I disabled all the gain options of the plugin and to my ears at least I noticed a quality increase on all tracks in terms of clarity by doing this. This improvement may only be noticeable with higher quality soundcard/speaker/headphones equipment (I'm wearing a pair of Beyerdynamic DT231 headphones).


I'm just wondering has anyone else noticed this?

David

You can write decoded data to files with Winamp File Writer output plugin.
After that, ABX test ready.

Unless the code is screwed in the plugin, this is almost certainly a placebo effect resulting from increased volume. The real likelihood of a discernable quality difference is so remote as to be not worthy of consideration. As already said though, this assumes that there is no bug in the code, but this is also unlikely because of its simplicity. But who knows!!

Do you have the EQ switched on?

As far as I remember, the EQ in winamp sounds different depending on the input plugin used.

Nope the EQ isn't on. But I did an ABX as suggested by Haregoo and I have to say I think it is probably placebo as I'm not getting a definitive 90%+ recognition.


Ah well, I'll just have to upgrade my soundcard with valves.

David

...and when you do, get them from here:

http://www.tubeworld.com

Go to Vacuum Tubes -> Preamp -> 12AX7 and scroll down to the first one listed:

12AX7 AMPEREX HOLLAND 1950's (long plates)

Price for one (1) tube: US$265

Impressive, no?

I like their slogan... Yesterday's Technology, Today ROFL

Yeah that slogan is hilarious, almost as silly as going to a car dealership and demanding a new car with a carburetor.

The issue probably isn't so much your soundcard as in the hardware itself, however your Play Control and Wave/MP3 volume levels, and moreover the volume level of your speakers/headphones. Hearing differences between ReplayGain'd files and those that have no ReplayGain tags as already explained is most likely placebo, and it's good that you were able to do an ABX test to self prove this.

This is what I really want/need

http://www.unisonresearch.com/valvolari/845absolute.asp


Sweeeeeeet!

David