Chapter 1120: Two more questions!

Lu Chao said modestly, 'Chairman, it is mainly your credit.'

After that, he explained, 'The most difficult part of a technology is the experimental period of finding a path. It requires dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of tests to constantly explore and find the correct method and path. This exploration from scratch is the most labour-intensive and resource-intensive.'

'But you already told me about the principles of photovoltaic conversion technology and pulse technology last time. Following the direction you mentioned, we quickly found the correct research and development path. And the company has also continuously recruited scientific research talent and invested resources regardless of the cost, so we were able to achieve results so quickly.'

Xia Yu suddenly understood.

It seems that the trick he used was used by Lu Chao.

But this also shows Lu Chao's formidable ability. Knowing the principle is one thing, being able to develop it from scratch is another.

'Dr. Lu, you don't need to be humble. You and your team deserve a huge amount of credit for being able to develop it so quickly!'

He turned to Lu Chao and said to Fok Kin-ning, 'Kin-ning, you must remember this. At the end of the year, Dr. Lu and his team should be rewarded as they deserve. Don't be stingy.'

'Yes, Chairman!'

Fok Kin-ning obediently replied.

Lu Chao's face broke into a knowing smile. Although he didn't like money, he also knew that the other members of the team needed it to live. It made him feel very comfortable that the chairman was concerned about these things.

When you're in a good mood, your motivation naturally rises.

He said to Xia Yu with high spirits, 'Chairman, please follow me, the CD walkman is in the other laboratory.'

...

Soon, everyone arrived at the laboratory of the CD walkman.

This time, without Xia Yu having to say anything, Lu Chao took out a sample of the CD portable player directly, and also took out a CD disc in a box.

The CD portable player is different from an ordinary portable player, and the most obvious difference is in its shape. It is a box with a smaller thickness and similar length and width, with a round lid on the surface that almost touches the sides. Xia Yu knew at a glance that it was a CD disc.

Sure enough, Lu Chao gave a demonstration while introducing it.

He pressed a button and the circular lid on the CD player popped up. He explained, 'Chairman, the principle of operation of this CD player is the same. You just need to put the CD in, replace the lid and press play to play the music.'

'This CD has already been burned with songs on it. I personally feel that the sound quality of the songs is better than that of vinyl records.'

After saying this, Lu Chao put the CD in, pressed play, picked up the headphones and handed them to Xia Yu.

Xia Yu took it, put it in his ears, and listened with his eyes closed.

A minute later, he took off the headphones and said with a hint of satisfaction, 'Yes, the sound quality is clearer than that of a vinyl record.'

At this, Lu Chao poured cold water on the situation, saying, 'Chairman, you and I both feel that the sound quality of a CD is better, but we have done some tests before. Vinyl records and CDs record the same song, but after playing, a small number of people think that the sound of the CD is distorted and not as real as that of the vinyl record.'

It turns out that a comparative test has already been done!

This argument has already appeared as soon as it was first developed!

He remembered that in the past, the music industry and listeners had argued about the sound reproduction and distortion of CDs and vinyl records. It could be said that both sides had their own reasons, and there had never been a conclusive argument.

I wonder what the opinion of Lu Chao, a researcher who changes his mind so quickly, is?

He asked slightly curiously, 'Dr. Lu, do you think that CDs are more distorted than vinyl records?'

Lu Chao shook his head without hesitation and said, 'Of course not. I think CD records are more faithful!'

Without waiting for Xia Yu to ask, he went straight to the basis of his opinion.

'Chairman, I am making a dialectical comparison from a scientific point of view.'

'In fact, as long as you understand the difference in the recording methods of CD and vinyl records, you can make a clear and definite judgment.'

'Vinyl records are produced by converting sound into electrical signals and then mechanically recording the signal on the grooves of the disc. This process seems to have no loss, but in fact the mechanical process involves a lot of loss. Any mechanical transmission will be affected by the environment, temperature, gravity and other factors, and the same problem will exist when the vinyl record is played again.'

'The master tape of vinyl records definitely has the least loss. If it is to be copied and burned again, the loss will only increase. Consumers can only get copies of the burned disc, not the master tape.'

'CDs, on the other hand, are produced by digitally sampling and recording the digital signal. There is indeed loss during the sampling process, because the sampling rate determines the audio range. However, the sampling rate of CDs is high enough to exceed the range of human hearing, so from this point of view, the so-called 'lossy' is meaningless. What is lost is the part that the human ear cannot hear. This loss can be described as 'clearly marked', and the entire CD system has no other losses except for this one.

'Of course there is also loss in the line equipment, but vinyl records have the same problem, so this cancels each other out.'

'Once the analogue signal has been digitised, it is lossless in transmission, replication and burning. The data on the CD disc has sufficient redundancy and error correction to ensure that the replicated disc is identical to the master.'

