Usb vs hdmi

[mlmiller707]

I have tried both sources for music from my iPod via USB and from iTunes via HDMI. The USB method is a significant difference on the same file. Should I find another on line music player, or is that just the way it is. Granted my HDMI wire is 25 ft and the usb is a 1'. Is there any other reason for quality loss from Itunes? I would have thought if anything it would have been the opposite. Both processed through receiver on multi channel stereo. Thanks

[theewizard]

I'm not sure what you are doing, but I can offer this much
Hdmi you play from the iPod and send the digital audio signal via the cable to the amplifier, 25 ft long run for digital, you are compounding the problem

USB. You might be sending the file and the device on the other end does the decoding, and that one ft is a very short run

[theewizard]

I'm not sure what you are doing, but I can offer this much
Hdmi you play from the iPod and send the digital audio signal via the cable to the amplifier, 25 ft long run for digital, you are compounding the problem

USB. You might be sending the file and the device on the other end does the decoding, and that one ft is a very short run

[mlmiller707]

I'm not sure what you are doing, but I can offer this much
Hdmi you play from the iPod and send the digital audio signal via the cable to the amplifier, 25 ft long run for digital, you are compounding the problem

USB. You might be sending the file and the device on the other end does the decoding, and that one ft is a very short run

Let me see if I can clarify. I like having my pc in front of me, the receiver is at the other end of the room. It is connected 25' via hdmi for movies mainly. I thought I could eliminate having to use the iPod via usb plugged into receiver 1'. However the ipod sounds better. Maybe they make usb to hdmi, but I dont know if that will increase quality. I tried a different player, it did sound stronger than iTunes but a little weaker than iPod? Make sense?

[Vidd]

I don't think it has anything to do with a cable.

If I understand, you are saying your iPod sounds better than your PC. I would guess this is because the iPod has a better audio chipset than your PC. This would be especially true if you are using onboard audio on the PC. To make your PC sound better, you can upgrade the hardware sound card.

You didn't specify what kind of PC it is or what kind of sound card it has, so it is impossible for us to do a comparison to the iPod in terms of quality to be expected.

[mlmiller707]

I don't think it has anything to do with a cable.

If I understand, you are saying your iPod sounds better than your PC. I would guess this is because the iPod has a better audio chipset than your PC. This would be especially true if you are using onboard audio on the PC. To make your PC sound better, you can upgrade the hardware sound card.

You didn't specify what kind of PC it is or what kind of sound card it has, so it is impossible for us to do a comparison to the iPod in terms of quality to be expected.

1. What does "on board audio" mean, you mean what comes on the pc? I tried to update the driver, photo attached. I am using an older iPod (4th gen 6.1), I have a new one that does not change the quality (6th gen 9.1). It sounds more marginal than significant and most of the notice is in the bass.

2. Dell told me I needed the Amd Radeon to have multiple displays. It seems that both the video cards are there, and when I go to adjust the settings for m/d's it goes into Intel settings, rather than AMD. I am wondering if I even needed it, or what it's function is (the AMD)?

I usually do prnt scrn and paste it into Paint. Upload file, so I lowered the zoom to fit all the specs. Let me know if you need more specs or if there is a more efficient way to post a scrn shot.

[Krispy Kritter]

The USB output of the iPod is passing untouched data. The data is simply read from memory and passed to the playback device.

The computer output is being processed. Yes, it's still digital, but it's being read from memory and then processed by the audio chipset (in the case the video card audio chipset) to output over HDMI. You may be able to tweak the output using the audio configuration. There are usually numerous options for digital outputs.

[mlmiller707]

The USB output of the iPod is passing untouched data. The data is simply read from memory and passed to the playback device.

The computer output is being processed. Yes, it's still digital, but it's being read from memory and then processed by the audio chipset (in the case the video card audio chipset) to output over HDMI. You may be able to tweak the output using the audio configuration. There are usually numerous options for digital outputs.

I thought the receiver was responsible for doing any of the processing. I don't have any audio options in my Intel 520 nor the Amd Radeon video cards. So your saying the Realtek sound card has nothing to do with it? So I don't need to update my sound card?

[Vidd]

So your saying the Realtek sound card has nothing to do with it? So I don't need to update my sound card?

You are using HDMI which means the video card is processing the audio. If you want to use the Realtek you will need to use the analog audio jacks. They do sell external USB sound cards with digital outputs, but not sure if it would be worth the upgrade if you have digital HDMI audio and you already have an iPod.

[mlmiller707]

So your saying the Realtek sound card has nothing to do with it? So I don't need to update my sound card?

You are using HDMI which means the video card is processing the audio. If you want to use the Realtek you will need to use the analog audio jacks. They do sell external USB sound cards with digital outputs, but not sure if it would be worth the upgrade if you have digital HDMI audio and you already have an iPod.

