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In Reply to: RE: "If the bits are wrong the software is junk" - true. But if they are "right",... posted by Tony Lauck on December 19, 2009 at 13:48:42:
If the bits are right and the sound is bad, then the software is interacting with the hardware in such a way as to cause the hardware to do more of something undesired (e.g. create more ripple on power or ground and hence create jitter in clocks and clock drivers). (This presumes that one of the software programs sounds better. If both are bad then it may just be that the hardware is bad, period.)
Thus, there are two approaches: improve the hardware to the point where it does a better job of implementing the software abstraction, or change the software so that it interacts in a different way that has less adverse consequences from a sonic standpoint. I would say the choice is purely pragmatic, according to one's skills, preferences and test equipment. However, in the real world, best results are likely to require a combination of both approaches: upgrading the hardware in various ways to make it perform (e.g. with less noise) and upgrading the software to minimize its footprint.
Both of these represent flawed approaches so long as it is necessary to evaluate changes by subjective listening to sound quality. Not because this isn't the purpose and end point of evaluation, but because this method of evaluation is so finicky and unreliable for evaluating minor tweaks. So the first point of the effort really ought to be to come up with some objective method of measuring the sound quality that is consistent and reliable. These measurements can then be used to guide the hardware/software decisions. The problem with this approach is that the result will be biased in favor of optimizing what can be measured at the expense of what can't be measured, so it is not guaranteed to produce a perfect result either. (I have in mind things like evaluating the analog jitter spectrum of various test signals, so that you measure timing jitter where it matters, at the actual point of conversion rather than elsewhere, e.g. at the oscillator output where it might be good but corrupted inside the DAC chip.)
Unfortunately, real progress with this approach will require deep knowledge of hardware and software coupled with expensive test equipment. Those who aren't prepared to make the necessary investments are best advised to procure high quality ready built gear (expensive) and get expert advice in its setup, or just relax and enjoy the music using more modest gear.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
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Follow Ups
- RE: "If the bits are wrong the software is junk" - true. But if they are "right",... - Tony Lauck 06:04:57 12/20/09 (1)
- Squeezebox tests - John Swenson 17:44:31 12/20/09 (0)
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