Sony NS3100 DVD Player User Manual


 
ES DVD Players 2005, Version 4.0 Page 35
Multi-Bit D/A conversion
Multi-Bit D/A conversion
1
4
8
+
2
1
4
8
+
2
Output =3
Output =5
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
Multi level D/A conversion
Multi level D/A conversion
1
1
1
+
1
1
1
1
+
1
1
1
1
+
1
1
1
1
+
1
Output =2
Output =2
Output =2
Output =2
Multi-bit conversion (left) versus multi-level conversion (right).
To appreciate the difference between multi-bit and multi-level conversion,
take a look at the two of them, side-by-side, as shown in the diagram above. For
multi-bit conversion (left), each switch for has its own unique value. For multi-
level conversion (right), all switches have the same value, 1.
For multi-bit, each desired output corresponds to one and only one
combination of switches. For example, there's only one way to generate an
output of 3. In contrast, multi-level conversion has many ways to generate the
same output value. The illustration on the right shows four different switch
combinations that create an output of 2. In fact, Sony® multi-level converters
can use thousands of switch combinations to create a given output level. And
the converters select the combinations at random, so output errors tend to cancel
out. And errors never get the opportunity to cause the regular, predictable
nonlinearities of multi-bit designs.
In this way, multi-level conversion achieves high precision in the amplitude
direction and high accuracy in the time domain, for astonishing specifications and
exceptional uniformity on all six channels. But the benefit is far more than just
technical. You'll hear reproduction with of superb clarity, transparency and
musicality.
Separate analog audio circuit board
The digital audio, digital video, analog video and servo control circuits
inside a DVD player are potential sources of radiated noise. Low-level signals in
the analog audio circuits are particularly susceptible to this noise. That's why
Sony isolates the analog audio circuits on their own board. It's one more
measure to help maintain the purity of both DVD-Video sound tracks, and Super
Audio CD music.
In addition, Sony uses six separate, identical audio circuits to handle the
5.1 channels. This ensures uniform frequency response and gain characteristics