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Higher sample rate than 16 bit redbook

Niave question

I have a 16 bit Audio Research Dac 3 and am interested in whether any newer redbook cds are done in higher bit values.  Is it just a few specific “audiophile” discs or 95% still 16 bit.

I have heard that some recordings mentioned as higher bit rates are regarding their recorded bit rate but then are formatted down to 16 bit for the cd mastering.

I also have have res bluray /sacd/ dvd-a player so I am not looking at that issue but rather would my dac play 90% of the cds out there

Thanks
128x128audiotomb
petg60
1,486 posts
 
HI,
Redbook is one, what is a new Redbook?
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cleeds
5,960 posts
 
audiotomb
...am interested in whether any newer redbook cds are done in higher bit values.
Redbook = 16/44.1. There is no higher bitrate for a Redbook CD. The spec is cast in stone.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,229 posts
 
Modern digital recordings are at 24 or even 32 bitrate and then reduced to 16 bit for CD release.  The extra bits help maintain sound quality during the mixing process
erik_squires
16,138 posts
 
Hi OP, cleeds is exactly right.  If you want to call it "Redbook" it has to be 16 bits, stereo, at 44.1 kHz.

However, having owned the ARC Dac 8, I have some suggestions for you.


1 - It's way past time to update it.  Even the DAC 8 is bettered by almost any modern DAC. Modern DACs do amazingly well with Redbook compared to prior.


2 - What DID make a huge improvement for the DAC 8 was an upsampler from Wyred4Sound, the Remedy.  It will resample everything to 96 kHz/24.


Best,

E
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