Ideal PC Settings For USB Audio?

Network Audio
1

I’m streaming Tidal hifi through Audirvana to my Stellar Gain Cell DAC and am converting all files to DSD 128.

What settings on my computer (PC, Windows 10) should I change to get the absolute best sound out of it? I’m eyeing a Sonore ultraRendu someday but for now I have to stick to my PC, so I’d like to know what changes I can make (if any) to maximize performance with what I’m stuck with.

Hardware is Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro, 8gb ram, Intel Core i7 @ 2.00GHz, 64 bit, 256ssd, 2 usb (1 3.0, 1 2.0), and I run it on wifi and leave the laptop plugged-in when I’m playing it.

Any thoughts/advice/recommendations?

2

You’re converting your files to DSD 128? What do you mean by that? Are you converting your PCM 44.1 Wavs? Why would you do that?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

3

Thanks Bruce. I’m upsampling pcm files played through Tidal to DSD - similar to how the Direct Stream DAC implements this.

4

Confused.

UltraRendu is only a streamer, so you’d still need a source (server of some sort).

Yes DS Senior and Junior convert everything to 128DSD, but it’s done to improve internal processes. Converting takes more computer power and storage space.

5

Yes, I would use the ultra rendu to have a more ideal USB signal to my GCD instead of my pc as the direct USB source, but as it stands now using my pc as A USB source I’m wondering what settings I can use to make things sound better.

6

This is for on-the-fly conversion.

This is meant to reduce noise and processes in the ESS chip. DSD has a simpler path through the chip. PCM is converted to a multibit DSD format but has to go through more processes inside.