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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekmdp!markp
From: markp@tekmdp.UUCP (Mark Paulin)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: different quantization systems may be audibly different
Message-ID: <2119@tekmdp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Aug-83 20:18:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekmdp.2119
Posted: Mon Aug  8 20:18:39 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Aug-83 06:47:10 EDT
Lines: 26


It can be shown that for the ideal case the frequency response of a digital
audio system will extend to half the sampling frequency at the high end, and
that the S/N in dB will be very close to 10.8 + 6.0 * n where n is the number
of bits used in the quantization.

Thus the Soundstream system (sampled at 50kHz, 16 bit quantization) may be
expected to provide frequency response out to 25kHz with S/N of about 107dB.

The Denon PCM system (sampled at 44.2kHz, 14 bit quantization), on the other
hand, may be expected to provide frequency response out to 22.1kHz with
S/N of about 95dB.

The above comments are for the ideal transfer function.  In practice there
are several problems associated with real-time D-A conversion.  These problems
are more severe with the 16-bit system than with the 14-bit system.  I have
read that this is the reason for the use of the oversampled 14-bit technique
in the Magnavox player -- they do not believe that the 16-bit technology is
sufficient today to perform the D-A conversion in a MUSICALLY sound fashion.

I agree with the people at Magnavox, which is yet another reason for me to wait
for the next generation of players to hit the market...


Mark Paulin
...tektronix!tekmdp!markp