Re: [NTLK] Analog / Digital / MP3 / so forth

From: Stainless Steel Rat (ratinox_at_peorth.gweep.net)
Date: Wed Oct 31 2001 - 15:31:59 EST


* Jon Glass <jonglass_at_usa.net> on Wed, 31 Oct 2001
| The comment was that many audiophiles, when CDs first came out complained of
| this phenomenon. I also gave a one explanation as to why they thought this.
| Personally, I thought this argument went away years ago. :-)

No, it hasn't, because it is a legitimate concern in some circles.

CD-DA -- Compact Disc Digital Audio -- is 16-bit linear PCM (pulse code
modulation) at a 44.1kHz sampling rate. Due to aliasing (yes, it is the
same phenomenon in video), a digital recording's absolute maximum frequency
response is 1/2 the sampling rate. Effectively, the top 10% or so is
"wasted" in rolloff buffering and such, so CD-DA's actual effective
frequency response tops out at around 18kHz. The issue is that
high-frequency harmonics are literally chopped off.

This is especially noticeable to me with string instruments: cellos,
guitars and such. Obviously, YMWV.

-- 
Rat <ratinox_at_peorth.gweep.net>    \ Ingredients of Happy Fun Ball include an
Minion of Nathan - Nathan says Hi! \ unknown glowing substance which fell to
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