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[Alt]

Many people who wanted better sound quality in Windows OS heard about Window's Kmixer, Kernel Streaming, low latency interface ASIO, Kernel Streaming plugins for Winamp & Foobar or, at least, ASIO4ALL. As one of those people, I've tried many different players, plugins for them, ASIO emulators (asio2ks, AsioKS, ASIOx, ASIO4ALL), etc. Unfortunately none of them didn't satisfy my taste (great sound but bad interface, luck of some features or conversely). For a long time I've been using xmplay with ASIO2KS v1.01 driver but often noticed that it doesn't sounds correct & DirectSound always have some advantage... All this time I just needed to apply small reg tweak...
But let's not get ahead, here's my short manual.
Well, first of all you need to install driver. Download ASIO2KS v1.01 driver (not beta 0.90-2 from official site!). Extract asio2ks.cpl to the %WinDir%\system32.
Now you can open it there or from the 'Control Panel'.
When you opened it, enable driver, disable intput (better sound), set 'Samples' value. Lower is better, but too low will cause sound distortion, it depends on yours hardware (512 is very common). On the 'Advanced' tab leave "Channel Allocation" & "Channel Mask-Use" as is (all channels; direct sound)"
Now we need to apply little registry tweaks (it resets if you change settings of the driver!). Open 'Start' menu, click on 'Run', write 'regedit' & click OK. Now go to the [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ASIO\ASIO Kernel-Streaming driver\Device\OutInterface]. You should open the key 'MaxChannels' & replace value of available № of channels with used № channels (e.g. for 2.0/2.1 systems its '2', for 5.1 - '6'). Also remeber value of the key 'MaxBits'. If its '20 (32)' I strongly suggest you to change it to 18 (24)!
  Finally we need to configure xmplay step by step:
1) Download latest stable ASIO plugin for xmplay or 'stuff' version (may be unavailable)
2) Go to 'Options & stuff' -> Output -> ASIO and tick "Always use preferred driver buffer size" & untick "Set hardware sample rate when possible"; "Use optimal resolution (else pad to it).
4) Finally go to 'Options & stuff' -> 'Output' & select "Device: ASIO - ASIO Kernel-Streaming driver".
5) Remember what bit-depth your soundcard supports (key 'MaxBits' from registry). If its "20 (32) or 18 (24)" then set 'Resolution' in xmplay to "24 bit". If its "10 (16)" - leave default "16 bit"
6) This step isn't necessary but you can also move 'SRC quality slider' right to get the best re-sampling quality.
Thats all, now you can restart the player.
Sometimes its easier to show than explain using poor English so look at the image
Enjoy great sound with the great player!
I know, its kinda late now, in the time of modern sound cards, Windows 7 etc., but "better late than never" & I hope this manual will be usefull for someone.
Additionally if you have Audigy SE like me I strongly suggest you to use SB24_PCDRV_LB_1_04_0076 driver (for me its better than support packs, latest SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0077, SBA_PCDRV_LB_1_04_0061 or CD-drivers/SB24_VTDRV_LB_1_04_0055).

[Chinese Sausage]

I'll give it a try. I use both WinXP and Win7, but still use more WinXP. I'll let you know my results. 

[Chinese Sausage]

In exactly what regard is the sound quality better with ASIOx? (I have already installed ASIOx with the recommended settings. Sounds good but I cannot distinguish better quality audio than DirectSound. Both sound almost the same).  

[saga]

And there is no objective reason why it should sound better after all, if you configure DSound to use the correct playback frequency and stuff.

[amit]

Such debates are pointless. Without any concrete evidence of the differences it is impossible to isolate the factors that differ the listening experience between users , whether these are physiological , technological or psychological.

[Alt]

Changed instruction with advice about resolution (24 bit padded to 32).

[Chinese Sausage]

I did not notice a change in sound quality on the notebook's Realtek HD soundcard. However, I did notice a difference when I had a PC with a SoundBlaster Live soundcard. ASIO seemed to make the hardware sound clearer and a little more louder.

At least I know that with ASIO the sound bypasses the OS and the sound will come directly from the soundcard, and thus will be using less resources on the system:)

[Alt]

@Chinese Sausage
It's louder because bit-perfect outputs like Kernel Streaming, ASIO & WASAPI produces sound with maximum volume. You can equalize volume of xmplay & other programs setting WaveOut's volume slider to its maximum.

[Alt]

Extended instruction with step '6.b'

[Alt]

ASIOx somehow depends on CPU . Sound can 'crackle' when you surfing on web (my PC isn't too old btw).
After long experiments I think I've found good solution. So the manual was re-written again  
Edit: updated 27/10/12 (regarding 'resolution' aka 'bit-depth')

[Y@nek®]

I have Sound Blaster X-fi Gamer (Creative ASIO). I tried your settings in XMPlay configuration  setup, after that feel a huge difference in quality. Sound is more clear & deeper.

I have one question about your setting in Output [XMPlay panel] - why you was choose Resolution as 24 bit not 32 bit?

[Alt]

Y@nek®,
1) I prefer to use resolution that DAC really supports. As I've read there's no 32 bit device at present day. Maybe this explains why 32 bit sounds 'brighter' but in the same time too 'muddy' compared to other resolutions.
2) If I'm using original drivers for my Audigy SE (from CD (1.04.0055 (later remade to 1.04.0076) or latest 1.04.0077) with ASIO [emulators] in 32 bit mode there's sound cracks in some cases.Updated manual with suggestion to set 'Channel Mask-Use' to "zero" in asio2ks options. For me it sounds much more natural and closer to real "DirectSound".
Finalized manual.One more time.

[saga]

As I've read there's no 32 bit device at present day.

And there's probably never going to be a DAC with an actual SNR that high.

[Alt]

1st post updated.