# (Feature request) WASAPI mode **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Labs\ **Tags:** plexamp\ **Created:** [April 20, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518 "2023-04-20T05:32:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 5:32am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/1 "2023-04-20T05:32:29Z")
Is there anyway you guys could do a WASAPI mode so it bypasses windows direct sound / windows mixer. I am comparing wasapi on roon right now to direct sound on plex in windows 11 and there is a pretty clear resolution/clarity bump with wasapi. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 7:45am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/2 "2023-04-20T07:45:36Z")
The difference you are perceiving might be just down to a difference in _volume_. It is a very common fallacy to perceive one speaker as “better” than another, even if the only difference between them is volume. Plexamp tends to be quieter due to how its loudness matching is working. Try this: - open the old sound control panel of Windows and disable all post processing and “improvements”, like ![grafik](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/0/f/f/0ffb66fcf101bf2ce8c2bc596ee12806008d73de.png) - in the Playback preferences of Plexamp, DISable the limiter, and set the Preamp to +0dB. - try to adjust the volume in Roon downwards, so it matches the volume in Plexamp as precisely as possible - re-evaluate ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 1:56pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/3 "2023-04-20T13:56:43Z")
You are totally right. Plex is quieter that is why I make sure its volume matched when I am A-Bing with a sound meter. Even with that roon sounds better, its more clear, there is more microdetail and ambient cues of a room can be more easily heard. Dynamics are also better. Is a wasapi mode not possible for plex at sometime in the future? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/4 "2023-04-20T14:10:42Z")
Did you make the configuration changes I mentioned above? ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/5 "2023-04-20T17:22:59Z")
Yes I am on windows 11 so i insured no dsp was applied. I am using an audio gd di20he with amanero driver. My volume is hardware controlled with my external usb + amp so I can’t lower roon’s volume. When I click limiter option in plexamp nothing happens. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/6 "2023-04-20T17:24:34Z")
> [@smodtactical](#): > > When I click limiter option in plexamp nothing happens. The settings usually only take effect when you stop and restart playback. (stop by long press on Pause.) ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/7 "2023-04-20T23:17:31Z")
Ok I did it. I think it may have improved the sound but I will keep listening and report back. thx ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 3:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/8 "2023-04-23T15:17:15Z")
Upon further testing it seems roon still sounds better. More clarity, microdynamics and detail. Please feel free to test this yourself and compare the two (anyone who has both). The issue is I don’t know if roon sounds better because of wasapi mode or just because of the way their software tech works. ---
**Author:** ![tgp-2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tgp-2/32/276306_2.png) [@tgp-2](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tgp-2)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/9 "2023-04-25T14:52:46Z")
you can disable/enable wasapi exclusive in roon and compare that way the windows audio limiter is another thing to avoid, i think either by a small reduction in volume or by applying negative preamp gain with a program such as Equalizer APO (some details [here](https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/ending-the-windows-audio-quality-debate.19438/)) Plexamp on Mac currently supports auto sample rate switching, as does Plexamp headless on a Raspberry Pi (with direct ALSA output) … both are very good options ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 5:39am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/10 "2023-04-28T05:39:45Z")
So running roon out of direct mode is not as good as direct mode where it bypasses windows. Roon out of direct mode is similar to plexamp but in direct mode it just gives you that 1 level of up in sound quality as I described previously. Please try it yourself and compare. ---
**Author:** ![tgp-2](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tgp-2/32/276306_2.png) [@tgp-2](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tgp-2)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/11 "2023-04-28T15:35:47Z")
if i apply a small negative preamp gain in windows to avoid the windows limiter, i can’t reliably hear a difference between that and wasapi exclusive + the same negative gain (for volume matching purposes) i do agree that wasapi exclusive would be a nice future addition to Plexamp on windows (the devs have not ruled it out) … if only to make optimization a little easier for folks who really want to pursue it (most would not hear a difference, and they’d more likely be annoyed when exclusive mode doesn’t share their audio device with other apps etc.) ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 3:46pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/12 "2023-04-28T15:46:54Z")
May I ask what audio gear are you using right now? amp, dac, headphones/speakers? ---
**Author:** ![ussalin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ussalin/32/297064_2.png) [@ussalin](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ussalin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/13 "2023-04-28T17:15:45Z")
> [@tgp-2](#): > > (most would not hear a difference, and they’d more likely be annoyed when exclusive mode doesn’t share their audio device with other apps etc.) I guess it can be bypassed… how can a Windows player in 2023 not have exclusive audio? ---
**Author:** ![smodtactical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@smodtactical](https://forums.plex.tv/u/smodtactical)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 7:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/14 "2023-04-28T19:39:01Z")
Indeed. Rather than make excuses of why its not needed lets all do some testing with hifi gear and if we agree it is better than lets make it happen. ---
**Author:** ![lux032](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/lux032/32/341324_2.png) [@lux032](https://forums.plex.tv/u/lux032)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/15 "2023-06-30T05:18:00Z")
With a discrete sound card and headphone amplifier you can clearly distinguish the difference between having exclusive audio or not. We need this most basic feature should at least be an optional item. ---
**Author:** ![lux032](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/lux032/32/341324_2.png) [@lux032](https://forums.plex.tv/u/lux032)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 5:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/16 "2023-06-30T05:20:33Z")
This is an issue that has been discussed for years, and it is impossible to understand why a perfect audio output solution is only adapted for other desktop systems and ignored for windows systems. ---
**Author:** ![ussalin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ussalin/32/297064_2.png) [@ussalin](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ussalin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/17 "2023-06-30T20:06:43Z")
You can always try to exclude the Windows Mixer ''enhancements" 🙃 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-wasapi-mode/838518/18 "2023-09-28T20:06:46Z")
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