So I got my mac back yesterday. 
Aside from the usual squeals of delight and gasps of awe, I noticed one thing I had never noticed before. Or maybe I'm imagining it.
Songs sound MUCH nicer in iTunes than they do on Winamp (on my PC). I used the same headphones on both computers. Could I be imagining this? Or does iTunes really have a different way of 'decoding' the mp3 or something..? Or perhaps my sound card in my PC sucks?
What kind of sound card does your PC have? What output plugin are you using in Winamp? I find the best is to use the MAD output plugin. It sounds really nice with a good soundcard, especially in 24-bit mode.
i'd assume its your pc soundcard, but you know what they say about assuming 
Nice! Do you know some good output plugin for WMP9?
Well Taha, I think that iTunes sounds just crystal clear on my iBook. 
BTW, do you have your iBook hooked up to a stereo, or just little speakers? I have mine running into a huge Sony stereo...you can feel the bass 3 rooms down the hall! :own:
I'll have to post pics sometime...
-godpunk
Originally posted by godpunk@Oct 2 2003, 11:04 AMWell Taha, I think that iTunes sounds just crystal clear on my iBook.
BTW, do you have your iBook hooked up to a stereo, or just little speakers? I have mine running into a huge Sony stereo...you can feel the bass 3 rooms down the hall! :own:
I'll have to post pics sometime...
-godpunk
well, since the default laptop speakers suck ass, :6 I have'em hooked up to my sound system, which is pretty decent.
However, with that setup, I don't notice any difference between the mac and the PC.
When I use the same headphones on both, I notice that the sound is clearer and it doesn't 'explode' on my mac. And the base is better handled too.
I donno which plugin I'm using on my PC, I guess its the default one. 
I put it down to Magic Apple Goblins™, Taha...
Did they not tell you that all iBooks that're returned for repair have them installed by default? 
Seriously, how were you driving the headphones and speakers in each case, and what sound card does you PC have?
Also, did you try changing sound profiles on your PC when switching to headphones?
I tested winamp vs wmp for 2 years, and managed to convince virtually all of my mates. WMP (please take my word for it) is much better in sound quality.
I will try and explain it, any audiophile will follow this:
Open WMP and Winamp, load up a pop song, i.e. one with a beat, for example Delirium -Silence (Fades' Sanctuary Mix) remixed by Oakenfold here (rename back to .zip, delete in 24h).
Set both equalisers to default, yet enable wmp's WOW and TruBass, (wow in the middle of the scale, and trubass at 75-80%).
Hear both at a medium to loud volume (all audio testing should be done at a medium loud-loud volume). They should sound about the same.
Now lower the midrange and up the volume, this will give a deeper bass and more presence, but when you lower the midrange you MUST increase the volume, or else it will not work. The numbers for the equaliser in WMP are:
(from left to right):
-4 -4 -4 -6 -11 -9 -6 -3 -1 +4
Now the first 3 are bass he middle 4 are midrange and the last 3 are treble.
That setup is on my system, if you have a lower output speaker or headphone and the bass starts distorting ONLY adjust the first 3 (-4 -4 -4). Move them up (-3 -3 -3) one notch (and only one notch) at a time, until you get clean bass.
This is a low midrange setup, but must be accompanied by an increase in volume.
Now apply approximately the same settings to Winamp.
Tell me which is better.
Originally posted by Three Drives@Oct 2 2003, 05:07 PMI tested winamp vs wmp for 2 years, and managed to convince virtually all of my mates. WMP (please take my word for it) is much better in sound quality.
I will try and explain it, any audiophile will follow this:
Open WMP and Winamp, load up a pop song, i.e. one with a beat, for example Delirium -Silence (Fades' Sanctuary Mix) remixed by Oakenfold here (rename back to .zip, delete in 24h).
Set both equalisers to default, yet enable wmp's WOW and TruBass, (wow in the middle of the scale, and trubass at 75-80%).
Hear both at a medium to loud volume (all audio testing should be done at a medium loud-loud volume). They should sound about the same.
Now lower the midrange and up the volume, this will give a deeper bass and more presence, but when you lower the midrange you MUST increase the volume, or else it will not work. The numbers for the equaliser in WMP are:
(from left to right):
-4 -4 -4 -6 -11 -9 -6 -3 -1 +4
Now the first 3 are bass he middle 4 are midrange and the last 3 are treble.
