go to yahoo, type in hifi and 3 or 4 hits down should be a link something like "hifi on the www" and it'll be a page full of links and down in the list should be an article on how the cd player works. You questions all focus on the Digital to analog convertors, obviously all the shiny discs have "16 bit origin." To address your fascination with one-bit, they do exist. They aren't great. The impression I get having talked to some more knowledgeable on the subject is they are quick and dirty engineering to get good upfront specs. I know very little about digital and couldn't tell you anything more, I wouldn't necessarily base a buying decision on the type of convertor, alot depends on how well that type is carried out (although i suspect alot of it is simply for market fetishes). hayenga.com has a massive links page that may have a good article or two for you. But when it comes to digital that's probably the one area where most people really don't understand a thing on (me included), I don't understand the point in a 20 bit (I've even seen 45 bit) convertors on a 16 bit source, much less the upsampling techniques and what not. I've noticed other threads of a similar nature never get much response.
explain bits.
This may be very basic, but I am new to this. I was looking in an older Stereo Review magazine (1996 buyers guide) and cd players were either 1 bit, 16 bit, 18 bit or 20 bit, some had dual. I noticed that price did not necessarily determine number of bits, there are expensive 1 bit, and less expensive 20 bit! I have a one bit that is about 5-6 yrs old. I guess I can see 16, 18 or 20 bit as being close, but are there really one bit machines? What do I look for today? do they still make 1 bit machines? Can a 1 bit sound as good as a 20 bit if they are both higher end? Please explain, and thanks.
Rick
Rick