Analogue Vs. Digital

[RockNRollAl]

I understand where you guys are coming from.

I guess I'm used to generating PWM signals directly from microprocessor chips with TTL/CMOS output gates that were assignable as general purpose I/O. One of the functions was for piezo alarms driven directly from those outputs (or through an H-bridge, if I needed it really loud).

And I did program the PWM output streams in code.

 

[Inconnu]

Analog anything is always better than digital anything.

My old cassettes sounded way better then CDs

 

[vbchaos]

Analog anything is always better than digital anything.

As designer and engineer of digital, programmable logic, I insist to disagree.
Ever used an analogue PC? Well, it exist(ed), but... well, I guess you know what that one looked like?
Remember these analogue screens?? UAAAH, horrible, I have to wear glasses because I used these ****ers too much! And do not forget the analogue telefones. Not speaking of analogue cellphones

I know, a digitalised copy of an analogue signal is always just a compromise, but novadays it is a quite good one, at least as long as you use high-quality components. But that counts for analogue circuits as well. And who said you have to digitalise analogue signals? You can create sound digitally as well, and I would keep it digital until it reaches the amplifier!!!

Digital signal processing has a bad reputation, I know. But that is for most parts because the designers always puts EVERYTHING possible in one module/unit and have to do it as cheap as possible.Most companies have cut their own flesh when they decided to go for the all-in-one-and-cheap option. Yeah, it sells, but the image is bad! It does what is said on the box, but... Not as good as expected, right?

I design digital signal processing units (video, not audio) and I can tell you, we can do wonderful things you would never be able to achieve in any analogue way, and we do it on the surface of a coin. But, it is the same with everything else: You get what you paid for. The stuff we make costs time and a ******** of money, but it works!!!

 

[aborgman]

So you can extract binary code (digital code)? Pulse width does not contain binary code that I have seen.

Pulse width modulation schemes used in class D that I've seen are pure analog.

SOME PWM schemes (which I have not seen used in amplifiers) have a finite, digital, number of widths. They ARE digital.

 

[aborgman]

"Conventional" power supplies are non-linear.

Correct.

...but they are "linear".

 

[aborgman]

As designer and engineer of digital, programmable logic, I insist to disagree.
Ever used an analogue PC? Well, it exist(ed), but... well, I guess you know what that one looked like?

Yep.

Like this:

A couple years ago I spent a month refurbishing one.

Funny enough - there are still some problems where analog computing is "better" than digital.

 

[Luckydog]

Typical internet experience. OP simply asks will one sound as good as the other, and nearly the entire room has to present their electrical engineering credentials, while ignoring the question.

 

[vbchaos]

Yep.

Like this:

A couple years ago I spent a month refurbishing one.

Funny enough - there are still some problems where analog computing is "better" than digital.

Looks nice

Just saw a colleague cleaning up his document archive. 25 years of paper, paper paper... scan it, it fits perfectly on a pocket-size USB-Stick

 

[CL400Peavey]

Typical internet experience. OP simply asks will one sound as good as the other, and nearly the entire room has to present their electrical engineering credentials, while ignoring the question.

It wasnt ignored. The first repley pointed out that both amps were analog.

 

[Luckydog]

It wasnt ignored. The first repley pointed out that both amps were analog.

The OP's example was an error, but the question remained unanswered by nearly everyone.

 

[CL400Peavey]

The OP's example was an error, but the question remained unanswered by nearly everyone.

No it wasnt. There are very few amps that are actually digital.

The comment about the topology mattering little, as it is entire design that determines what is a good amp, is the answer here.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

"Conventional" power supplies are non-linear.

You'd know better than I.
I have always heard the regular old transformer-diode bridge-capacitor power supply referred to as linear.
Maybe I am getting things backwards. I am super-dyslexic. Getting numbers upside down and stuff.

 

[aborgman]

You'd know better than I.
I have always heard the regular old transformer-diode bridge-capacitor power supply referred to as linear.
Maybe I am getting things backwards. I am super-dyslexic. Getting numbers upside down and stuff.

They're called "linear" - but they aren't actually linear.

 

[B-string]

Typical internet experience. OP simply asks will one sound as good as the other, and nearly the entire room has to present their electrical engineering credentials, while ignoring the question.

Well in that case I must apologize. I assumed if someone asks a question they want a complete answer so they can be informed. To continue to live in ignorance with only a with a response to push this button, never crossed my mind.

 

[B-string]

Pulse width modulation schemes used in class D that I've seen are pure analog.

SOME PWM schemes (which I have not seen used in amplifiers) have a finite, digital, number of widths. They ARE digital.

Yes that was my point. Analog PWM has been around much longer than digital PWM. You can't assume it will be either.

 

[2string1]

Well in that case I must apologize. I assumed if someone asks a question they want a complete answer so they can be informed. To continue to live in ignorance with only a with a response to push this button, never crossed my mind.

This is my first question on this topic"Will and can a digital amp sound as good as a analogue amp"? Apparently there all analog. Complete answer... Yes but not a complete schooling in electronics... Now that I know there all analog,I will have to give one of those tiny,light weight guys a try. I like analog....It just sounds better even when you say it..ANALOG vs DIGITIZED...

 

[B-string]

I realize the discussions get thick . This post will be viewed by more than just the person asking the question. It becomes an opportunity for many people to learn, even those who have training outside of the exact subject matter. I hope it did not bore you too much, now you know better than to take marketing ad copy at face value.
TMI for some yes but everyone walks away with the power to say:" Yeah okay, I'm not falling for that line."
Engineers love to "brainstorm", it is how new things are developed. (Besides in person it is fun to watch people's eyes glass over, but I didn't tell you that )

 

[JimmyM]

Sometimes I think I can actually see people's eyes glaze over through their subsequent posts, too But I 100% agree with B-string 2...an informed consumer is a happy consumer.

 

[RickenBoogie]

+1 when someone asks a question, the best answer is the one that includes ALL the facts. There are far too many bass amp/spkr myths that persist on this forum, and when a willing respondent takes the time to educate the uninformed, it helps the entire community.

 

[ArtechnikA]

when someone asks a question, the best answer is the one that includes ALL the facts.

Quality of answers would improve if questions included all the facts too, but this too rarely happens. Then there's half a dozen people answering what they thought the question was before we finally get to understand the _real_ question...

Each answer to the wrong question begets bickering from the people who had a different interpretation of the original question...

Asking exactly the right question is a bit of an art form. This is a primary subject of an excellent sci-fi book by Ursula LeGuinn named 'The Left Hand Of Darkness.'