On Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:18:11 +0100, "David Looser"
wrote:



I hadn't heard that; FWIW the Sony 'PCM-on-Betamax-cassettes' system was
14-bit.

It was 16 bit switchable to 14 bit. (I've still got a PCMF1.)

Philips started the development of CD as a 14 bit system with a
smaller disc than they ended up using. At some later stage they
started cooperating with Sony. It was Sony who wanted the higher bit
depth and they also wanted the playing time increased, so the disc
diameter increased. The story is that Akio Morita wanted to be able to
play Beethovens 9th without interuption.

At the time Sony had been developing digital audio systems for some
time and had the capability to make 16 bit converters. Philips could
only manufacture 14 bit converters, and the oversampling that they
ended up using was a way in which they could keep up with a 16 bit
spec, but using the 14 bit converters that they had.

At the time (late 70s) this was difficult technology to mass produce
and Philips original 14 bit system was much potentially much better
than LP anyway. Sony improved it and future proofed it well.

Bill