18-Dec-2016, 13:50
Personally I don't hear a difference between 16-bit and 24-bit.
It could be expectation bias since I know that none of my recordings use all of the 16-bit dynamic range, never mind 24-bit.
I do use 24-bit when recording though, since it is much easier to set levels without taking a risk of clipping on an unexpected peak.
I have taken a 24/192 recording, had it converted it to 16/48 then back again to 24/192 and can hear no difference between the files.
I did it this way to eliminate the following from the comparison :-
1 any difference in mastering between recordings
2 any difference between the way the DAC deals with different files.
3 192kHz is a multiple of 48 so the conversion does not require the potential sound changing mathematics in conversion which 44.1 requires but the bandwidth difference between 44.1 and 48 is only ~ ⅛ octave.
By converting down then back up any information which is potentially in a 24/192 file but not in a 16/48 is removed in the process, so the second file still does not contain the information though the first does.
I did this with 2 pieces of classical music.
I have used many different replay software over the years but none are very convenient for classical music logging so, since I hear no benefit from higher resolution files I have largely gone back to LPs and CDs.
The few files I have bought I have either burned to CD or stream using bitperfect/iTunes/Air
It could be expectation bias since I know that none of my recordings use all of the 16-bit dynamic range, never mind 24-bit.
I do use 24-bit when recording though, since it is much easier to set levels without taking a risk of clipping on an unexpected peak.
I have taken a 24/192 recording, had it converted it to 16/48 then back again to 24/192 and can hear no difference between the files.
I did it this way to eliminate the following from the comparison :-
1 any difference in mastering between recordings
2 any difference between the way the DAC deals with different files.
3 192kHz is a multiple of 48 so the conversion does not require the potential sound changing mathematics in conversion which 44.1 requires but the bandwidth difference between 44.1 and 48 is only ~ ⅛ octave.
By converting down then back up any information which is potentially in a 24/192 file but not in a 16/48 is removed in the process, so the second file still does not contain the information though the first does.
I did this with 2 pieces of classical music.
I have used many different replay software over the years but none are very convenient for classical music logging so, since I hear no benefit from higher resolution files I have largely gone back to LPs and CDs.
The few files I have bought I have either burned to CD or stream using bitperfect/iTunes/Air
Devialet Original d'Atelier 44 Core, Job Pre/225, Goldmund PH2, Goldmund Reference/T3f /Ortofon A90, Goldmund Mimesis 36+ & Chord Blu, iMac/Air, Lynx Theta, Tune Audio Anima, Goldmund Epilog 1&2, REL Studio. Dialog, Silver Phantoms, Branch stands, copper cables (mainly).
Oxfordshire