It's not a huge factor, but I would prefer the sounds to be identical if not better on HDMI. I also prefer using iTunes over the iPOd, when it comes to just music. There are times when I want to use the iPod and watch tv and the pc source does not allow for video select. iTunes has much better options for playing so that is why I would like to do something to increase the sound quality. It's a nice video card right? Did I need the add-on? What do I need to do now to compensate the loss, if the video card does not have sound options?

[jagabo]

When you play an audio file on your computer the computer is decompressing the audio file then sending uncompressed digital audio to the receiver via HDMI. When you connect the iPod to the receiver via USB a media player in the receiver decompressing the audio file and then playing the uncompressed audio. Errors in HDMI audio transmission are not subtle. You will hear loud clicks and pops. Since you didn't mention that I doubt it's your problem. More subtle differences (let me guess, one has more bass and treble?) are probably just different equalization settings on the PC and/or the receiver's media player.

[mlmiller707]

When you play an audio file on your computer the computer is decompressing the audio file then sending uncompressed digital audio to the receiver via HDMI. When you connect the iPod to the receiver via USB a media player in the receiver decompressing the audio file and then playing the uncompressed audio. Errors in HDMI audio transmission are not subtle. You will hear loud clicks and pops. Since you didn't mention that I doubt it's your problem. More subtle differences (let me guess, one has more bass and treble?) are probably just different equalization settings on the PC and/or the receiver's media player.

The major difference between the two is like you said less bass and treble on hdmi. Like I said I thought the receiver was responsible for processing the file from both methods. I can't adjust volume on pc when HDMI is being used nor can I do the same for iPod. All sound is adjusted by receiver so why would I think that any other adjustments would be applicable. By your ex's I am not sure of the point. Are you saying the file is processed twice with iTunes and only once with iPod which results in lower punch?

[jagabo]

The media players can perform their own processing before the uncompressed data is handed to the preamp (in the receiver) where further processing can take place. You just have different equalization curves in the two media players.

[mlmiller707]

The media players can perform their own processing before the uncompressed data is handed to the preamp (in the receiver) where further processing can take place. You just have different equalization curves in the two media players.

By what you said in the first post, there is no media player in the iPod. Whichever the case, both iPod and iTunes EQ are off. If that is not what you meant then what do I need to adjust. I. can try turning the EQ on in iTunes, however if you can't adjust iTunes vol, why would I be able to? What is the solution? Furthermore even MPC does not sound as strong as IPod. You are also stating decompressing and uncompressed which is confusing b/c those two words are the same thing.

[jagabo]

Maybe I don't understand your setup. What is the USB cable connecting? From the iPod to the Receiver? Is this a dedicated iPod input on the receiver?

[mlmiller707]

Maybe I don't understand your setup. What is the USB cable connecting? From the iPod to the Receiver? Is this a dedicated iPod input on the receiver?

Yes, yes.

[jagabo]

I'm not familiar with how the iPod operates in that mode but either the iPod or the receiver is decompressing the file before it's being further processed by the receiver's pre-amp. So one of those is probably doing the equalization, whether you've specifically told it to or not.

Make sure your HDMI audio device properties aren't doing something to the audio. From Control Panel select Sound, then the Playback tab. Look for the HDMI audio device then select Properties. Look through the tabs for any settings that change the sound.

[mlmiller707]

I'm not familiar with how the iPod operates in that mode but either the iPod or the receiver is decompressing the file before it's being further processed by the receiver's pre-amp. So one of those is probably doing the equalization, whether you've specifically told it to or not.

Make sure your HDMI audio device properties aren't doing something to the audio. From Control Panel select Sound, then the Playback tab. Look for the HDMI audio device then select Properties. Look through the tabs for any settings that change the sound.

Nice advice. I did find that tab, although level was set to max. I did manage to edit pre-amp in Itunes which made a considerable difference. I think I remember trying Airplay with Itunes and not being able to adjust anything. Thanks for the help.

I know this is kind of not needed question, but there is a configuration option also in Hdmi sound. It plays fine with the receiver for 5.1, stereo, etc. It was always set to stereo and played 5.1 movies fine. I adjusted the config to 5.1 and I still had the option for multi chann stereo and sounded the same. The only difference was there were 2 more sound options on Denon (Multi ch in and multi in + Doly Surr) neither which I will use for music. I guess it is there if you are going straight to speakers?

[Krispy Kritter]

It's there for when you are using a source which supports those options.

Also, the output type varies by the source as well. For example, playing a DVD or movie with DD5.1 audio, that audio track is passed to the Receiver untouched (regardless of if you have stereo or 5.1 selected).

[mlmiller707]

It's there for when you are using a source which supports those options.

Also, the output type varies by the source as well. For example, playing a DVD or movie with DD5.1 audio, that audio track is passed to the Receiver untouched (regardless of if you have stereo or 5.1 selected).

I understand the source part. I did discover tonight that when 5.1 is configured on the pc, it does not play correctly or at least does not sound as good as when it is set to stereo and the receiver then decodes it only. I played a file that was pcm input and set to Dolby Surround on both configurations on the pc, the one set to stereo, sounded better.