Re: [9fans] audio standards -- too many to choose from

[James Tomaschke <james@orcasystems.com>]

Charles Forsyth wrote:
> sorry, i did realise. i'm afraid i just couldn't resist slightly
> misquoting Flanders and Swann's `Song of Reproduction' (High Fidelity).
> http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Flanders-Swann-Georges-Brassens/dp/B000006T4S/ref=pd_sim_b_1

Yes, marketing in general feeds on "more is better".

I don't have a complex audio chain, but there are some with multiple
devices mixing audio and digital.  I believe their argument for higher
sampling rates is because the analog filters have to cut frequencies
higher than Nyquist, so the higher the sampling frequency the less of of
a "slope" the filter has to work on which reduces the noise from the
analog side.  Or this can be interpreted as being able to use cheaper
analog filters for the same noise requirement.  However, this field is
beyond my competence.

>From a hardware perspective, I could see how a single 192kHz DAC is
cheaper to use than four 48kHz ones.  Smaller chip die area or less
components to attach.

Either way I believe it has to do more with manufacturing costs.