24-bit and 16-bit audio comparison – audio test results
What quality of sound can a person determine by ear? In a very recent audio test, respondents are asked to blindly distinguish between sounds with a 24-bit and 16-bit dynamic range. Each of them downloaded several pairs of 24-bit files, one of which underwent a 24-16-24-bit conversion, that is, in practice it was a 16-bit file. They were asked to determine the difference.
The test involved 140 volunteers (138 men and 2 women – an honest demographic for audiophiles). Average age of respondents: 44 years.
According to the questionnaires, more than 20% of the respondents called themselves musicians and sound engineers, so it is possible to compare the results between “professionals” and amateurs, taking into account the statistical error.
The cost of audio equipment for survey participants typically ranges from $ 1,000 to $ 3,000.
The survey results for the three pairs of files are quite curious. In two of the three compositions, the correct and incorrect answers were distributed exactly in half.
And in the composition of Bozza, 52.85% of users made a mistake by mistaking a 16-bit file for a 24-bit one.
20 respondents answered all questions correctly and 21 people made a mistake in all variants, which also fits the statistical distribution.
It’s even more surprising that musicians perform worse than average, even taking into account statistical error! Vivaldi’s composition was especially confusing.
And here is the result among users whose audio equipment costs expensive: They could not distinguish.
Headphones also don’t help distinguish 16-bit from 24-bit music.
Summarizing. Of course, there are applications where it is necessary to work with 24-bit audio (the same mastering). But the fact is that 16-bit and 24-bit audios are completely indistinguishable from each other by ear. If someone claims to be able to hear the difference, that person is probably wrong.
