AES17 is the AES standard that defines a rigorous method for measuring and evaluating the performance of audio converters.

Before it, each manufacturer used different methods to measure their products, which made comparing technical specifications, such as dynamic range, a difficult and often misleading task.

The AES17 standard establishes a unified and precise procedure for testing A/D (Analog-to-Digital) and D/A (Digital-to-Analog) converters.

It specifies exactly how the test should be conducted, what signals should be used, and how the results should be calculated.

The main objective is to measure the dynamic range — the difference between the loudest sound a converter can handle without distortion and its background noise (noise floor). By following the AES17 standard, the numbers released by manufacturers become reliable and directly comparable, allowing consumers to make more informed choices about the quality of the equipment.