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Magnum_
n00b
n00b


Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 61

PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 2:12 pm    Post subject: MP3 poor quality Reply with quote

Hi,

I'm using my new system a few months now. Lately, I've noticed that the MP3 playback quality is pretty poor.
I'm using ALSA, with the onboard soundcard of the P5Q-E (I'm not in front of my PC rightnow, can't check the exact model), which is connected directly to my Yamaha amplifier + klipsch RF speakers using an optical SPDIF cable. I'm using the unstable kernel 2.6.28, because in previous versions the IEC958 output was not available yet for my soundcard.

I'm playing the MP3 files using Audacious. The sound quality is poor; when you listen closely, there's a noticeable crackling sound which comes from the tweeters. The MP3 files are all high bitrate files; no junk. Ok; MP3 stays a lossy format, but that's not what I'm hearing here. I have to listen closely to notice it, but it's there and it annoys me.

When I'm playing a MKV media file or a DVD with DD or DTS with VLC player, I don't have this problem at all; the sound is crystal clear as it should be.

Do you have any idea what might be causing this, or where I must start looking?

Thank you in advance,
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Magnum_
n00b
n00b


Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 61

PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Home now, time for some more details :
Code:
Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) HD Audio Controller

Code:
default:CARD=Intel
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel, AD198x Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
    HDA Intel
    HDMI Audio Output
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
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Mamizou
Tux's lil' helper
Tux's lil' helper


Joined: 09 May 2003
Posts: 101

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What's the actual bitrate of the mp3s you're trying to play? Also, do you have Replay Gain enabled in Audacious?

Also, if you're encoding your own music, try using a different compression codec (FLAC for lossless, OGG for lossy, etc.), and see if it does the same thing.
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micmac
l33t
l33t


Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 996

PostPosted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

I think it's a case of low-quality resampling from 44.1 to 48 kHz. Try this: Install alsa-plugins with USE=libsamplerate, then create /etc/asound.conf with the line
Code:
defaults.pcm.rate_converter "samplerate"
Then restart your music player.
Bye
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