'So, given the same equipment, the sound quality of a CD is definitely better than that of a vinyl record!'

After listening to Lu Chao's concise analysis, Xia Yu suddenly understood.

If analysed in this way, it is true that the sound quality of a CD is better.

Of course, everyone's auditory system is different, and there will always be people who disagree. What's more, there is the illusion of hearing, which is bound to lead to controversy after it is launched on the market.

But a small number of people can just give up and slowly assimilate later!

Afterwards, he read the product manual for this CD portable player and learned that the model was the Tiangong CD-P1, with the following dimensions: 130x140x17mm, weight 290g, headphone weight 18g, power supply two dry batteries, battery life 8 hours, maximum output 20mw+20mw, frequency response range 40-22050Hz.

The upper limit of the frequency response range of a CD walkman is almost twice that of a vinyl walkman!

Generally speaking, within the range that the human ear can perceive, the greater the upper limit of the frequency response range, the more three-dimensional the sound heard.

This is a major selling point.

Xia Yu put down the walkman and took out the CD disc alone. After looking at it, he asked, 'Dr. Lu, in terms of the patent for the CD disc, is there a loophole? How far have Sony and Philips researched it?'

Lu Chao recalled for a moment before answering in detail: 'Chairman, when it comes to patents, we have to thank President Fok. It is thanks to him that we have been able to gain an advantage in terms of technology patents.'

Xia Yu's eyebrows rose slightly, and he looked at Fok Kin-ning with some surprise, but saw Fok Kin-ning smile modestly.

Xia Yu smiled and said, 'Jianing, tell us how you did it.'

Huo Jianing then told them what he had done: 'Actually, I had heard from Dr Lu before that there were quite a few companies in the world conducting research and development in the field of CD-ROMs, but the pioneers were Sony and Philips of the Netherlands. These two companies formulated the Red Book standard in 1980, but it was only the CD-DA disc standard.'

'The CD-DA disc standard includes a lot of the basic technology for CD discs. These patented technologies were not all monopolised by Philips and Sony. However, these two companies exchanged patents with each other and with other companies around the world, and then quickly established the Red Book standard, preparing to become the industry standard-setters and occupy a supreme position.

'When the Red Book standard was first released, Sony and Philips were the first to adopt it, and other large companies were following closely behind. So they also needed more companies to recognise the Red Book standard, to fill the field in advance and avoid as much as possible other competitors banding together to establish another standard.'

'At that time, we had not yet released the Tiangong SP-S1 portable player, and our relationship with Philips and Sony was not bad. So I applied in advance to join the Red Book standard, obtained the right to use the basic patented technology, and paid to purchase some of the patents.'

'That was it.'

As soon as Fok Kin-ning finished speaking, Lu Chao immediately said, 'By combining the technology of the Red Book standard and following your guidance, Chairman, I developed the CD-ROM format.'

'According to the information I have, Sony and Philips were also doing related research and development, but I am certain that they have not yet developed a finished product. We have come from behind and taken the lead.'

'Because patents need to be registered, the news that we were researching this technology inevitably leaked, triggering hostility from Sony and Philips, but it doesn't matter now.'

'I understand,'

Xia Yu said softly, already clear about the whole situation.

He smiled and praised Fok Kin-ning, 'Kin-ning, you did a good job of being prepared for the future!'

Fok Kin-ning said modestly, 'Thank you, Chairman, I learned from you, always thinking three steps ahead.'

Xia Yu couldn't help but smile.

Fok Kin-ning had successfully stolen the show, avoiding a huge problem for Tiangong Electronics and solving the problem of the basic patent.

Fortunately, he joined the Red Book standard and purchased the patent when Tiangong Electronics was harmless. If this were the case now, Tiangong Electronics would definitely not be able to buy the patent, and Philips and Sony would definitely do their best to block the technology, so that Tiangong Electronics would have the second-generation technology but would not be able to commercialise it.

'Of course, Dr Lu, thanks also to you for developing the technology so quickly. You have worked hard!'

Xia Yu looked at Dr Lu Chao again and said with certainty: 'Of course.

Lu Chao replied with a humble expression on his face: 'Chairman, researching technology is my responsibility, otherwise I would be ashamed to accept such a high salary from you.'

Xia Yu smiled and did not dwell on this any longer, but asked the last key question:

'After listening to what you have said, I have a general understanding. In other words, this is a finished product, can it be launched on the market?'

Hearing this question, Lu Chao looked at Huo Jianning with a helpless expression on his face.

Fok Kin-ning looked embarrassed and said, 'Chairman, there are still two problems with this CD walkman, and I can't make up my mind. I need your instructions.'

Xia Yu's gaze tightened slightly, and he nodded slightly and said, 'Go ahead, which two problems?'