Maximum LPCM Audio Specs for VOB Files

Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM) audio stored within DVD-Video VOB (Video Object) containers supports high-resolution uncompressed sound, reaching a maximum sampling rate of 96 kHz and a maximum bit depth of 24-bit. While the DVD-Video specification accommodates these audiophile-grade parameters, their implementation is closely governed by total multiplex bitrate ceilings and channel count limitations.

Maximum Sampling Rate and Bit Depth Limits

Under the official DVD-Video specification, LPCM audio tracks inside a VOB container permit the following thresholds:

• Maximum Sampling Rate: 96 kHz (standard options are 48 kHz and 96 kHz).
• Maximum Bit Depth: 24-bit (supported depths include 16-bit, 20-bit, and 24-bit).

Frequencies such as 44.1 kHz or 88.2 kHz, commonly found on compact discs, are not compliant with standard DVD-Video VOB specifications and must be resampled to either 48 kHz or 96 kHz.

Bandwidth and Channel Constraints

Although LPCM supports up to 8 audio channels in the broader specification, utilizing the maximum sampling rate and bit depth imposes strict channel constraints due to bandwidth limits:

1. Maximum Audio Bitrate: The DVD-Video standard caps an individual LPCM audio stream at 6.144 Mbps.
2. Channel Limitations at Maximum Quality: A 96 kHz, 24-bit stereo (2-channel) stream requires approximately 4.608 Mbps (\(96{,}000 \times 24 \times 2\)), fitting comfortably within the 6.144 Mbps stream cap. However, adding more channels at this quality exceeds the audio ceiling and the overall VOB container multiplex limit of 10.08 Mbps. Consequently, 96 kHz/24-bit LPCM in a VOB file is practically limited to 2 channels (stereo).
3. Multichannel Configurations: To encode surround sound (up to 8 channels) using uncompressed LPCM, the sampling rate and bit depth must be lowered (typically to 48 kHz and 16-bit) to remain under the maximum bit-rate threshold.