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Does Windows 7 have better sound quality than Linux ALSA?

Discussion Does Windows 7 have better sound quality than Linux ALSA?

  • Monday, May 09, 2011 3:15 AM
     
     
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    There's a massive flamewar going on on Russian forums on which system sounds "pro" and which has a "chinese walkman" sound.

    Linux users arguments - since Vista you don't have true hardware DirectSound, instead you have crippled software mixer which does mandatory resampling and frequency cutoff, and doesn't allow any hardware effects such as CMSS-3D. We have our uber-kernel with ALSA, which has all the best drivers built-in and sounds like a studio system. Yes, you have WASAPI-exclusive, but it's still "processed" and so on...

    Here's the link which shows XP and Vista-7 sound system differences - http://habrahabr.ru/blogs/sound_and_music/115092/
    (which is used to tell that windows has the "worst sound ever")

    Windows users arguments - you linux guys have some half-baked amateur placeholders instead of full-featured vendor drivers and a complete mess in sound frameworks, which results in muffled sound in and geeky under-the-hood tweaking in search for a "perfect sound".

    Personally, I did find the Winamp sounding much better when I switched it to OpenAL output plugin from the default DirectSound on W7. Ableton provides the best quality I ever heard with DirectSound.

    Well, of course no sane person believes some made-up holywar claims, so I want to hear an expert opinion on the subject.

     

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  • Sunday, January 01, 2012 5:41 AM
     
     
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    It's not always case windows 7 sounds better than Linux ALSA or vice versa.It most importantly depends on driver.Linux does have vast support for sound drivers and now Windows 7 have good support too.I noticed in Linux although sound is not that loud it's more clearer and more natural.Well that's my opinion but yeah windows do have louder sound.
     
  • Monday, January 02, 2012 3:22 AM
     
     
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    I believe that would also depend on what type of hardware is installed on the computer.
     
  • Monday, January 02, 2012 6:32 AM
     
     
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    I found this great Winamp plugin, and the sound quality is incredible in exclusive WASAPI mode. It sure blasts away any windows player I've seen.

    http://maiko.elementfx.com/