How to tell if a CD is Encoded?

@cheeg you're still a little confused

RedBook = CD Standard = 16/44.1PCM

Any other PCM (e.g. 48/96) is not redbook and is not encoded on a CD, you can store these files on a CD ROM drive but it is not CD standard

SACD as a standard is always stored on a SACD format disc, not a DVD (that's another thing entirely). Most SACD are dual layer with one layer that plays SACD and the other that plays redbook

Higher rate DSD (e.g. dual DSD, or quad DSD) can be downloaded or played back from other storage media but there is no commercially available disc format for them

But it seems you have a plain old vanilla CD set

Thanks for the response folkfreak-- I did know that Redbook was the original CD standard format, at 16/44.1 (Sony-Phillips 1980), but I  thought that some more recent recordings were being pressed to disc in higher density/bitrate formats, such as 48/96.  Am I wrong about that?  Unfortunately, most folks have gotten used to calling all these discs "CD's", which makes things even more confusing. 

Your second to last paragraph says that there is "no commercially available disc format" for higher rate DSD, but that seems to contradict the markings on several albums I bought recently (2002 remasters of Rolling Stones such as Let It Bleed and Beggars Banquet), that say they are "DSD Remastered" -- are you saying those are remastered in DSD, and then re-converted to PCM?  I can't understand what the point of that would be.

I have commercial CDs with DSD marked on them. Rolling Stones early catelogue came out on DSD whenever. And they sound fantastic!

Yep. If it says "Compact Disc Digital Audio" it is one and only one thing: Redbook, which is PCM at 44.1kHz / 16 bits.

There’s no correlation in my mind between the encoding method and DAC reproduction or sound quality.

I will say that over the past 5-10 years, DAC’s are MUCH much better at playing Redbook than they were before, to the point they make hi res and DSD recordings much less relevant.

So if anything, I would say that listening to a modern DAC is important.

Best,

E

Myth vs Truth, DSD and PCM

https://www.mojo-audio.com/blog/dsd-vs-pcm-myth-vs-truth/