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RE: Loudness - SACD versus CD

Posted by Thorsten (M) on July 12, 2015 at 10:11:29

In Reply to: Loudness - SACD versus CD posted by murali on July 10, 2015 at 05:28:12:

Hi,

> The most and immediately noticeable aspect while playing a SACD
> disc for me is the extension of the soundstage from front to back
> and sides, like lifting a veil.

You get the same effect by lowering the volume instantly by 6dB, try it.

> However, I find that the loudness is reduced

Yes, DSD has a recommended maximum level that is 6dB below what traditional digital audio calls "0dBFS" (it is in the Purplebook Spec for SACD). This is in part down to fundamental limitations of the format, many Delta Sigma modulators with very high order modulators are not stable at high levels.

If you have a dedicated DSD DAC it is possible to re-scale 0dBDSD to give the common 2V output.

If you have a DAC that processes DSD and PCM in a single chip you need to include this gain scaling in the audio circuitry, switchable (kind of the opposite of what HDCD mandated when it was an active format)..

This tends to be non-trivial (it needs extra stages or complex switching).

I have solved this problem for an upcoming product, it will have identical output levels for 0dBFS (PCM) and 0dBDSD, interresting challenge.

Thor

At 20 bits, you are on the verge of dynamic range covering fly-farts-at-20-feet to intolerable pain. Really, what more could we need?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

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