A multi-bit sigma-delta modulator with reduced number of bits in feedback path

A sigma-delta modulator (200) for an ADC, passes an input signal to a loop filter (20), then to a multi-bit quantiser (30) of the modulator (200). An output of the quantiser (30) is passed to a digital filter (50), and a feedback signal is passed back to the loop filter (20), the feedback signal having fewer bits than are produced by the multi-bit quantiser (30). The difference in gain of the digital filter (50) inside and outside of a passband of the sigma-delta modulator (200) is greater than or equal to 20log 10 ((2 y -1)/(2 z -1)) dB, where y is the number of bits of the feedback signal and z is the number of bits of the multi-bit quantiser (30).