Uniform quantization noise becomes audible below roughly 60 dB signal-to-noise, or ten bits.

Evidence

However, even if an adaptive quantizer is used, then, because of the uniform spectrum of the quantization noise, the overall noise becomes unmasked if the signalto-noise ratio falls below about 60 dB. This corresponds to 10 bits of quantizer precision. In order to do better, we need to arrange for the noise to be shaped so that it is less perceptible. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2665

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives the concrete 60 dB / 10-bit threshold that marks the limit of adaptive quantization.