Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) Vs Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM)

Following are the differences between Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM) based on the Following Parameters

1. Number of Bits

PCM- It can use 4, 8 or 16 bits per sample
DPCM- Bits can be more than one but are less than PCM.

2. Transmission Bandwidth

PCM- Bandwidth required is very high as number of bits are high
DPCM- Bandwidth required is lower than PCM.

3. Levels and Step Size

PCM- Number of levels are dependent on number of bits and step size is kept constant
DPCM- In Differential Pulse Code Modulation (DPCM), fixed number of levels are used.

4. Quantization Error and Distortion

PCM- In pulse code modulation, quantization error depends on number of levels used.
DPCM- In differential pulse code modulation, slope overload distortion and quantization noise is present.

5. Feedback

PCM- Feedback is not present in pulse code modulation in transmitter or receiver.
DPCM- In this case, feedback exists

6. Complexity

PCM- System of pulse code modulation is quite complex
DPCM- Differential pulse code modulation system is comparatively simple.

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Need and benefits of modulation
Pulse modulation techniques (PAM, PWM, PPM, PCM)
Comparison of PAM, PWM, PPM modulation techniques
Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM)
Pulse width modulation (PWM)
Pulse position modulation (PPM) 
Pulse code modulation (PCM) advantages and disadvantages
Pulse code modulation (PCM) vs differential pulse code modulation (DPCM)
Sampling theorem and reconstruction (sampling and quantization)