(Above: The DVD-Audio release of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.)
During and since my time at Dolby, I have participated in numerous comparisons between 24/96 audio files and the same files downconverted to 16/44.1. While I can't say that the difference was ever night-and-day, it was often readily audible depending on the recording. All of these comparisons, however, took place using high-performance audio gear in well-designed listening rooms. Would I have heard the difference in a file played off my Droid through Bluetooth headphones, or in my car? Hell, no. In my car, I can't even hear the difference between CDs and 128 kbps MP3s played from my iPod.
Fortunately, you can make the comparison yourself. The download service HD Tracks already offers a comprehensive selection of 24/96 material. There's a wide selection of material available, so you can probably find something you already own on CD. Rip the CD to your computer in WAV (not MP3 or AAC or WMA), then download the file and compare the two through your stereo or a good set of headphones.
MORE BITS = MORE DATA
Using any sort of lossy audio data reduction (i.e., compression) technology such as MP3 or AAC will likely negate any of the subtle benefits that an increase in word depth or sampling rate might deliver. In order to gain benefit from high-resolution 24/96 files, they have to be encoded in a lossless format such as FLAC or Apple Lossless.
Lossless compression tends to reduce file size by a ratio of about 2:1, compared to 5:1 for 256 kbps MP3. Add this increase to the greater amount of data required for high-res audio, and you're talking five to six times the required bandwidth and storage. This might not matter to you, though: Compared to that Netflix movie you streamed last night, this increase in bandwidth is insignificant, and that 500 GB drive on your laptop probably has plenty of room to spare for high-res audio. Suffice it to say, though, that you're probably not going to want to load these files onto your iPhone or Droid.
THE BOTTOM LINE ON BITS
For audiophiles who tend to do whatever it takes to get the best possible sound quality in their homes, the move to 24-bit sound would be a welcome development. In fact, in a world where sound quality usually seems dumbed-down to suit the most uncaring listeners, the move to 24-bit sound might seem a minor miracle. We'll have the security of knowing we're getting the best possible quality, and that's what being an audiophile is all about. Sure, plenty of anonymous trolls on the Internet will say we're idiots, but that's true of anyone who's an enthusiast of anything. If you're not derided by trolls, you're probably not doing anything interesting.
The financial effect of 24-bit downloads on the music industry, though, would likely be less significant than the sonic improvement you get by putting your speaker cables on little plastic sawhorses. It's extremely unlikely that non-audiophiles would pay any extra for 24-bit downloads, or that they'd buy more downloads even if they could get the extra resolution at no extra cost. As you can see here, the whole idea of owning albums in any form may soon die completely except among aging audio enthusiasts and retro-loving hipsters.
Given the failure of the disc-based high-resolution DVD-Audio and SACD formats, why would we believe the general public would ever care about better-than-CD audio? I've heard the cries from industry know-it-alls who claim those formats "weren't properly marketed," but as one of the guys who attempted to market DVD-A, who spent a lot of my company's money trying to sell it, and who worked with licensees who spent a lot more money trying to sell it, I can tell you that despite all our efforts no consumer I ever encountered ever gave a damn about it.
I grew up in the 70's and 80's, listening first to vinyl
records, then cassette tapes, then later on upgrading to CD's and
finally mp3 and other electronic music formats.
I can't fathom what possible advantage having a 24 bit music file would have over a 16 bit
file. I certainly wouldn't pay more for it.
Most of the time I listen to music in my car or while I'm in the gym, neither of which are ideal
music listening environments.
I'm just glad I don't have to worry
about scratched records that skip (and make other noise if they aren't
clean), or the hiss from audio cassettes.
There are occasional strange sounds from corrupted music files, but I can either rip it off the CD
again, or re-download it.
I do miss the ability to go to Best Buy, HMV, etc..and grab the latest SACD or DVD-A off of the shelf. The problem I have now Brent is no DSL/Cable where I live (Country Living At It's Best - My Townshiip's credo). I rely on a 4G "soon-to-be" LTE signal and a 9GB data cap (Canada, Eh? - I miss living in the U.S.A.). I used to have Point to Multi-Point Satellite based internet with no cap but a slow and unreliable (weather dependent) connection. The Cellular signal I have now is a great improvement over the Sat based signal but is more costly ($96 CDN +tx/month).
My point is it would be way too expensive for me to download say a 192kHz/24Bit (4.7GB/2 = 2.35GB - That's more than a quarter of my data plan for the month!).
Cheers
Fact is rudedog4, that what you describe does not benefit from any high resolution music, so why bother? Continue consuming music in a convenient form for those activities where sound is not important. However, when listening on quality equipment, in the comfort of your home or within quiet headphones, where high res can really deliver... that's when you will benefit from the extra bits and khz.
I have been an "America" fan since college. They came to my school when they released Homecoming. 37 years later, I still enjoy the album and Ventura highway stills sounds sweet on my trusty CD copy. I recently acquired an SACD copy and inserted into my Oppo.
My jaw dropped when I heard the iconic guitar intro. I played that song over an over for almost an hour discovering nuances that I had never heard. My wife, who is 25 years younger and should have much better ears than me, also remarked on how open and beautiful the guitars sound. She only knows this song from me, as she is an immigrant from Cuba with no access to high fidelity. However, she has musicians in her family and is very familiar with live guitar performances.
Bottom line-- Absolutely lets run toward 24bit 96khz/192khz!!!! I am now rediscovering sweetness in Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Dark Side of the Moon, Vivaldi Four Seasons and growing.