22906
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
- Posts
- 385
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- 12
I just had an idea of a complete hi-fi audio signal chain -- from the recording studio to our ears. It goes like this:
condenser mic -> successive approximation ADC -> PCM audio codec -> compressed file (FLAC)
FLAC -> R-2R dac -> headphones/speakers
The problem with digital audio is the advancement of SIGMA-DELTA architecture in DAC and ADC design to cut costs.... the world has not yet begun to tap the full potential resolution of digital audio... quality R-2R DACs are available such as Totaldac, Aqua La Scala S2, but more affordable NOS, filterless R2R dac using pcm1704 is Needed
It's not that R-2R/SAR converters are better sounding, it's that sigma-delta design is theoretically flawed. Single-bit sigma-delta cannot faithfully reproduce audio signals (at the same level as 16/44 PCM) until we reach operating/sampling frequencies of 3GHz. Right now the fastest SD converter I've heard of, ESS Sabre, operates at ~100MHz. EDIT: Please refer to this thread regarding real resolution of ESS http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2241
On the recording side, if sound is recorded with crappy sigma-delta ADCs, there is no possibility for hi-fi reproduction. This is the main lacking area. I would like someone to make a Successive-approximation style Analog-to-digital converter which is the highest fidelity architecture possible. If someone can design a circuit around existing SAR ADC chips like the Analog Devices AD7621
This should be developed and promoted widely in recording studios... a 16-bit SAR ADC can revolutionize audio in the world today... better than vinyl and all hitherto audio formats in existence.
To all circuit designers out there... hear my plea! I will be entertained by your responses. Thanks.
EDIT: Check out my other thread
EDIT: Jump to Post 83 http://www.head-fi.org/t/747265/hi-fi-audio-signal-chain-no-more-sigma-delta/75#post_11203199
condenser mic -> successive approximation ADC -> PCM audio codec -> compressed file (FLAC)
FLAC -> R-2R dac -> headphones/speakers
The problem with digital audio is the advancement of SIGMA-DELTA architecture in DAC and ADC design to cut costs.... the world has not yet begun to tap the full potential resolution of digital audio... quality R-2R DACs are available such as Totaldac, Aqua La Scala S2, but more affordable NOS, filterless R2R dac using pcm1704 is Needed
It's not that R-2R/SAR converters are better sounding, it's that sigma-delta design is theoretically flawed. Single-bit sigma-delta cannot faithfully reproduce audio signals (at the same level as 16/44 PCM) until we reach operating/sampling frequencies of 3GHz. Right now the fastest SD converter I've heard of, ESS Sabre, operates at ~100MHz. EDIT: Please refer to this thread regarding real resolution of ESS http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2241
On the recording side, if sound is recorded with crappy sigma-delta ADCs, there is no possibility for hi-fi reproduction. This is the main lacking area. I would like someone to make a Successive-approximation style Analog-to-digital converter which is the highest fidelity architecture possible. If someone can design a circuit around existing SAR ADC chips like the Analog Devices AD7621
This should be developed and promoted widely in recording studios... a 16-bit SAR ADC can revolutionize audio in the world today... better than vinyl and all hitherto audio formats in existence.
To all circuit designers out there... hear my plea! I will be entertained by your responses. Thanks.
EDIT: Check out my other thread
EDIT: Jump to Post 83 http://www.head-fi.org/t/747265/hi-fi-audio-signal-chain-no-more-sigma-delta/75#post_11203199