20 Bit CDs

[AHorseNamedDan]

Hi, I'm ripping my CD collection, and it seems I have a few discs that are 20 bit. I'm ripping with Foobar which only offers 16 and 24 bit rips. Is there someway to change the bit depth in Foobar or should I just rip them to 16bit?

Thanks!

[CatManDo]

There are no 20bit CDs. Redbook CD is always 16bit/44.kHz.

 

In the 1990's, there were CDs with "20 bit recording" (Sony Classical), and "20bit K2 mastering" logos, but the signal on the CD was 16bit.

 

There are also HDCDs, which use a special encoding to put 20bit data into the 16bit CD signal. HDCDs play on every CD player, but only players with a HDCD decoder chip can make use of the extra bits. The extra bits can also be decoded during ripping in Foobar2000:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Definition_Compatible_Digital

 

http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_hdcd

[kumakuma]

Is there a HDCD logo on the disc or jacket?

 

If not, it just means that the CD was mastered at 20-bit and then converted to the 16/44.1 Redbook standard for CDs.

 

Edit: CatManDo beat me to it...

[AHorseNamedDan]

Awesome. Thanks, guys. Exactly the info I was looking for. I'm at work so don't have the discs on hand, but it sounds like either way rip it to 16bit. If it was mastered 20bit converted to 16, then it's all the same anyway; if HDCD, then foobar should decode the extra bits anyway.

Thank you