Quote:
Originally Posted by jam88 
Roger, we all want to know if Marantz is perhaps using AL32 or AL24 for that matter in the 8801 and indeed they're not claiming any use of those technologies. I'm just raising the possibility, as was ss9001 (Steve), that they may make use of the technology without any claims in order to preserve some brand differentiation for the Denon label. It's speculation at this point but nevertheless it remains a possibility because of the almost identical design of the digital front-end (minus the Denon Link).
Extension, i.e. an increase of the word length, is a part, albeit optional, of the upsampling technique. Interpolation is the lingo used to describe the action of inserting additional artificially derived sample(s) between two original samples and is a fundamental part of upsampling technologies.
The Denon Alpha processor technology was the first PCM upsampling technology developed by Denon and would only increase the word length from 16 to 20 bits. Then they further developed the design of the Alpha processor and AL24 became the second iteration of their upsampling technology; it could extend the word length to 24 bits and the sampling rate up to 192 kHz.
AL24 is described in many professional reviews and even some Denon gear owner manuals as upsampling technology. These last few years, Denon tends to not too often specifically refer to it as upsampling in their literature, in order to preserve some cachet (market differentiation) since many other manufacturers have also offered various upsampling technologies for some years now. I have an old Panasonic DVD player from 2001 (DVDRP-91) that also does upsampling; Panasonic called the feature: Re-Master.
This Denon AVR-5805 review from Gene DellaSala on Audiholics mentions: "The Denon upsamples all 44kHz signals to 96kHz / 24 bit as per their AL24 bit process. In fact, Denon's Advanced AL24 Processing handles up to 192kHz and 24 bit extension with real time interpolation." Gene DellaSala is an experienced EE.
This other review of the Denon AVP-A1HDCI by John E. Johnson of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity says: "Denon's Advanced AL 24 Processing upsamples all the audio to 24 bit.".
This Denon UK brochure for the AVR-4308DAB describes Advanced AL24 in these words: "The Field Programmable Gate Array includes the latest Denon exclusive AL processing algorithms. Advanced AL24 expands the resolution of standard audio signals (CD: 16 bit) to 24 bit (bit extension) and also increases the scanning rate to 192 kHz (upsampling), on all channels.".
The manual for the Denon DBP-2012UDCI universal disc player clearly states on page 48 in the "About Advanced AL24 Processing" paragraph: "In addition to data expansion to 24 bit, it conducts natural interpolation processing with no loss of original data by digital upsampling."
If these quotes don't convince you that AL24 is an upsampling technology, nothing will. Similar references can be found for the Denon Alpha processor, describing it as an upsampling technology. This is the marketing world we live in for the better or worse. All these companies are trying to make their technologies look like they're the best thing since sliced bread and that they're the only ones that have unlocked the secrets to making it. So they use all kinds of cool esoteric sounding marketing monikers to differentiate themselves from the competition. Not that they're not real technological improvements, they often are.
Yes they both do similar things and achieve similar goals but through different techniques.
You may be right, it may not be easy. I hope that my brother's 30 year old scope still works. It will take some time though before I can get around to it.
Roger, we all want to know if Marantz is perhaps using AL32 or AL24 for that matter in the 8801 and indeed they're not claiming any use of those technologies. I'm just raising the possibility, as was ss9001 (Steve), that they may make use of the technology without any claims in order to preserve some brand differentiation for the Denon label. It's speculation at this point but nevertheless it remains a possibility because of the almost identical design of the digital front-end (minus the Denon Link).
Extension, i.e. an increase of the word length, is a part, albeit optional, of the upsampling technique. Interpolation is the lingo used to describe the action of inserting additional artificially derived sample(s) between two original samples and is a fundamental part of upsampling technologies.
The Denon Alpha processor technology was the first PCM upsampling technology developed by Denon and would only increase the word length from 16 to 20 bits. Then they further developed the design of the Alpha processor and AL24 became the second iteration of their upsampling technology; it could extend the word length to 24 bits and the sampling rate up to 192 kHz.
AL24 is described in many professional reviews and even some Denon gear owner manuals as upsampling technology. These last few years, Denon tends to not too often specifically refer to it as upsampling in their literature, in order to preserve some cachet (market differentiation) since many other manufacturers have also offered various upsampling technologies for some years now. I have an old Panasonic DVD player from 2001 (DVDRP-91) that also does upsampling; Panasonic called the feature: Re-Master.
This Denon AVR-5805 review from Gene DellaSala on Audiholics mentions: "The Denon upsamples all 44kHz signals to 96kHz / 24 bit as per their AL24 bit process. In fact, Denon's Advanced AL24 Processing handles up to 192kHz and 24 bit extension with real time interpolation." Gene DellaSala is an experienced EE.
This other review of the Denon AVP-A1HDCI by John E. Johnson of Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity says: "Denon's Advanced AL 24 Processing upsamples all the audio to 24 bit.".
This Denon UK brochure for the AVR-4308DAB describes Advanced AL24 in these words: "The Field Programmable Gate Array includes the latest Denon exclusive AL processing algorithms. Advanced AL24 expands the resolution of standard audio signals (CD: 16 bit) to 24 bit (bit extension) and also increases the scanning rate to 192 kHz (upsampling), on all channels.".
The manual for the Denon DBP-2012UDCI universal disc player clearly states on page 48 in the "About Advanced AL24 Processing" paragraph: "In addition to data expansion to 24 bit, it conducts natural interpolation processing with no loss of original data by digital upsampling."
If these quotes don't convince you that AL24 is an upsampling technology, nothing will. Similar references can be found for the Denon Alpha processor, describing it as an upsampling technology. This is the marketing world we live in for the better or worse. All these companies are trying to make their technologies look like they're the best thing since sliced bread and that they're the only ones that have unlocked the secrets to making it. So they use all kinds of cool esoteric sounding marketing monikers to differentiate themselves from the competition. Not that they're not real technological improvements, they often are.
Yes they both do similar things and achieve similar goals but through different techniques.
You may be right, it may not be easy. I hope that my brother's 30 year old scope still works. It will take some time though before I can get around to it.
I emailed Marantz about this yesterday and will report back when they answer.
That would have been the perfect backup.
