Re: [Alsa-user] Maximum word bit and sample rate for USB Audio Class 2 devices?

[Clemens L. <cla...@go...>]

Nick Lidakis wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 26, 2012 at 02:13:22PM +0200, Clemens Ladisch wrote:
>> No device is actually using 32 bits, as there is no DAC chip
>> that is capable of outputting even 24 bits.
>
> Can you elaborate your statement? We're talking digital-to-analog
> conversion, right?

Yes.  All DACs have a noise level so high that they cannot output
a signal from a 24-bit source that would be measurably different from
a signal from a source with less than 24 bits.

With about 6 dB per bit, a DAC would have to be capable of a dynamic
range of more than 144 dB for 32 bits to make sense.

> ESS Sabre DAC decodes 32 bit
> audio:http://www.esstech.com/index.php?p=products_DAC

It _decodes_ them, but I notice that ESS makes no claim that any bit
beyond the 23rd makes any difference in the output.


Regards,
Clemens