TC Electronic TC 2290 User Manual

Application note 2290-apn.01
On TC2290 Sound Quality
TC2290 features a 1 Megahertz oversampling frequency rate in the Analog to Digital as well
as the Digital to Analog process, totally eliminating the need for frequency and phase distor-
ting sharp rolloff filterings.
The dynamic difference A/D conversion precoss gives an equal or better than compact disc re-
solution for a crystal clear live sound quality as well as a totally trouble free performance transfer
when recording for compact discs or high quality cut analog pressing.
The 100 dB and 20-23000Hz numbers are good as a measure of some basic qualities, but they
certainly do not reveal all about quality.
Many delays feature 16 bit converters, which is the 'standard’ for compact disc sound quality.
A 16 bits resolution is certainly fine (giving some 90 dB dynamic range), but only part of the sto-
ry. The difficulty lies in making the Analog to Digital conversion. A conversion which is not at
all in a compact disc player (the disc only contains already digitized informations).
Whereas most Digital to Analog conversions in compact disc players are fitted with ’oversamp-
ling’ to get sufficient quality, most digital audio equipment is not. This is due to the rather high
cost of the 16 bit Analog to Digital conversion process made by oversampling!
As we see it, quality is not a limited bits liniar converter giving heavily rising distortion as the
delicate levels in music are reached. It is not a frequency response with very sharp filtering to
compensate for an alarmingly near audio (somtimes even within!!) sampling frequency.
(The filtering must be there to avoid a most unmusical ’mirroring’ of all higher frequencies into
the audioband). This sharp filtering cuts off very unnaturally and introduces some quite distur-
bing frequency and phase distortions.
The TC 2290 dynamic difference converter dynamically adjusts its resolution to low levels, high
levels or whatever to obtain a very high resolution of details. Its beyond audio sampling rate
of 1.000.000 Hz simply eliminates the need for sharp and disturbing filterings.

TC Electronic TC 2290 Specifications

General

Brand	TC Electronic
Model	TC 2290
Category	Computer Hardware
Language	English