ok audio geeks:
I have a WinXP machine with a Via AC'97 Audio Controller sound card hooked up to a Rotel RA-931 mk 2 amp & B&W speakers that is playing mp3s through iTunes all well & good. Unfortunately the XP machine is dying (after over 14 years of service *sniff*) so I've got a spangly new Win8.1 machine with a RealTek High Definition Audio card hooked up to the same amp & speakers that is playing the same mp3 files through WMP/VLC/XBox Music but the sound is tinny, crackly & generally crap. I haven't tried iTunes yet because it will take a month to download. What do I need to do?
(If it doesn't involve playing around with text files I'm crap with computers!)
Little Paul - - Parent #
Check the physical layer first.
Have you plugged it into the right socket on the sound card? What happens if you plug a pair of headphones into the output you're using on the sound card?
Beyond that, I can't help you as if it doesn't involve running linux servers, I'm crap with computers (especially windows ones)
pumpkineater23 - - Parent #
I'm no expert but I think you'll find you get a massively superior sound with that setup by bypassing the card altogether and instead using a DAC (with separate power supply). Beresford (TC-7520 or later models) are excellent and great value for money. JRiver Media Center might be worth looking at too (rather than iTunes).
Cedric Lackpot - - Parent #
Is your line out plugged into the lime green socket? See connectors here.
As LP says, try a pair of headphones - if you get a good, clear sound from them then you know the card is capable of good quality output. If you can't find a way to get a clear sound from it, then suspect a faulty card.
A tinny and crackly output sounds very much like a poor connection somewhere, or possibly the wrong line out so the amp is working too hard to process a feeble signal.
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