The signal-to-noise ratio for a digital conversion circuit is improved by taking a source signal and generating N signals that are each phase-shifted relative to each other, thereby generating N phase-shifted signals. Each of the N signals has a frequency that is a fraction of a frequency of the source signal. The source signal is input to a dividing circuit to generate the N signals. The source signal is generated by a signal source, such as an oscillator. Each of the N signals is hard-limited and processed through a detection circuit. The detection circuit can be a frequency detection circuit configured to determine the frequency of the source signal and to output a corresponding digital word, or a phase detection circuit configured to determine a phase of the source signal and to output a corresponding digital word.