What you think you know about bit-depth is probably wrong
In the modern age of audio, you can’t move for mentions of “Hi-Res” and 24-bit “Studio Quality” music. If you haven’t spotted the trend in high-end smartphones—Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec—and streaming services like Qobuz, then you really need to start reading this site more.
The promise is simple—superior listening quality thanks to more data, aka bit depth. That’s 24 bits of digital ones and zeroes versus the puny 16-bit hangover from the CD era. Of course, you’ll have to pay extra for these higher quality products and services, but more bits are surely better right?
“Low res” audio is often shown off as a staircase waveform. This is not how audio sampling works and isn’t what audio looks like coming out of a device.
Not necessarily. The need for higher and higher bit depths isn’t based on scientific reality, but rather on a twisting of the truth and exploiting a lack of consumer awareness about the science of sound. Ultimately, companies marketing 24-bit audio have far more to gain in profit than you do in superior playback quality.
