode.
Keith at Purite Audio (M2Tech's UK importers) and Marco at M2Tech have been really helpful.
I will discuss my settings with Keith and when I am confident that they are all working I will post on the forum.
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by rich46
all this to do with the m2 seems to suggest naim should have had a pc direct imput to the dac. personally i didnt even want the ipod input. i purchase the dac for an audio hub. i use all 4 inputs and delighted with the performance
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by DHT
I agree, perhaps Naim should just licence m2 Techs' async usb?
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by js
quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Jazz:
I think I have managed to get the M2Tech Hiface to work with J.River Media Center in WASAPI mode. After much experimenting and tweaking (Not to mention swearing!) it seems to be playing all file resolutions without skipping.
I prefer the sound in WASAPI mode. It's not as 'hot' as ASIO and is more engaging than kernel streaming mode.
Keith at Purite Audio (M2Tech's UK importers) and Marco at M2Tech have been really helpful.
I will discuss my settings with Keith and when I am confident that they are all working I will post on the forum.
ASIO4all is not true ASIO and even KS is not really that in windows after xp. All goes through wasapi so it's always best to configure for wasapi (exclusive) in Vista or 7. Your results are as expected even though all configurations are absolutely bit perfect. Are you exclusive or just wasapi?
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by Eloise
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I agree, perhaps Naim should just licence m2 Techs' async usb?
So then they have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!! Despite Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC, I think this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Eloise
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by rich46
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I agree, perhaps Naim should just licence m2 Techs' async usb?
So then they have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!! Despite Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC, I think this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Eloise
maybe .i guess that most who have the dac were disappointed that it didnt have pc option, not me
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by DHT
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I agree, perhaps Naim should just licence m2 Techs' async usb?
So then they have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!! Despite Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC, I think this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Eloise
I imagine Naim are interested in better sound quality? Are you suggesting they would just prefer to shift boxes?
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by js
Like it were mutually exclusive? They supply sources they trust and give the best jitter ejection in the industry for a SPdif to help along with others.
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by Eloise
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I imagine Naim are interested in better sound quality? Are you suggesting they would just prefer to shift boxes?
Reading my comments back I did kind of imply that... I shall rephrase it...
If (the DAC) had included any form of USB technology then [Naim] have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software - which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!!
So in addition to Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC (which other companies appear to have overcome), this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Hope that's clearer now.
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by Hot Rats
I've solved it!
Will include details in a new post on 'Distributed Audio'
Posted on: 22 July 2010 by DHT
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I imagine Naim are interested in better sound quality? Are you suggesting they would just prefer to shift boxes?
Reading my comments back I did kind of imply that... I shall rephrase it...
If (the DAC) had included any form of USB technology then [Naim] have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software - which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!!
So in addition to Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC (which other companies appear to have overcome), this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Hope that's clearer now.
Eloise quite clear, if not m2 tech then Gordon Rankins aync usb?
Naim will need to have an async protocol for their next DAC , they have completely misunderstood the primary use imho etc etc.
Posted on: 23 July 2010 by ferenc
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:
quote:
Originally posted by DHT:
I imagine Naim are interested in better sound quality? Are you suggesting they would just prefer to shift boxes?
Reading my comments back I did kind of imply that... I shall rephrase it...
If (the DAC) had included any form of USB technology then [Naim] have to support all the difficulties that users (like Doctor Jazz) have with using the interface with a particular piece of software - which may or may not be the cause of the troubles!!
So in addition to Naim's comments that they haven't included USB as they feel that it can't be properly isolated from the DAC (which other companies appear to have overcome), this thread shows the support nightmare that they would have created with using something like M2Tech's technology.
Hope that's clearer now.
Eloise quite clear, if not m2 tech then Gordon Rankins aync usb?
Naim will need to have an async protocol for their next DAC , they have completely misunderstood the primary use imho etc etc.
I do not think so.
USB/Computer interface solutions are devoloping quite quickly and in really lot of ways. If they would include Gordon Rankin's solution, the question would be why not M2Tech or XYYYZ? So I think Naim is right, not to include a computer interface in their first DAC. Just let you use the most hyped solution of the week
Posted on: 24 July 2010 by pcstockton
quote:
Originally posted by ferenc:
the most hyped solution of the week
Exactly.
After bitching at first, I dont mind the lack of USB input at all.
As things change (USB>Firewire>USB2>Firewhirewhatever?>USB3 ad nausuem) everything in the audio world will likely convert to spdif for the Naim DAC, for years to come.
-p
Posted on: 24 July 2010 by pcstockton
I guarantee you, that in 10 years we will chuckle about the ancient USB port in the front of our DACs.
Posted on: 24 July 2010 by likesmusic
Hopefully there'll be an ethernet port in the back of the DAC a lot sooner than that! (and a little bit of UPnP software or the like in it).
Posted on: 24 July 2010 by Aleg
quote:
Originally posted by likesmusic:
Hopefully there'll be an ethernet port in the back of the DAC a lot sooner than that! (and a little bit of UPnP software or the like in it).
Not in the DAC, PLEASE.....
It is a DAC not a mediaplayer/server. Just keep it like that.
-
aleg
Posted on: 25 July 2010 by ferenc
Agreed. Keep it this way.
