[martyo]

I could use some help, knowledge. I was on another forum and they were hyped about a petition to the record labels to recommit to producing SACD's because they have the highest resolution. I'm embarrassed to admit  that i don't know or understand all the CD formats. I read a little on Wikapedia and it was talking about 1 bit processors. I thought that that was part of the problem with the "digital sound". Could someone enlighten me?

Thanks,
Marty

[Audiovista]

Marty,

I'm not an expert in this field, but I believe the correct term should be a 1-bit D/A conversion. Which is a "creative marketing" (I heard it first time from Technics in early 90-ies) for a serial D/A converters. Basically there are two types of DACs - parallel inputs (a 16-bit DAC will have 16 input pins) and serial DAC, where there is one input pin and signal is fed in a serial manner. Obvious advantage of a serial DAC is that there is a lower number of pins and, therefore, lower cost for the manufacturer.

This is way oversimplified, but may get you on the right track.

Check the websites of Analog Devices, Texas Instruments and Linear Technology (among quite a few others) - there is a lot of useful info (look for application notes) should you desire to dig deeper.

www.ti.com
www.analog.com
www.linear.com

[dB Cooper]

Here is something that I actually saw the link to on this site:
http://www.mother-of-tone.com/conversion.htm

[martyo]

Oooohhhhh! Thanks alot for the info.

Marty

[avahifi]

Or, why AVA uses a 16-bit parallel processing DAC.

Frank

[martyo]

Thanks Frank

[alotaklipsch]

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/  check out the threads on the steve hoffman forum

[Rob Babcock]

RIP, SACD- It seemed like a good idea at the time.

[Toka]

Yea...good idea, but a day late and a dollar short (or several years late and several bits short, whichever you prefer). Using the cheapo 1-bit method was just plain silly, IMO...you either make the best or don't bother.