Playing back a 96 KHz file produces lots of noise, What could be causing it? Options

[Dario]

Hello there,

I just noticed that if I were to play a file with a sampling rate of 96 KHz (or higher), my speakers would produce a lot of noise.

It happens with all files I've tried, regardless of whether they were originally stored in 96 KHz or upsampled from 44.1/48. The bit depth makes no difference either. I'm using a (rather old) motherboard with an integrated sound card and Realtek HD output and a pair of cheap PC speakers.

On the other hand, if I were to put up a DSP that would resample the output to 44.1/48 KHz, everything would sound just fine.

Do you guys have any idea what could be causing this? It's really annoying.

[DVDdoug]

Bad drivers?

If you've already checked for updated drivers, maybe you need a new soundcard. You can get a cheap one for under $10 USD. I bought a cheap USB soundcard (for maybe $20) just for such "experimental purposes".

(Speakers should have nothing to do with it, since the analog sound going to the speakers is analog and doesn't have a sample rate.)

This post has been edited by DVDdoug: Apr 3 2012, 23:31

[Kohlrabi]

you need a new soundcard.

I don't think the possibility of playing ultrasonics warrants getting a new soundcard. Just stick to 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate, probably your speakers won't play back ultrasonics properly, anyway.

[db1989]

Perhaps a silly question: Does your hardware support 96 kHz?

It happens with all files I've tried, regardless of whether they were originally stored in 96 KHz or upsampled from 44.1/48.

What is the purpose of doing that?

[Wombat]

I am no expert but if you have Windows 7 running there was a hotfix lately that fixes some linear interpolation for playback. Maybe this is the case with your Realtek?
There is a thread here somewhere about this but i didn´t find it and don´t remember its title.

[Dario]

It was the drivers. Silly enough, I thought I had updated them three weeks ago. Thanks a million guys!

I am no expert but if you have Windows 7 running there was a hotfix lately that fixes some linear interpolation for playback. Maybe this is the case with your Realtek?
There is a thread here somewhere about this but i didn´t find it and don´t remember its title.

I'm running WinXP, but seems like updating the drivers fixed it.

It happens with all files I've tried, regardless of whether they were originally stored in 96 KHz or upsampled from 44.1/48.

What is the purpose of doing that?

Oh, there's no purpose. I was just trying to make sure it wasn't caused by the high-res files themselves (since the amount of such files I have is really low, due to the fact that I see no point in having them and the kind of music I listen to isn't really available as high-res downloads).

Just stick to 44.1/48 kHz sampling rate, probably your speakers won't play back ultrasonics properly, anyway.

I know, I know. I tried ABX-ing these high-res downloads against "regular" ones (from CDs), and couldn't spot a difference.