Fidelizer Useful or snakeoil?

Discussion in 'Computer Audiophile: Software, Configs, Tools' started by kirayamato, Nov 1, 2015.

?

fidelizer actually works?

  1. yes

    20 vote(s)
    52.6%
  2. snake oil 101

    18 vote(s)
    47.4%
  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I love not have to worry about 0.4% improvements or 0.76% differences anymore.

    Fidelizer brought about a 0.3% improvement. This is something I would not even bet $1 on. So not sure how to vote.
     
  2. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Thanks @ColtMrFire

    I wasn't suggesting anything about a placebo. I was just saying that all appears to be doing is managing process priorities, which, on a slower computer, could positively affect things. My guess is that with a more powerful computer, the effects of process management will be less noticeable.
     
  3. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    Could well be the kernel timer resolution fuckery that Fidelizer introduces is what led to you not liking the sound as that demonstrably reduces available system performance.

    It must also be acknowledged that process not consuming CPU time will not benefit from having their priority changed, regardless of the available system resources.
     
  4. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Sorry, thought I was at head-fi for a second. Flashbacks. :D
     
  5. synthwavefan

    synthwavefan Cluelessly Misogynistic - MOT - LH Labs

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    I tried Fidelizer and it worked. There seemed to be more air and space around the instruments. More separation. A friend of mine tried it on his system and he reported the same thing. Was it worth the hassle and the way it pretty much killed my computer's usability? Um, no. Not that big of a difference between the stock and Fidelizer for what the Fidelizer did/entailed. Very small and minute, generally speaking.
     
  6. drez

    drez Acquaintance

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    I have tried playing with these system tweaks for years. Software and drivers assume certain system parameters eg timer resolution, system scheduler etc and if a software wishes to change these settings they are perfectly capable. There are limits to what can be done to actually optimise a system, and it is possible to go beyond these limits and change things in a way which software is not expecting and which will not improve performance at all. I have found tweaks that minimise overhead processing without crippling critical system processes help.

    Ultimately IMO windows is limiting and undesirable as an music server operating system and something like Snakeoil or Daphile will not only sound better but will be easier to use and maintain.
     
  7. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    This. Windows isn't a realtime operating system, yet people expend a great deal of time and futile effort into making it act line one.
     
  8. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    After running Fidelizer Pro*(non-free version) optimisation, I was able to lower my Mutec MC3+USB's Asio buffer down to 64 Samples and USB streaming mode set to Minimum Latency. No audio dropouts experienced(which wasn't possible without fidelizer).

    I always keep my windows machine very well maintained(no spyware, bloatware or any unnecessary services/background apps). Even to the extend of going to device manager and disabling any hardware that is not essential(reducing processor IRQ)

    *Why I bought the Fidelizer Pro is because Windows serves as my primary work/gaming/entertainment consumption(including audiophile usage) computer, thus I want to optimise it's audio performance to the best I can.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2016
  9. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    there is a while that I use the free version in purist mode
    i think that it makes a small diference (i7 Dell laptop, MC22, iDSD Micro). A darker backround and a slight more organic/natural sound of the instruments
    I am tempted to buy the Pro
    Anyone who upgraded to Pro from free? Any comments? Thnx!!
     
  10. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    The Pro version seems to be better at maintaining usable system performance vs free(with every optimization turned on).
    Pro's Sound Quality seems better than free version but it's just a few percentage(2-3%) of difference(improvements in overall clarity). I would say this is one of the last few things to consider buying only after you reach end game for your equipment purchase.
     
  11. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    Thank you for your answer!
    For sure I want to upgrade the amp and my DAC but for now it's easier to spend $70 than the multy hundred I need for the equipment!
     
  12. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    @DomieMic65

    looking at your gear from your signature, you should benefit most from a multi-bit r2r dac upgrade. But it's really up to you on how you want to spend your money. Filediizer Pro only improves on what you got vs upgrading to R2R dac which totally changes the timbre/tone/naturalness of the music
     
  13. cizx

    cizx Friend

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    Honestly, for about $100-150 you can build a fanless mini PC, put Linux on it, set up MPD, and never have to worry about anything else. I used one of these: https://www.amazon.com/ECS-Elitegroup-BAT-Mini-1-0-Desktop/dp/B00KX93WQW

    Disabling services and tweaking the registry isn't something I'd pay for, but I have a lot of windows experience. If you have the money to burn and no desire to learn anything, I guess it's worth a shot. If you use a windows server OS, you'll have a lot less to worry about. Most of the crap that would cause dropouts is disabled on a server.

    I think, last time I checked, Windows 2012 server was the Windows OS of choice on computeraudiophile.com. If you have access to an .edu email address, you can probably get that for free (http://www.dreamspark.com).

    If you're going to build a dedicated audio PC, though, just take the time to go through an MPD config guide (http://www.htpcguides.com/create-an-mpd-music-server-on-debian/ or http://www.24bit96.com/usb-computer...ency-realtime-kernel-with-debian-and-mpd.html). Windows is designed for general use. Same with OS X. Linux is perfect for tweaking for specific tasks like this.

    Just my $.02 and years of experience. :)
     
  14. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    To be honest I have never listened to a multibit r2r DAC ( NOS yes? ) but from what I read there is a "debate" about what is best NOS or "traditional" oversampling DACs!
    I would like to give a listen to one for sure!
    Another matter with changing and especially r2r is that there are quite expensive... for now unfortunatelly I have no budget for DAC upgrade!!
    Regards!
     
  15. DomieMic65

    DomieMic65 New

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    You are absolutely right in what you say but, in my case, I have a dedicated mac mini as a main system source for quite some time and a win laptop as a transportable audio source! For now I don't want to set up another mashine!
    But in the future I will for sure try to set up an rpi 3 (or whatever the nr) or Odroid C2!
     
  16. AllanMarcus

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  17. James Whiting

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    Fidelizer is now in Version 8. Lucifar has substantially improved the latest version with more core optimization and
    the ability to tinker with harmonic richness and imagining.

    The new version is easily worth the upgrade price. Made a substantial difference. Works even better with Process Lasso and Audiophile Optimizer.

    Happy Listening
     
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2017
  18. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    [​IMG]
     
  19. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Oh dear...

    People want to change the sound ("improve," and why not, tastes differ) the sound from a PC? There's a thing for that. The proper tool for the job. Not fancy cables or software, but the real thing... Equaliser software. And guess what: hours of fun tweaking that does change the sound.

    It's all under the heading of DSP. And guess what any softer, player, effect or tweak, is doing if it actually sounds different: DSP.

    Actually, though, Eq is really hard to get the hang of. I've been trying for years to adjust various speakers and 'phones to my changing hearing and, ok, sometime I succeed in not making it worse.

    The difference between audiophiles and engineers: we hear differences which we struggle to express in mutually understandable vague terms, which, even though we define them, may still mean different things to different people. But hey: we have to communicate: we do the best we can. Engineers hear the same stuff and understand it numbers. Tweaking the right slider takes that experience and training. But the rest of us can still try, and do the best we can. At least it's real.
     

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