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Windows Setup for Ayre USB D/A Converters
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Introduction
For a
Windows computer, there are two distinct apects to cover.
One is to set up the version of Windows you are
using for the maximum audio performance, and the other is to
choose and configure your music player. We will cover
the setup instructions for each of the most popular operating systems
and music players separately.
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Windows Versions
There are
currently two commonly used versions of Windows—XP and
Vista—with a third looming on the horizon (Windows 7).
All are capable ot excellent audio performance when properly
configured. Please refer to the links below for instructions on
configuring your version of Windows to get the best performance
from your Ayre USB D/A converter.
Earlier versions of Windows use a different driver
model and may not work properly with asynchronous USB transfer
protocol used by the Ayre USB D/A converters.
Music Players
There are literally dozens of choices when it comes to music
players. For most users we recommend
J.River for its combination
of ease of use, excellent ripping capability, flexible tagging
options, and high sound quality. J.River it is a ready-to-go,
all-in-one solution yet is highly configurable with many features.
J.River also supports a wide variety of file formats and has
its own online database for tagging music files. For many people
J.River is perhaps the best overall choice.
Foobar 2000 is another
popular music player with a great deal of flexibility, and in
specific cases may offer some advantages over J.River.
However,Foobar 2000 is more of a "do-it-yourself" kit than an "all-in-one"
program. The basic setup is very easy, but configuring it to fit
your needs may prove to be a bit challenging. It does not
provide the slick package offered by J.River, but it does
have its own "stripped down" appeal for the computer enthusiast,
and is capable of excellent audio performance.
J.River uses Apple's QuickTime software to decode the
Apple music file formats, AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and ALAC
(Apple Lossless Audio Coding). The combination of the two
programs creates a few minor quirks, so if you rely on one
of the Apple formats, Foobar 2000 may be a better choice.
For nearly everyone else, J.River is recommended.
By now you will probably already know which of these audio
players, J.River or Foobar 2000, best suits your needs. If not,
please refer to the setup instructions for each of them for
further information that will aid you in your decision.
Please note that the setup instructions for each music player
is slightly different, depending on which operating system you are using.
Windows XP Setup
Windows Vista Setup
J.River Setup for XP
J.River Setup for Vista
Foobar Setup for XP
Foobar Setup for Vista
Return to Computer Audio Overview
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