Which two factors are crucial for determining the quality of digital audio?

The quality of digital audio is fundamentally influenced by both sample rate and bit rate. Sample rate refers to the number of samples of audio carried per second, measured in hertz (Hz). A higher sample rate can capture a greater range of frequencies and nuances in the sound, leading to a more accurate and higher-quality representation of the original audio.

Bit rate, measured in kilobits per second (kbps), indicates the amount of data processed over a given period and directly affects the fidelity of the audio. A higher bit rate allows for more data to be captured, which results in better sound quality as it retains more detail from the original recording.

Collectively, these two factors ensure that the digital audio produced is clear, detailed, and true to the source material, making them essential for assessing audio quality. Other options like frequency response and dynamic range, while important in audio contexts, do not directly apply to the fundamental aspects of digital audio quality in the same way as sample rate and bit rate do.