An improved sigma-delta converter includes a post converter filter portion
that receives digital data streams. The post converter filter portion is
programmable to receive digital data streams of varying bit widths. The
data streams have digital amplitudes and contain quantization noise.
Quantization noise is larger for digital amplitudes in a second
larger-amplitude range than in a first smaller-amplitude range. The post
converter filter has a higher cut-off frequency when the digital
amplitude is in the first amplitude range and a lower cut-off frequency
when the digital amplitude is in the second amplitude range. The post
converter filter therefore filters out a portion of the larger
quantization noise when the digital amplitude is larger. Quanitization
noise is reduced without limiting the input signal voltage range that can
be digitized.