Winamp Lite version sounds better than Winamp Full version!

vegatron · 28th February 2007, 04:26

Winamp Lite version sounds better than Winamp Full version!

You can hear it yourself:

1) Just install Winamp Lite and Winamp Full in separate directories.
2) Launch the applications from their directories
3) leave the equalizer off.
4) Then listen with both versions to an mp3 encoded with a sufficiently high bit rate, e.g. 192Kb/s.
5) I'm listening now to the guitar solo in "Dire Straits - Tunnel of love" and the difference between the Lite and Full version is huge.

The sound of Winamp Lite is crisper, has a better dynamic, the human voice is warmer, the music is simply more enjoyable.
Even the volume level between the two versions is different.

Last but not least, I prefer the sound of Winamp Lite to iTunes and WMP.

Hope this helps all the audiophiles.
Enjoy the music!

Matteo

Benski · 28th February 2007, 04:40

Either you're using a different output plugin (out_wave versus out_ds) or you have Replay Gain on in Full and not on in Lite. Either of these could cause a volume difference.

Most people confuse volume differences as quality differences. The MP3 decoder is identical in Full and Lite. Please don't spread bad information.

vegatron · 28th February 2007, 07:48

Hello Ben,
Thanks for these fantastic players that sound way better than iTunes and Windows Media Player.

Maybe you are right about the sound quality between the Lite and the Full (we should change the thread title)

Regarding the volume however,
I checked the playback preferences and they are the same, the Replay Gain is off on both versions. They have been both installed recently.

1) the volume control in the Lite version controls the "Wave" control in the Windows Master Control,

2) in the Full version the volume control seems independent from the Windows volume settings.

So they are not the same in the two versions.

Thanks,
Matteo

kzuse · 28th February 2007, 09:58

You are using different output plugins. Or, you set your output plugin's volume control settings different in both players.

Try to set out_ds active in both players: Go to preferences -> plugins -> output and just select "DirectSound Output".

If it still sounds different or if this is already set in both players, try to go back to the same window, and then *double click* the DirectSound Output Item. Click then on "Reset All". Do this to both Winamp's. Now you have the same, standard settings on both.

Now they will definitely sound the same!

Best regards,
kzuse

qwert73 · 28th February 2007, 12:29

Perhaps it is just placebo!

DJ Egg · 28th February 2007, 12:38

Nope, as Benski suspected, and kzuse stated, he's got WaveOut Output selected in Lite, and DirectSound Output selected in Full. Select the same Output plugin for both, and both will sound exactly the same.

But yeah, anything beyond that is definitely placebo.

vegatron · 1st March 2007, 05:13

Yes, that's true.
The default output plug ins in the Lite and the Full versions are different when they are installed. If I set the same output the behavior is identical.

Is any output plug in better than the others?

Thanks,
Matteo

Biscuity · 12th March 2007, 12:36

I've found Directsound to sound much better that Waveout on my system.

The OP seems to infer that Waveout sounds much better?

Kieran Walker · 14th March 2007, 16:39

Depends on your system and OS. DirectSound tends to perform better on newer systems, and WaveOut is recommended for older systems, from what I understand at least.

CraigF · 14th March 2007, 17:25

correct.

and then on vista MS fucked up the lot.

28th February 2007, 04:26	#1
vegatron Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Winamp Lite version sounds better than Winamp Full version! Winamp Lite version sounds better than Winamp Full version! You can hear it yourself: 1) Just install Winamp Lite and Winamp Full in separate directories. 2) Launch the applications from their directories 3) leave the equalizer off. 4) Then listen with both versions to an mp3 encoded with a sufficiently high bit rate, e.g. 192Kb/s. 5) I'm listening now to the guitar solo in "Dire Straits - Tunnel of love" and the difference between the Lite and Full version is huge. The sound of Winamp Lite is crisper, has a better dynamic, the human voice is warmer, the music is simply more enjoyable. Even the volume level between the two versions is different. Last but not least, I prefer the sound of Winamp Lite to iTunes and WMP. Hope this helps all the audiophiles. Enjoy the music! Matteo

28th February 2007, 12:38	#6
DJ Egg Techorator Winamp & Shoutcast Team Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 36,136	Nope, as Benski suspected, and kzuse stated, he's got WaveOut Output selected in Lite, and DirectSound Output selected in Full. Select the same Output plugin for both, and both will sound exactly the same. But yeah, anything beyond that is definitely placebo. Playlist \| Twitter \| Albums

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28th February 2007, 04:40	#2
Benski Ben Allison Former Winamp Developer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 1,057	Either you're using a different output plugin (out_wave versus out_ds) or you have Replay Gain on in Full and not on in Lite. Either of these could cause a volume difference. Most people confuse volume differences as quality differences. The MP3 decoder is identical in Full and Lite. Please don't spread bad information.

28th February 2007, 07:48	#3
vegatron Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Hello Ben, Thanks for these fantastic players that sound way better than iTunes and Windows Media Player. Maybe you are right about the sound quality between the Lite and the Full (we should change the thread title) Regarding the volume however, I checked the playback preferences and they are the same, the Replay Gain is off on both versions. They have been both installed recently. 1) the volume control in the Lite version controls the "Wave" control in the Windows Master Control, 2) in the Full version the volume control seems independent from the Windows volume settings. So they are not the same in the two versions. Thanks, Matteo

28th February 2007, 09:58	#4
kzuse Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: (D) Posts: 484	You are using different output plugins. Or, you set your output plugin's volume control settings different in both players. Try to set out_ds active in both players: Go to preferences -> plugins -> output and just select "DirectSound Output". If it still sounds different or if this is already set in both players, try to go back to the same window, and then double click the DirectSound Output Item. Click then on "Reset All". Do this to both Winamp's. Now you have the same, standard settings on both. Now they will definitely sound the same! Best regards, kzuse

28th February 2007, 12:29	#5
qwert73 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 118	Perhaps it is just placebo!

1st March 2007, 05:13	#7
vegatron Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 4	Yes, that's true. The default output plug ins in the Lite and the Full versions are different when they are installed. If I set the same output the behavior is identical. Is any output plug in better than the others? Thanks, Matteo

12th March 2007, 12:36	#8
Biscuity Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man Posts: 26	I've found Directsound to sound much better that Waveout on my system. The OP seems to infer that Waveout sounds much better?

14th March 2007, 16:39	#9
Kieran Walker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wyoming Posts: 155	Depends on your system and OS. DirectSound tends to perform better on newer systems, and WaveOut is recommended for older systems, from what I understand at least.

14th March 2007, 17:25	#10
CraigF Passionately Apathetic Administrator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Hell Posts: 5,435	correct. and then on vista MS fucked up the lot.