16-bit vs. 24-bit double-blind test?

[underscorer]

Has anyone here seen info. on a double-blind test between 16-bit and 24-bit (under controlled conditions) using the same sample frequency, where anyone has been able to tell the difference with any more accuracy than would be expected from chance?

 

[phofman]

Foobar should offer an ABX plugin. At least you can test yourself :-)

 

http://www.mpex.net/info/abx.html

 

[wgscott]

I can't remember, but I did see it and remember that there is a much stronger case that can be made for bit depth than for ultra-high-frequency sampling rate.

 

Briefly, where you really hear the differences is in very quiet passages, and things like audience chatter.

 

Jim Smith reports (anecdotally, in his book) one such observation that would probably qualify as a single-blind test, FWIW.

 

[underscorer]

... 16 bit @ 44.1kHz is indistinguishable from 24 bit @ 192kHz in a sample of over 550 listeners:

 

Meyer, E. Brad and David R. Moran. Audibility of a CD-Standard A/D/A Loop Inserted into a High-Resolution Audio Playback, Journal of the Audio Engineering Society, Sept. 2007, pp. 775-779.

 

This reference is discussed in the article "The Emperor's New Sampling Rate."

 

http://mixonline.com/recording/mixing/audio_emperors_new_sampling

 

24-bit *in production phases*, however, does have merit.

 

[underscorer]

... Confirmed in the URL I cite above.