LVM, was Re: [sdiy] PIC Quantizer project

[Glen]

At 07:34 PM 11/15/04 , Tim Parkhurst wrote:

>> LVM works for me, although 5V isn't considered low voltage anymore.
>>**************************
>True, but I think one huge advantage of the monster +/-10V signals is that
>it's so much easier to get a good signal to noise ratio.

It's a 12 dB difference in maximum peak levels,  but would that translate
directly into a 12 dB drop in SNR and dynamic range? 

I also wonder what the lower voltage would do for things like chip heating?
I would think the presumably lower chip temperatures might be a bonus in
some ways. Component longevity should increase, correct? 

Didn't someone turn the 8038 into a decent VCO, in large part, by reducing
the operating voltage? I think the lower voltages and temperatures improved
the part's longevity and stability.

I also wonder if the lower voltages would mean less "stress" on the op
amps, in the sense of less distortion? As I understood it, trying to
extract higher currents from an op amp tended to produce more distortion. I
would think that the reduced operating voltages might reduce the current
demand and resulting distortion. Would it work out that way in practice?


take care,
Glen