Most experts put the human limit for resolving audio in the 20 to 24-bit
range. Even ultra high-end studio equipment does not exceed 24-bits because
there is no practical reason to.
Also, having 20-bit converters in a car stereo is a total waste. You need a
minimum of 1500 cubic feet (rule of thumb) of enclosed space to reproduce a
sound without it being seriously colored and distorted by the enclosing
space. While the sound may be *generated* with high precision, the human
perception of the sound will be very colored and inaccurate due to the small
environment creating a very uneven frequency response. A good 16-bit
converter is more than enough for any vehicle. It never ceases to amaze me
that so many self-styled car audiophiles know so little about the
fundamentals of audio reproduction. The environment has far more to do with
the quality of the audio than the quality of the electronics generating it,
esp. considering the average quality of audio electronics these days. The
quality of the electronics only starts to become very important when your
sound-space becomes relatively large i.e. much larger than the enclosed
space of your car.
>hopefully this is the topic you were on. If not, well you learned
>something.
Well, it wasn't really the topic I was on, but most of my experience with
the topic did come from a lot of work in the audio field.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com