48 khz vs. 96 khz

[RFP]

This is probably a very elementary question but I so far haven't been able to find a comprehensive answer. I have an NAD T532 player, which does not have have DVD-A or SACD capability. In the setup menu, when you chose Dolby Digital output, it gives you the choice between 48 khz or 96 khz output. When do you select one and not the other? Aren't most CDs and DVDs recorded in 48 khz? I assumed that 96 khz was for advanced resolution recordings, but since this player doesn't have DVD-A or SACD, that can't be exactly right. Is there any harm in setting it at 96 khz if the disc you happen to play is only 48?

 

[djoxygen]

CDs are 44.1KHz. Most video-related digital audio is at 48KHz (DVD movies as well as DVD-A). You are correct that only the more esoteric and rare digital audio is delivered at 96K.

Maybe what the NAD is trying to do is some kind of interpolative oversampling? Unless there is any more explanation in the manual, your ears should be able to tell you if there is any difference. If you don't hear a change switching between the 2, leave it at 96.

 

[RFP]

Thanks. The manual doesn't even acknowledge that the choice is there. Generally I don't hear any difference when switching between 48 and 96. However I have a few DVD-A discs which I play using the DTS 5.1 option (again, because the player doesn't handle DVD-A) and when I set the player to 96 I believe these discs sound better. But I can't tell if it's just my imagination. I suppose I could just leave it at 96?

 

[nm2285]

I do believe DTS surround is recorded at 96 kHz. You'd be using that option whenever you play a DTS-music disc or a dvd with DTS sound. Just leave it at 96, won't have any problems.

 

[Rob Babcock]

If you switch it to 48 it will downsample any 96 klhz material to 48 khz. I'm not sure why players have this feature, unless it's to accommodate older receivers/DACs that can't accept a 24/96 signal. Worse yet, many machines default to that setting. Pioneer defaults to 48, for example.

Unless you have reason not to, it's best to set it to 96 and be done with it. That way if you're watching a disc with the higher rez content the player will pass the stream properly.

 

[zumbo]

That is correct. The setting is there for receivers that can't decode the signal.

 

[RFP]

OK, I think that explains it. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.