Ethernet streaming and occasional white noise on Windows

[brit]

I meant to post this earlier. I got this info from a Devialet retailer who had got it from a customer (who may or may not be on this forum so sorry if it looks like I'm nicking a workaround!).  I also haven't tried this so can't vouch for its effectiveness.


If using iTunes on Windows,  install Apple Quicktime on the Windows box and in QuickTime set:
  QuickTime  > Edit > Preferences > QuickTime Preferences > Audio tab > Enable Windows Audio Session.

In the AIR tray app set 'Enable WASAPI Bit Perfect'
The instructions also say set bit rate/sampling to 24/192 and set buffer to 100ms (which I think is the default).  


What this appears to do is enable iTunes on Windows to use WASAPI and therefore their 'Bit Perfect' implementation.  For some reason this could work around the white noise issue.  My feeling is it might change the issue from white noise to dropouts (which is what I get with AIR/JRiver/Bit Perfect on Windows) but then dropouts are more pleasant than white noise!

Thanks' for this Rufus.  I use Windows / JRiver WASAPI AIR Ethernet for best sound quality, but actually use iTunes a lot for reasons I have mentioned elsewhere on this forum.  Use of iTunes in my system does give rise to a small loss in sound quality.  I have blind tested this with friends with 100% strike rate.  I wonder how this "iTunes WASAPI" will sound?   Anyway, if I get time at the weekend, I'll give this a try.  I am not sure if this will help the white noise issue though, I can get white noise with JRiver WASAPI, so I am not sure why iTunes / Quicktime WASAPI should fair better.  I will certainly give it a go though, nothing ventured and all that!

Hi Rufus (& Confused)

I can not tell a lie, it twas I who had this (maybe partial fix).

I had reason to use AIR, via Ethernet, using iTunes installed on my home PC, whilst my Wyred4Sound Music Server was being upgraded to SSD memory (very worthwhile upgrade). I was plagued with White Noise after about 1hr of playing. Trawled the web for any other solutions, having read through this forum, and seen all the problems (but no real solutions!) being faced with AIR by other Devialet users, and came across this Apple Quick Time setting (can not honestly remember which site I found it on!). Anyway it solved the White Noise, but as Rufus states, it did not cure the occasional drop out, which, depending on use of the home PC by my wife, were either non-existent or, if Printer being used, fairly dramatic! My feeling is that, if using a PC connected to the Web, it will be almost impossible to stop the occasional drop, out, or stutter, there are so many "interrupts" through the system that will cause interference. For eg anti-virus checkers and routine software updates - I am sure that most of us have set up automatic updates for most of our Software packages, I know that I have! 

Anyway I am now back to using my W4S Server via USB and happy NOT to be using AIR!

David