Itunes sound rubbish off the computer.

[idc]

First I used an ipod connected into the back of my amp - brilliant sound. Then I got Spotify and connected the laptop to the amp via a DAC - brilliant sound. Then I moved a batch of lossless music files from hard drive onto the laptop (its memory is not big enough to take everything from the hard drive) so I could listen to itunes through the DAC - dreadful sound. I get crackles like I am listening to old records, the sound is flat with no dynamic and poor muddy bass and I get strange echos.

I use a Dell Inspiron 1300 that functions prefectly. I am not very computer savvy.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

EDIT if you remember this thread, skip to the end for the solution...........

 

[nads]

why did you move them? could you not just add the hard drive as part of your itunes library.

lose connection?

 

[method man]

hi IDC, can you try an mp3 128 0r so with the itunes and see if that has the same problem?

 

[idc]

Nads - the hard drive is upstairs. I was about to go with a network hard drive, but was sent the wrong size and returning it and getting my money back turned into a saga. I spent the money buying the Fubar instead. Moving some files onto the PC is a temporary measure.

Method man - it is the same for AAC as lossless, listening to Peter Gabriel as we speak (type) and the sibilance and crackles are very bad.

 

[nads]

Ok and you only get the sibilance and crackles on lossless but dont on the lower level version of the same track?

 

[John Duncan]

Wired, presumably? Do drivers exist for the Fubar and have you installed them? Have you tried another USB cable?

 

[idc]

I have some imported CD AAC files as well and they crackle too, as well as some downloaded tracks off itunes. Its the whole lot, I am starting to pick way way through it all and nothing sounds very good. I had not fully realised the problem till tonight as I have been listening to Spotify so much and even remarking with lordmortlock that Spotify sounds better!

EDIT - confirmed: everything from CDs imported losslessly and at AAC to music downloaded from itunes and Amazon suffers from the same problems.

 

[idc]

JohnDuncan:Wired, presumably? Do drivers exist for the Fubar and have you installed them? Have you tried another USB cable?

I am wired with the Fubar installed and working fine, with sounds off the likes of youtube and Spotify, but not itunes. I dont have another A to min B USB cable, but as I say only itunes sounds rubbish.

 

[lordmortlock]

Could it be anything to do with your settings on itunes? Its got to be an itunes software issue if everything else sounds good.

I know it shouldn't make any difference but I'd be inclined to uninstall iitunes and start again.

 

[John Duncan]

Yep, definitely sounds like an itunes-specific problem, but can't think of any settings that could affect it. Will have a dig...

 

[idc]

lordmortlock:Could it be anything to do with your settings on itunes? Its got to be an itunes software issue if everything else sounds good. I know it shouldn't make any difference but I'd be inclined to uninstall iitunes and start again.

I would agree with you and JD. The other thing is some sort of PC setting that is unique to itunes, but my lack of PC knowledge has left me a bit flummoxed.

Lordmortlock, if nothing else comes up I will try the unistall/install route. I know we agree that Spotify sounds just as good, but do you get crackles and from the bass a strange cuffing noise?

 

[lordmortlock]

Can't say I do. The SQ through itunes is very much affected by the quality of the file as I've got some poor quality mp3s on there but theres certainly no blanket degradation of quality generally.

Uninstalling shouldn't be too onerous - all the music will be kept in your my music folder and itunes can be pointed at this again after reinstallation. Are you using the newest version? I wonder if maybe itunes doesn't like your fubar, although I don't see why it wouldn't.

 

[lordmortlock]

Could it be that for some reason itunes is downconverting your files automatically due to a setting issue? JD?

 

[John Duncan]

I did think it might be an up/downsampling issue but couldn't think how you'd do that in Windows.

 

[idc]

JD, your Lordship, I have found a thing called Troubleshooting in Sounds and Audio Devices, which included a question do you have distortion and crackles? So I thought I was on to a winner there. But I have been through it and none of the suggestions have cured the problem. I have also used it to check that the DAC is all OK and installed properly, which it is.

I understand what you are saying about sampling, but like you haven't a clue whwere to even start.

So I am going for the big uninstall/install - fingers crossed.

 

[lordmortlock]

Don't worry - itunes doesnt actually hold any music - just reads it from your 'my music' file. Really interested to know if it solves the problem. Not sure what happens to all your playlists (if thats a feature you use much - I don't really)

 

[idc]

Re-installing didn't work. The crackles are still there. Itunes is more organised now, though I have lost all the play counts. I didn't have any playlists as I scrapped them since I was not using any.

 

[John Duncan]

There's tell elsewhere of iTunes sound enhancements conflicting with audio hardware. Make sure in preferences you have EQ, Sound Enhancer and Sound Check off. If that doesn't work, try opening Quicktime in Windows Control Panel and use "Safe mode (waveOut only)".

 

[lordmortlock]

idc - have you plugged a set of headphones straight into the dell and listened for the crackling? I know it will sound inferior compared to dac etc but if you can assess if any crackling is still there you may be closer to identifying the problem

 

[idc]

Sorry John, but tried all of the above and nothing worked. My reference track is 'The Lomg and Winding Road' from Let it Be. It sounds as clear as a bell and fantasitic, so long as you ignore the crackles that start from the opening cords and vocals.

I will try headphones straight to PC later tomorrow. Enjoying some music on Spotify at the moment and don't want to stop.

 

[John Duncan]

Curses. Another thing to do is to use another media player that handles your lossless format to see if that solves the problem - then you know that it's definitely iTunes that's the issue and not anything else.

 

[idc]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will try as suggested and get back when I find a solution.

 

[idc]

JohnDuncan:Curses. Another thing to do is to use another media player that handles your lossless format to see if that solves the problem - then you know that it's definitely iTunes that's the issue and not anything else.

Its not lossless (but I get the crackling on all bit rates anyway) but I have got some music onto Windows Media Player and so far tracks that crackle on itunes don't crackle on WMP.

 

[idc]

lordmortlock:idc - have you plugged a set of headphones straight into the dell and listened for the crackling? I know it will sound inferior compared to dac etc but if you can assess if any crackling is still there you may be closer to identifying the problem

Headphones straight into the laptop gets crackling from itunes and not from Windows Media Player.

 

[John Duncan]

So def iTunes then, or more correctly, Quicktime, since it's that that plays the music. What's your version?