If you are referring to the then popular E-mu Systems Emulator-II sampler, it used an 8-bit companded format (similar to u-law) that produced a significantly better results than linear 8-bit sampling. Interestingly, however, it's top sample rate was only 27kHz. Not dissimilar from Paula in PAL mode.
AKA the ($8000+ at the time) sampler that Ferris Bueller plays with in his room while he's bitching about Jennie getting a car and his not getting anything except a computer.
