This will help you setup your system for better sound quality with Fidelizer. Please follow the step-by-step instructions below.

System Requirements

Although Fidelizer could work on all versions of Windows since Windows XP without minimum hardware requirements, some users might feel confused whether Fidelizer will work on their installed version of Windows. Fidelizer is supported on the following Windows versions:

Windows XP*
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 8.1
Windows 10
Windows 11

Fidelizer also works with the following versions of Windows Server:

Windows Server 2003*
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2012
Windows Server 2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2022

* Some NT6 core optimization features aren’t available in these marked Windows versions. To get full optimization, consider upgrading Windows.

For usage with AudiophileOptimizer, please make sure you keep the following configuration to maintain compatibility (Recommend version 2.0 or higher)

– Keep Windows Management Instrumentation service
– For Windows Server 2012/R2 in core mode, set Fidelizer Pro as default shell replacement (Not for Windows 10/Windows Server 2016-2019)

STEP 1: Setting up the audiophile environment

Although Fidelizer can instantly enhance Windows sound quality with just one click, setting up audio software for better sound before using Fidelizer is recommended. To demonstrate how to improve sound quality on audio software, we’ll use foobar2000 as an example.

You can install foobar2000 v2.0 (32-bit) with Fidelizer setup assistant ready for playing streaming services with uPNP apps and optimized for high performance audio playback.

Fidelizer redistributes unmodified installer with separated “foobar2000_setup.exe” according to license terms on website. If you already have foobar2000 setup, you can follow the instructions below as reference.

1. Download and install foobar2000 with WASAPI component for bit-perfect playback support

2. Open setup Preferences and set ReplayGain to “none” in Source mode and Processing as shown below.

3. Setup output device with WASAPI (event), change output data format to highest supported bit-depth, and slide down Buffer length to 200ms. If you have working ASIO driver, you may install ASIO plugin and use ASIO output instead.

4. Configure Advanced settings with the following options:

Full file buffering up to (kB): Highest possible (I entered 1048576 for 1GB buffer)
WASAPI Hardware buffer in MS – push/event mode: 24
High worker process priority: checked
Thread priority: 7
Use MMCSS: checked
MMCSS mode: Audio (Windows default mode where Fidelizer optimizes)

With this, you should get better sound from foobar2000 and make Fidelizer optimizations become much more effective than before. Some people who failed to notice improvements with Fidelizer before may have a better chance after configuring audio software like this.

For Tidal/YouTube users who rely on default Windows audio playback, you can setup bit-perfect sound software like VB-Audio ASIO Bridge with JPLAY/ASIO4ALL in combo for better audio performance. It also works well on iTunes and Windows Media Player.

STEP 2: Choosing user level

Fidelizer has 3 user levels. This will explain how each level affects your system.

Consumer: This is a default user level. Fidelizer will enhance sound quality without affecting system performance. Your system won’t slow down and everything will work fine as usual. Developer also uses it on my work machine.

Minimalist: Fidelizer will stop/disable system services that aren’t related to audio playback. Services like Windows Update, Print Spooler or even network may stop completely depending on audio profile. You can change back to Consumer user level if it affects your important tasks.

Audiophile: Fidelizer will sacrifice system performance for better sound quality. Your system will be slower and some applications may not work right. It doesn’t affect software running after optimizations. You can change back to Consumer user level if it affects your important tasks.

Purist: This is an extreme purist level. Fidelizer will stop/disable system services that aren’t related to audio playback and sacrifice system performance for better sound quality. Audio tasks should have maximum performance. You can change back to Consumer user level if it affects your important tasks.

For first time user, please use Consumer user level with default audio profile option to see how Fidelizer works with default configuration first. Increasing user level will further increase level of optimizations but may need proper adjustments on some systems with strong characteristics.

You can restart to return back to normal if you have trouble. For Fidelizer Pro, you can run main program again, click Uninstall, and restart.

STEP 3: Choosing configuration for the right application

In Fidelizer Pro, you can change your machine configuration for different suitable audio applications. Since they’re already explained in About Fidelizer section, this section will cover end-user scenarios, as below.

Scenario 1 – I use foobar2000 on dedicated audio machine playing songs from local storage and want the best possible sound quality.

Optimization Level: Purist
Machine Configuration: Audio Player (Without network connection)
Music Player Application: foobar2000

Scenario 2 – I use foobar2000 connecting to USB DAC without using DSP and want the best possible sound quality while keeping network remote working.

Optimization Level: Purist
Machine Configuration: Audio Render
Music Player Application: foobar2000

Scenario 3 – I use MinimServer on JPLAY Control PC streaming music to JPLAY Audio PC and want to experience the best possible sound quality.

Optimization Level: Purist
Machine Configuration: Streamer
Music Player Application: MinimServer

Scenario 4 – I use Roon on laptop for listening to music from TIDAL and want to improve sound quality without affecting my work applications.

Optimization Level: Consumer
Machine Configuration: Network Player
Music Player Application: Roon

Scenario 5 – I use XMBC for streaming audio/video playback and want to improve playback quality without losing Windows Update feature.

Optimization Level: Audiophile
Machine Configuration: Media Center
Music Player Application: XMBC

And click Fidelize to start optimizing system to improve sound quality. You’ll be prompted about launching music player application after optimizations so click ‘Yes’ if you want to launch your favorite music player software after optimizations.