That setup is on my system, if you have a lower output speaker or headphone and the bass starts distorting ONLY adjust the first 3 (-4 -4 -4). Move them up (-3 -3 -3) one notch (and only one notch) at a time, until you get clean bass.
This is a low midrange setup, but must be accompanied by an increase in volume.
Now apply approximately the same settings to Winamp.
Tell me which is better.
OMG you reeeeeeeeeeally know your audio players dont you 3D?
Ill try this right now! ehehhe, you sound truthful!
If you really want to make yourself smile, try this setup for private listening..
Echo Indigo pc soundcard
Shure e5c monitors
http://www.shure.com/earphones/eseries_e5c.asp
Custom earmolds
http://www.westone.com/earmold_styles.html#music
I got these because I was sick of sh##ty sound from my laptop, the whole setup was about $750 and it *REALLY* sounds incredible. (Y)
WMP sounds good without any adjustments to it's settings or external plugins. Pure, clean and deep.
Mmmmmmm, smoooth. 
Is it me or do those ear molds look like... ...umm...nothing.
Anywho, I guess I'm not as annoyed by sound quality so anything is pretty much sufficiant with me as long as it doesn't pop, skip, hiss or crackle. And I don't blast my music so that doesn't get challenged much. Either that or I never heard how good a quality of sound I can get could be. Oh well, less money to spend for me.
hmm.. like I said, I don't know what sound card I have in my Mac and PC.
I think its the Sounblaster 64 or something like that (on the PC).
Also, I've hear that songs sound better in QCD compared to Winamp. Is that true?
In any case, I think I like the standard plugin on Macs compared to PC's.
Originally posted by smeggy@Oct 2 2003, 06:03 PMI got these because I was sick of sh##ty sound from my laptop, the whole setup was about $750 and it *REALLY* sounds incredible. (Y)
f***ing hell for 750usd i should f***ing hope so!!!
Dont you think?
Cheers..
Seph
OK, one could sound better if it used a better codec, but they dont use a different codec.
I believe Apple uses the licensed MP3 codec, just like WMP and others. And most free players use the open source codecs,which are very high quality.
So no, its just you.
OR, you have a better sound card in your mac.
Just so you know Taha, Macs dont make the sun rise either.
Originally posted by chino@Oct 2 2003, 01:44 PMi'd assume its your pc soundcard, but you know what they say about assuming
or may be iTunes had the output preeq...
Originally posted by contrasutra@Oct 2 2003, 02:13 PMJust so you know Taha, Macs dont make the sun rise either.
they dont? :cry:
anyway, ive actually noticed one instance where it sounded slightly worse on my powerbook...i have a pair of panasonic vmms "brainshaker" headphones, they have a miniture "subwoofer" on them to feel on your neck. anyway, on my dell or my sony MP3 cd player, the bass is so awesome to feel...it lacks on the mac, i have to set it to high to make it somewhat feel like medium (the only other setting) on other platforms. it doesnt bother me too much, because the sound quality still is clear and i usually have my mac on speakers hooked up to it
just my two cents...
Winamp?! Try using Media Player 9 with SRS/WOW turned on and tell me iTunes sounds better.
:rant:
Originally posted by contrasutra@Oct 2 2003, 01:13 PMJust so you know Taha, Macs dont make the sun rise either.
Neither does the Open Source software you're always trying to peddle to us.
-godpunk
iv noticedt hat winamp3 is the best sounding on my system.. soundblaster live and i dont know the model but pretty good 4.1 logitech speakers
anyways.. when i compare winamp3 to winamp2.. winamp 3 always sounds the best.. and wnamp3 compared to any other music player always sounds better to me .. it sounds more vibrant and handles base much better.... thats what i have noticed... but thats on my systemand no its not just me.. because i tested 3 music programs vrs winamp3 including past version of winamp like 2 to winamp3 with 3 of my friends and they all pointed to winamp3 sounding the best on my system
-bolero
Well, I can say my iMac w/ built-in Harman/Kardon speakers and iSub sound better than my PC with a Harman/Kardon system three times its size.
And I'll have to argee with Taha - I've listened to both thru a pair of headphones, the Mac sounds better :6
Originally posted by malignity@Oct 3 2003, 08:50 AMWinamp?! Try using Media Player 9 with SRS/WOW turned on and tell me iTunes sounds better.
:rant:
Ok iTunes sounds better 
I'm serious! It does!
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