ASIO or Kernel Streaming with Vista - Necessary or Not?

[adam2434]

For background, I'm running Vista, using Foobar to play FLAC files (16/44.1 from CDs) ripped with EAC. I don't do any resampling in Foobar and have defaults set to 16/44.1 wherever possible in Foobar, Vista, and in the sound card settings. I also have verified that my sound card does not resample. I've disabled all Windows sounds too. I'm using my PC's coax SPDIF to send the audio to my MSB Nelson Link III DAC. It sounds great, but I'm not sure I have it tweaked to the utmost.

I've researched the question of the need to use ASIO or Kernel Streaming to get bit-perfect output, and there are differing opinions on whether they are needed with Vista, since Vista is supposed to natively handle audio "better" than previous Windows OS.

For folks using Vista, what are your opinions on this, and how are you configured?

Thanks,

Adam

[heiney9]

I've always used Kernel streaming. I use FireFox however.

H9

[zingo]

A lot of folks on here swear by ASIO or other Win-mixer bypass programs. I have looked into it since I do the same thing you do (Vista with digital-out to DAC), but I am satisfied with my system as is. They are just not as user friendly as other programs and to me it's not worth it.