MM797- From an analog audio and sound quality standpoint you are correct. I agree.
This aspect does not tell the whole story, because audio sound quality is not always all that matters.
My historic view-
Back in the old days, in the 70's and early 80's the number of transformers, op-amps and capacitors, VCAs in the signal path absolutely made a difference, and sound quality could be degraded. Broadcasters had to make a choice between the benefit of audio processing and sound degradation of a long signal path. For example, you might not have wanted to go through a nasty VCA to have single band leveling you really didn't need to achieve your processing goal.
As time went on op-amps improved and many designers became adept at achieving desired processing sound with a minimum amount of degradation in the analog signal path.
Then digital arrived. At first it was horrible. Over time digital signal processing (DSP) improved with audio engines achieving something amazing like 32-bit internal core processing dynamic range, and if A/D or DA interfaces are needed they could be 20-bit to 24-bit. Now good digital is fantastic sounding.
For many years now, in digital there has been no practical audio sound quality penalty by "stacking" audio stages to achieve a complex audio processing structure. Within reason the DSP does not care. Today, if the software and hardware can do it, you can make your audio processing dreams or nightmares come true. The sound quality risk is not the software and hardware, it is your own actions.
MM797 in the historical sense you are absolutely correct. In analog a shorter, high-quality signal path is preferable, unless the benefit of more audio processing stages is more important than sound quality degradation caused by more things in the signal path.
MM797, excellent comments about analog audio and bench work with the scope.
btw- I might add that except for output stages, op-amps rarely need much current drive capability. 5K load is just a few mA even at the rails.
Best regards.
This aspect does not tell the whole story, because audio sound quality is not always all that matters.
My historic view-
Back in the old days, in the 70's and early 80's the number of transformers, op-amps and capacitors, VCAs in the signal path absolutely made a difference, and sound quality could be degraded. Broadcasters had to make a choice between the benefit of audio processing and sound degradation of a long signal path. For example, you might not have wanted to go through a nasty VCA to have single band leveling you really didn't need to achieve your processing goal.
As time went on op-amps improved and many designers became adept at achieving desired processing sound with a minimum amount of degradation in the analog signal path.
Then digital arrived. At first it was horrible. Over time digital signal processing (DSP) improved with audio engines achieving something amazing like 32-bit internal core processing dynamic range, and if A/D or DA interfaces are needed they could be 20-bit to 24-bit. Now good digital is fantastic sounding.
For many years now, in digital there has been no practical audio sound quality penalty by "stacking" audio stages to achieve a complex audio processing structure. Within reason the DSP does not care. Today, if the software and hardware can do it, you can make your audio processing dreams or nightmares come true. The sound quality risk is not the software and hardware, it is your own actions.
MM797 in the historical sense you are absolutely correct. In analog a shorter, high-quality signal path is preferable, unless the benefit of more audio processing stages is more important than sound quality degradation caused by more things in the signal path.
MM797, excellent comments about analog audio and bench work with the scope.
btw- I might add that except for output stages, op-amps rarely need much current drive capability. 5K load is just a few mA even at the rails.
Best regards.
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