pfarrell Wrote: > PhilNYC wrote:[color=blue] > > But is it important? > 16 bits is 96 dB Signal to noise. Each additional bit add 6dB. Lets for > > the sake of not quibbling over whether it is 5 or 6, and say using 24 > bit actually delivers only two real bits of additional signal. > > That takes us from 96dB to 108 dB. > > Is that enough? It is clear that no listening space is quiet enough for > > 108 dB of range, it is not clear that any space 'needs' a range of 96 > dB. But we know that the trucation of 16 bit signals without proper > dithering is audible, at least when you have 24 bit DACs to compare > against. And I'll grant that crappy engineering makes the bad dithering > > more audible even with RedBook. >
It's not a question of absolute range as much as it is about resolution. If you've ever listened to a state of the art vinyl rig compared to a start of the art digital rig, there's no comparison which has more nuance and sophistication in the sound, even though vinyl doesn't actually legitimately achieve the same dynamic range as digital. I know this is going to sound cliche and like some audiophile BS, but it is completely dependent on the recording, the acoustic environment of the audio system, the quality of the system, and the listener's hearing ability (in that order, IMHO) as to whether (1) there is a significant audible difference, and (2) whether its worth the dollars paid to get there. On a tangent, it does knock me out when someone buys really expensive gear and then does nothing with regards to acoustic treatments etc. Room acoustics is 50% of the equation *at least*... -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26332 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
