Topic: 24-bit audio: the new way to make you pay more for music?

[Simon]

Apple and music labels are reportedly in discussions to raise the audio quality of of the songs they sell.

The iPod maker is considering selling 24-bit versions of albums via iTunes, a step up from the 16-bit audio currently on offer, according to a report on CNN.com.

The move could see digital downloads that surpass CD quality, which is recorded at 16 bits at a sample rate of 44.1kHz. It would also provide Apple and the music labels with an opportunity to "upgrade" people's music collections, raising extra revenue in the process.

While there is a benefit to recording in 24-bit (and its associated increased sample rate of 96kHz), for consumers the advantage is less clear cut. Even with top-end hi-fi equipment or headphones, you may not hear the difference between the higher resolution files and standard resolution, simply because the human ear isn’t capable of appreciating the lower noise floor and higher top-end frequencies offered by 24-bit files.

Apple has pulled off a similar feat before. In 2007, Apple upgraded its albums from protected 128Kbit/sec files to DRM-free 256Kbits/sec AAC files, and charged users 20p per track to upgrade their music collection.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/365467/24-bit-audio-the-new-way-to-make-you-pay-more-for-music

[Rodders]

While there is a benefit to recording in 24-bit (and its associated increased sample rate of 96kHz), for consumers the advantage is less clear cut. Even with top-end hi-fi equipment or headphones, you may not hear the difference between the higher resolution files and standard resolution, simply because the human ear isn’t capable of appreciating the lower noise floor and higher top-end frequencies offered by 24-bit files.

Exactly.

[Simon]

Not that Apple is trying to rip people off, of course. 

[Rik]

There may actually be some benefit for the younger market, in my 20s, my hearing was tested to a tad over 23kHz. Nowadays, though...

[Simon]

But the younger market don't listen to anything worth the better quality.  

[Rik]

This is very true. Modern music is limited, in all senses of the word.

[Simon]

Many CDs seem to be mastered for loudness rather than clarity these days, and even on my quite good Arcam stuff, they sound muddy and undynamic. 

[Rik]

I agree, but then so does the music.

[Simon]