IEC 61606-1:2003

Audio and audiovisual equipment - Digital audio parts - Basic measurement methods of audio characteristics - Part 1: General

The common measuring conditions and methods, described in this standard, are used for the measurement of the performance characteristics of equipment having an audio bandwidth equal to approximately one-half of the sampling frequency of a system, where the audio information is processed in the form of digital data. CD players, DAT recorders, digital amplifiers, digital sound broadcast receivers and television broadcast receivers with digital sound are examples. Methods specified in this standard are not applicable to systems incorporating bit-rate reduced digital audio signals that have data loss.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Oct-2003
• ICS: 33.160.01 - Audio, video and audiovisual systems in general
• Technical Committee: TC 100 - Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 09-Jul-2009

Relations

• Replaces: IEC 61606:1997 - Audio and audiovisual equipment - Digital audio parts - Basic methods of measurement of audio characteristics
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 61606-1:2009 - Audio and audiovisual equipment - Digital audio parts - Basic measurement methods of audio characteristics - Part 1: General
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61606-1
First edition
2003-10
Audio and audiovisual equipment –
Digital audio parts – Basic measurement
methods of audio characteristics –
Part 1:
General
Reference number
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the

60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.

Consolidated editions
The IEC is now publishing consolidated versions of its publications. For example,

edition numbers 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 refer, respectively, to the base publication, the

base publication incorporating amendment 1 and the base publication incorporating

amendments 1 and 2.
Further information on IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC,
thus ensuring that the content reflects current technology. Information relating to
this publication, including its validity, is available in the IEC Catalogue of
publications (see below) in addition to new editions, amendments and corrigenda.
Information on the subjects under consideration and work in progress undertaken
by the technical committee which has prepared this publication, as well as the list
of publications issued, is also available from the following:
• IEC Web Site (www.iec.ch)
• Catalogue of IEC publications
The on-line catalogue on the IEC web site (http://www.iec.ch/searchpub/cur_fut.htm)
enables you to search by a variety of criteria including text searches, technical
committees and date of publication. On-line information is also available on
recently issued publications, withdrawn and replaced publications, as well as
corrigenda.
• IEC Just Published
This summary of recently issued publications (http://www.iec.ch/online_news/
justpub/jp_entry.htm) is also available by email. Please contact the Customer
Service Centre (see below) for further information.
• Customer Service Centre
If you have any questions regarding this publication or need further assistance,
please contact the Customer Service Centre:
Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61606-1
First edition
2003-10
Audio and audiovisual equipment –
Digital audio parts – Basic measurement
methods of audio characteristics –
Part 1:
General
 IEC 2003  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]  Web: www.iec.ch
PRICE CODE
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
T
International Electrotechnical Commission
Международная Электротехническая Комиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 61606-1  IEC:2003(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4

1 Scope . 6

2 Normative references. 6

3 Terms, definitions, explanations and rated values. 7

4 Measuring conditions .10

4.1 Environmental conditions.10

4.2 Power supply.10

4.2.1 Supply voltage .10
4.2.2 Frequency(ies).10
4.2.3 High-frequency and harmonic components (or ripples) in the power
supply output .10
4.3 Test signal frequencies.10
4.4 Standard setting .11
4.4.1 Standard input conditions for the EUT.11
4.4.2 Standard output conditions for the EUT.11
4.4.3 Standard setting of controls input terminals, and output terminals.12
4.5 Preconditioning.12
4.6 Measuring instruments.12
4.6.1 Signal generator .12
4.6.2 Filter .14
4.6.3 Level meter.15
4.6.4 Distortion meter .16
4.6.5 Frequency meter.17
4.6.6 Group delay meter .17
4.6.7 Analogue spectrum analyzer .18
4.6.8 Digital waveform monitor.18
4.6.9 Voltage amplifier.19
4.6.10 Standard digital player .19
5 Methods of measurement (digital-in/analogue-out).19
5.1 Input/output characteristics.19
5.1.1 Maximum output amplitude .19
5.1.2 Gain difference between channels and tracking error.20

5.2 Frequency characteristics .20
5.2.1 Frequency response .20
5.2.2 Group delay (phase linearity) .20
5.3 Noise characteristics .20
5.3.1 Signal-to-noise ratio (idle channel noise) .20
5.3.2 Dynamic range.21
5.3.3 Out-of-band noise ratio .21
5.3.4 Channel separation.21
5.4 Distortion characteristics .21
5.4.1 Level non-linearity .21
5.4.2 Distortion and noise .22
5.4.3 Intermodulation.22

61606-1  IEC:2003(E) – 3 –
6 Methods of measurement (analogue-in/digital-out).22

6.1 Input/output characteristics.22

6.1.1 Analogue to digital level calibration.22

6.1.2 Maximum allowable input amplitude.22

6.1.3 Gain difference between channel and tracking error.23

6.2 Frequency characteristics .23

6.2.1 Frequency response .23

6.2.2 Group delay .23

6.3 Noise characteristics .24

6.3.1 Signal-to-noise ratio (idle channel noise) .24
6.3.2 Dynamic range.24
6.3.3 Folded noise .24
6.3.4 Cross-talk .24
6.3.5 Channel separation.25
6.4 Distortion characteristics .25
6.4.1 Level non-linearity .25
6.4.2 Distortion and noise .25
6.4.3 Intermodulation.25
Figure 1 – Analogue test signal waveform .13
Figure 2 – Digital test signal waveform.14
Table 1 – Actual frequencies used in the measurement.10
Table 2 – Impulse conditions and measuring range .17

– 4 – 61606-1  IEC:2003(E)
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
AUDIO AND AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT – DIGITAL AUDIO PARTS –

BASIC MEASUREMENT METHODS OF AUDIO CHARACTERISTICS –

Part 1: General
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

International Standard IEC 61606-1 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 100:
Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment.
IEC 61606-2 and this standard cancel and replace IEC 61606 (1997). This first edition of
IEC 61606-1 constitutes a technical revision.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
100/694/FDIS 100/715/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

61606-1  IEC:2003(E) – 5 –
IEC 61606 consists of the following parts under the general title Audio and audiovisual

equipment – Digital audio parts – Basic me
...